ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: Member of the British Parliament Lord Nazir Ahmed has observed that the Muslim rulers were responsible for the ‘bad reputation’ of Muslims.
Delivering a lecture on the ‘Future of British Muslims in post 9/11 scenario’ at the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) here on Tuesday, he said Muslims themselves and the super powers were also to be blamed for it.
Lord Ahmed said there was lack of education and understanding, so the Muslims were unable to highlight their view-point in an effective manner.
The incidents of 9/11 and 7/7 changed the world in many ways, he said adding that nowadays 53 per cent people of the United Kingdom think that Islam is anti-West though it is not.
Referring to the massive killings of Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq, he said the Muslims on the other hand feel they were under attack by the United States and the West.
Commenting on the claims of M-15 chief Dam Eliza Manningham- Buller that they had information about 30 different terror plots and at least 16,000 young British Muslims were under surveillance for plotting violence, he said the announcement was a prelude to new legislation aimed at curtailing rights of the British Muslims.
Mr Ahmed said that he was not suggesting that there was no terror threat but it was unfair to label all Muslims as suicide bombers. Nobody carries out suicide bombing for the sake of fun. “There is so much to be done in terms of community cohesion as rights and responsibilities go hand in hand,” Lord Ahmed added.
There was a need to work in partnership with the communities and not to stigmatise them. He stressed that all the citizens should be treated equal. Those who create problems should be alienated and those who do good job must be appreciated.
Stressing the need for tolerance, he said that there was no harm if somebody wears a veil. He observed that it was wrong for the governments to interfere in subjudiced matters. He slated British National Party leader Nick Griffin for issuing a provocative statement against Islam and claiming that Asian men were seducing under-age white girls.
