Posted on 05/30/2004 3:46:50 AM PDT by aculeus
LONDON (Reuters) - The government has signalled its commitment to the Muslim community as a leaked document revealed a project to "win the hearts and minds" of Islamic extremists and al Qaeda sympathisers.
The government project codenamed "Contest", which was leaked to the Sunday Times, suggested Britain might be harbouring as many as 10,000 al Qaeda sympathisers.
This week police arrested hook-handed cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri who preached a radical message from his north London mosque and openly supported Osama bin Laden.
"We don't comment on leaks, but the government is taking its relationship with the Muslim community very seriously," said a government spokeswoman. "But that is only one part of the strategy against terrorism."
Moderate Muslim preachers would receive state funding under the plan, while radical foreign imams would be asked to pledge allegiance to the British way of life or face a ban, said the Sunday Times, claiming to have seen over 100 pages of secret documents.
Abu Hamza could be extradited to the United States, where he faces charges of plotting to set up an al Qaeda training camp in America and supporting a hostage-taking attack in Yemen.
"The aim is to prevent terrorism by tackling its underlying causes... to diminish support for terrorists by influencing relevant social and economic issues," cabinet secretary Sir Andrew Turnbull was quoted as saying in a letter prior to a May 19 meeting to discuss "Contest".
The project is said to have been prompted by the March 11 attacks on Madrid commuter trains, killing 191, and the discovery of over half a ton of bomb making material in a London warehouse two weeks later.
"Muslim-friendly workplaces" could be set up, along with moderate Muslim television and radio stations.
In a note to Home Office permanent secretary John Gieve, Turnbull called for a blueprint to win "the hearts and minds" of Muslim youth.
"Al Qaeda and its offshoots provide a dramatic pole of attraction for the most disaffected," he wrote. "The broader task is to address the roots of the problem, which include discrimination, disadvantage and exclusion suffered by many Muslim communities."
More than half of Britain's working-age Muslims are economically inactive, while 16 percent of them have never worked or are longterm unemployed -- five times the national average, according to a Home Office audit cited at the May 19 meeting.
Between 10,000 and 15,000 British Muslims actively support al Qaeda, said another paper.
Many Muslims are angered by the "double standards" of British foreign policy in the Middle East, it added.
"Democracy is preached, but oppression of the Ummah (the global Muslim nation) is practised or tolerated, for example in Palestine, Iraq, Kashmir and Chechnya," said the paper.
I thought France would be the first country to go under sharia, but maybe I was wrong.
The poor Brits just don't get it. The only thing Muslims would consider "Muslim friendly" is when the whole country is under Islam.
""The broader task is to address the roots of the problem, which include discrimination, disadvantage and exclusion suffered by many Muslim communities."
If they buy into this, they are surely doomed. I hope Steyn does a piece on this.
Wasn't it just yesterday when Alqueeda said it didn't want to attack Great Britain's embassy but to rule Great Britain?
Note to Britain: Those aren't the kinda hearts and minds you want to win. Hint: Did you cuddle up to the Nazis?
BAD idea!
As many as 10,000? All potential Al Q sympathizers? And that's not counting the "moderate" muslim community?
Brits better get their act together FAST.
mewzilla: Note to Britain: Those aren't the kinda hearts and minds you want to win. Hint: Did you cuddle up to the Nazis?
Well, no, but Britain hadn't allowed millions of Nazis to immigrate prior to WWII. Now they have 'diversified' and the British are swamped with Muslims to muddle through with.
Muslims.
A warped article from Reuters......what a surprise
Well, not all Muslims are Islamists. And non-Islamist Muslims have almost as much to worry about with regards to the loonies as does the rest of Britain. But cuddling up with Islamists makes about as much sense as cozying up to a rattlesnake. Sheesh.
It doesn't matter if the brits get it or not. War is upon them.... whether they wish it or not.
The Brits are a very tolerant people, as we are, but dont underestimate the general population. The friends I have there are getting real short tempered with this Islamagarbage.
This is a big mistake on the part of the Brits.
Did you note how many are "economically inactive"? Translate-welfare recipients. They are sponging on the Brits while spending their time studying the Koran and figuring out ways to overthrow the govt.
These people are separateand isolated because THEY WANT TO BE. They HATE British culture. Nope, the Brits just don't get it. They need a litmus teat--either commit to the British way of life or go back to Egypt, Saudi, Yemen, etc.
vaudine
These fools in the government don't get it. The Muslims are already in a free nation, that allows ALL of these things if they simply ask for them or work for them. Nothing prevents you from praying. Nothing prevents you from eating the food you desire, how you raise your family, what church-synagogue-mosque you attend. So why are they still so radical?
Um-hmm. So they'll all say they're moderate, won't they? And they'll keep pressing the limits, and no one will call their hand. Until eventually, Christianity is banned.
The trouble is, I'm not at all sure we won't follow the same foolish path.
Most Brits don't get it, the ones who do are already packed and ready to leave.
Might be a different story if we had the right to defend ourselves.
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