From The Telegraph U.K.
Inextricably linked to controversial mosque: the secret world of IFE
On Whitechapel Road in the heart of the East End stands the East London Mosque.
By Andrew Gilligan
Published: 8:00AM GMT 28 Feb 2010
For most of the 15,000 ordinary Muslims who pray there each week, it is simply a place of worship. For many, it provides valuable social facilities, and creche and outreach services.
But for a small number, the mosque is the headquarters of a secretive, fundamentalist political network. The Islamic Forum of Europe is dedicated, in its own words, to changing the “very infrastructure of society, its institutions, its culture, its political order and its creed … from ignorance to Islam”.
The mosque and IFE are inextricably intertwined. Dr Mohammed Abdul Bari, the chairman of the mosque, and its vice-chairman are former IFE presidents.
The director and imam of the mosque are trustees of the group. Of 22 IFE trustees in recent years, only five have not also been trustees or officeholders of the religious centre.
The mosque calls the IFE a “social welfare organisation” and the IFE presents itself as committed to “community cohesion” and “tolerance”.
But the undercover reporters discovered that it was also a sophisticated political group with a structured rank system and hardline goals.
Prospective recruits must attend training. One undercover reporter was told that she would have to take an exam and swear an oath of allegiance and ordered to keep her membership of the IFE a secret.
The reading list for the recruits’ training course consists of the key works of the revolutionary political creed known as Islamism, which advocates the overthrow of secular democratic government and its replacement by Islamic government.
The key text, Let Us Be Muslims, by Syed Mawdudi, a high priest of Islamism, instructs recruits: “The sacred duty of Muslims … wherever you are, in whichever country you live, you must strive to change the wrong basis of government, and seize all powers to rule and make laws from those who do not fear God.”
This newspaper obtained an official transcript from the two-day annual training camp held for the IFE’s youth wing, the Young Muslim Organisation UK, held in Leicestershire last June. In one talk, Muhammad Rabbani, a trustee of the youth wing, told the recruits: “Our goal is to create the True Believer, [and] to then mobilise these believers into an organised force for change who will carry out dawah [preaching], hisbah [enforcement of Islamic law] and jihad. This will lead to social change and Iqamatud-Deen [an Islamic social and political order].”
The nature of that Islamic social and political order in Britain was made clear when Mr Rabbani said: “Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.” He instructed the recruits to “protect yourselves” from music, television and “free mixing with women in that which is not necessary”.
Another speaker, Shaikh Abdullah Zainal Abideen, told the trainees: “Victory is for Islam and Muslims”, stressing the importance of “distinguishing … who the enemies are, both from outside the circle of Islam and within the circle of Islam”.
Mr Abideen attacked key moderate Muslims for “flirting with the West and the media to convince them that we are ‘good peaceful Muslims’”.
He said they were examples of “deviation” who would go to hell. Another IFE document said: “IFE’s primary work is in Europe because it is this continent, despite all the furore about its achievements, which has a moral and spiritual vacuum.”
Azad Ali, the IFE’s community affairs coordinator, was filmed by the undercover reporters stating: “Democracy, if it means at the expense of not implementing the sharia, no one’s going to agree with that.”
The IFE is not itself a violent organisation. None of its members is known to have been personally implicated in any terrorist act and it has, apparently sincerely, condemned terrorist attacks in London.
However, the IFE appears satisfied to host speakers who advocate hatred and violence. Several of its senior officials, including Mr Ali, until recently defended Anwar al-Awlaki, who is blamed for inspiring at least three terrorist attacks, including September 11 and the attempted underwear bombing in Detroit.
Several IFE activists and officials, including Mr Ali, support Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organisation by the British and American governments. Mr Ali advocates the destruction of Israel, justifies the killing of British troops in Iraq, believes al-Qaeda is a “myth” and has praised Osama bin Laden’s mentor, Abdullah Azzam.
The mosque also insisted it was tolerant and liberal. Its assistant general secretary, Shaynul Khan, claimed it was “at the forefront of promoting integration [and] cohesion”. Dr Bari has promised: “If I hear of a specific preacher inciting hatred, I will ban him from the mosque.”
The investigation by this newspaper has established that far from being “banned”, hate and extremist preachers regularly appear at the mosque. It has hosted at least 27 of them over the past three years, and at least 18 of them over the past year alone.
They included Murtaza Khan, who said at the mosque that any woman who used perfume was an adulterer; Bilal Philips, named by the US government as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing; Hussein Yee, who said September 11 was a conspiracy of the Jews; and Mr al-Awlaki, whose last video talk at the mosque, on Jan 1, 2009, was advertised with a poster of New York under bombardment.
The mosque claimed it was a neutral host and welcomed all-comers. However, it officially hosts some extremists — for example, in August 2008 Mr Philips was invited to give Friday prayers.
Some moderate Muslims have claimed they were not welcome at the mosque. Maajid Nawaz, the director of the Quilliam Foundation think tank, said he was refused permission to appear there for an Institute for Public Policy Research event in November 2008. “They [the institute] were told that my views were unacceptable,” he said.
This only goes to prove that muslims cannot get involved in politics. The jews have done this for many many years and they even have a zionist lobby (the same exact thing that IFE are being accused of) so whats the big deal? One rule for some?
This is none other than a failed attack on one of the biggest Muslim worships sites in Europe. I don’t know what this guy “ANDREW” is trying to achieve by trying to defame the East London Mosque, but he forgets to realise the true purpose of this organisation, ‘PEACE’.
This ‘Biased’ accusation is none other than a stab at the innocent and loyal Muslim society in tower hamlets. “ANDREW” forgets to realise that by trying to defame the IFE, he has defamed many innocent Muslim civilians and non Muslims alongside. This has surely sparked a pang of anger in the hearts of many innocent Muslims and we will not sit and take all this bullocks. It is time we declare our rights and speak against this injustice.
Peace
Hanif Ahmed
I have to wonder Hanif Ahmed, if you read the article. More importantly, I have to wonder if you understand print journalism? Andrew Gilligan is a reporter who reports the facts. His first paragraph clearly states that for the majority of the 15,000 Muslims who attend the east London Mosque it is nothing more than a place of worship. For a small group of fundamentalists, it is home to their headquarters.
If you understand the proper definitions of slander and libel, there can be no accusation of defamation as members of the IFE are quite open in their sentiment. In addition, I would suspect that many of the innocent and loyal within the Muslim society in Tower Hamlets would find their sentiment as troubling as anyone and most likely would prefer to disassociate themselves from the IFE so your second claim of defaming innocent Muslims and non-Muslims alike is faulty.
If the IFE insists on openly inviting radicals who spew hatred against others and the East London Mosque plays host, then both only have themselves to blame for any bad publicity resulting from investigative journalism and reporting.
Funny that whenever Islamists are outed, the same catch phrases appear in their defense by apologists; injustice, rights, defame, media bias, demand, declare, attack. Please don’t pretend to speak for all Muslims as I’m certain many would disagree with your view and if asked to speak out against any injustice would do so at the IFE. Seems we spell PEACE much differently.
lol im suprised at your ignorance
I’m sure you have heard of something called ‘Opinions’ and ‘Facts’?
Can you please supply me with some proof IFE “spews hatred against others” and “The east London mosque plays host” is such a failed comeback. First of all have you ever been to an IFE meeting or a programme? If so, you will find out that they spew love and brotherhood against others.
As for you second claim that “The east London mosque plays host”. I’m sure you have heard of something called the LMC? Or are your researching skills that poor. LMC is the building right next to the east London mosque and which is self funded and consist of many Muslim activities and groups such as the IFE.
Since your not a Muslim you self please stay out of this because you have no right to speak as a representative of a Muslim, and as for ‘The injustice” IFE has caused. Can you give me some examples? Have you heard of something called point, evidence and explain?
The documentary is not only Islamophobic in nature but it preys on public fears about extremism. The programme utilises emotive and provocative language and misleading information to create an impression that IFE is a sinister, secretive and anti-democratic organisation which condones and promotes violent extremism. The picture painted of IFE is contrary to our knowledge and experience of the organisation and indeed its track record.
This is irresponsible and reprehensible journalism by Channel 4, which makes a mockery of its stated aim of representing and celebrating Britain’s diversity and multi-culturalism. Similar claims were made in the not so distant past against the Irish and Jewish communities. This dishonest portrayal of a mainstream Muslim organisation like the IFE will only contribute to further alienating young Muslims and draw them towards extremism.
It begs the question; what is wrong with Muslims being politically engaged and active in civic society and the politics of the common good?
Please get your facts right before you post such failed comments.
1. Grace is not speaking as a Muslim. No one in their right mind would want to ‘speak as a Muslim’. She is speaking as someone who is concerned with what Muslims are doing in wesrtern nations, things that they would not tolerate for ten seconds in nations where Muslims have overt political power. Do Churches in Saudi Arabia spew hatred against Muslims? Oh wait no they don’t because any other faith is illegal there. Church’s are burned down in nations where Muslims have the numbers to do so with impugnity. I think perhaps in that, the ‘Kafir’ world should adopt Islam. We should treat Islam exactly as Islam treats us. Let’s see how much the umma likes that.
By the way, there is nothing wrong with standing up and being involved with the political process. But don’t fantasize that means you can do anything you want including subverting every single aspect of western culture that we hold sacred and not be challenged or fought on it. Like the people who cry ‘freedom of speech’ when someone argues with their nonsense. As if somehow freedom of speech means we all have to agree.
Islam is pernicious and dangerous and must be stopped as did Nazism, to which it is profoundly related, and communism, which imagines it is using Islam to destroy capitalism. In reality, Islam will destroy us all sooner or later if we do not actually recognize it for what it is.
If a non-Muslim cannot comment on a newspaper article about an Islamic organization and its activities, it logically follows that the reverse is true, i.e, that an Islamic organization or Muslims cannot comment on or make demands on non-Muslim society. The organization in question in question is doing exactly that, as are Muslims — constantly.
The article includes quotes from those connected to the IFE, and is factual, not opinion. The documentary also includes statements from the IFE about the findings included in the documentary, as well as interviews with several moderate Muslims, who are offended by the IFE, not by criticism of it. To suggest that all Muslims are offended by criticisms of this organization is to suggest that these aren’t real Muslims, or that they are apostates — a charge that, in Islam, carries the death penalty, and a modus operandi that derives from Qutb. It’s these moderate Muslims that need defending from the extremists, not the other way around.
Eeyore – you miss an important fact that churches (in fact massive churches) exist in muslim countires, syria, eqypt, jordan, turkey etc. As when muslims ruled they are forbidden to burn down places of worship and christians and jews are frre to pratice their religions as long as it does not break the law of the land. So you really need to get your facts straight mate.
The whole programme was scaremongering it was clear to see that dirty politics was at play. IFE have ‘apparantly’ become influental over local council so since they are muslims spread the rumour of extremism (even though they have openly decounced it). Looks like you cant win even if you openly denounce extremisim you will still be one because you are a muslim eh?
Finally very few from the extremists have said they want to establish an islamic state in the uk or become the government. Do you guys not read the news – they want a state in a muslim land.
The scaremongoring is soooooo funny how you throw a few words around and suddenly the muslims are taking over our country and they are going to make us all wear hijab and cut of our hands ha ha ha! Boy talk about paranoia.
Finally what laws have chnaged the values of the british way of life in support of the muslims – none! FACT. The whole inflitration and take over of the whole uk government is a overhyped myth.
Ahmed, I have heard of opinions and fact and fully understand the difference. No, I have not been to a meeting of the IFE or any other of their community ‘cohesion and religious tolerance meetings’ to hear the Islamist spew of love and brotherhood AGAINST others. Do you know Freud? Perhaps you slipped.
The only LMC I am familiar with is the London Music Collective which I’m certain the IFE would like to see abolished along with t.v. and gender mixing under their ‘ Victory is for Muslims’ campaign. As for the East London Mosque playing host to radicals, they do so openly as they have admitted.
Any fears about radicalism are justified and the IFE does in fact promote violent extremism, unless of course you feel that the annihilation of Israel falls under ‘community cohesion and religious tolerance’. And what of the ignorant (kufar) to be released to Islam or the IFE’s own self proclaimed, ambitious plan to impose sharia on the broader society through da’wah, hisbah and jihad? Point, evidence and explain.
And for what it’s worth, I do not take directives from Islam and will speak of whatever I want. PEACE.
Shaykh Wiki, the thing about your post and frankly, posts from Muslims in general, is the tactic of throwing handfuls of dung agianst the wall and seeing if it sticks is rather banal and takes more time that it is worth. first, you tell a few blatant lies, then a distortion or two, what is a little kitman or Al Taqyyia between enemies of allah after all, and then build a pseudo argument on the house-of-dried-dung you built at the opener. It would take a dozen scribes a week to counter all the nonsense you spew above. But let;s just start with the fact that sharia law says, that no new churches or houses of worship may be built in Muslim lands. That if one is damaged, it may not be repaired. Muslims of course are never prosecuted for vandalism when it comes to taking down churches or dare I say it, ‘synagogues’. It seems to me that Muslims will spend more resources blowing up massive statues of Buddha than they would building schools to teach their own how they might build those statues themselves.
It is my theory that the Pyramids and the Sphinx are still standing only for one reason. Muslims never developed the technology necessary to destroy them before there was tourist money in it. But I digress. Shall I fetch you chapter and verse of Koran and hadiths that instruct what I have said with respect to non Muslim places of worship? I’m guessing I don’t need to do that you where just hoping I didn’t know about it.
Churches in Pakistan are destroyed on a whim. Same in Africa wherever Islam is in ascendancy. As for the law of the land, of course you mean Sharia. Would that be the law that has caused Muslims to brun down well over a dozen churches in Indonesia because the Christians there also use the word ‘Allah’ to mean god? Personally I think the churches should be burned because they want to. But interestingly it is the Muslims who are attacking them for doing so.
So much for ‘inclusivity’. As to the rest of your post, anaesthesia for a stupid and sleeping west, lots and lots has changed. Christians are routinly prevented from displaying their own symbols while mosques are featured. Shall I dig up the links about the hospital that would allow paintings of Mosques bit not churches as decoration in the UK? How more and more schools are having to conform to Halal and Islamic standards while abandoning their own? How British kids are having to go to Mosques and pantomine Muslim ritual, while NO Muslim children are expected to adapt to British ways of life? How women both Muslim and non in theUK are now dramatically less safe and with less appeal to law than before the Islamic invasion? Or how there are thousands of no-go zones in the UK where England no longer seems to have sovereignty.
Either you don’t read this blog enough ‘mate’ or you are shovelling it on, hoping we won’t notice.
I agree with all that EEyore has to say on this subject! Well said!
I agree with everything that Eeyore has said on this subject.