Posted on 10/04/2001 8:54:17 AM PDT by jerod
Former Conservative prime minister Baroness Thatcher has criticised Muslim leaders in Britain over their response to the terror attacks in America.
Lady Thatcher said Muslim leaders had not spoken out strongly enough about the September 11 atrocities.
Muslim leaders have said they are very sad at what they view as an unprovoked attack from the Baroness.
They say they condemned the atrocities immediately and unequivocally.
"The people who brought down those towers were Muslims and Muslims must stand up and say that is not the way of Islam," she told The Times.
"Passengers on those planes were told that they were going to die and there were children on board. They must say that is disgraceful.
"I have not heard enough condemnation from Muslim priests."
Her remarks come at a sensitive time with Prime Minister Tony Blair about to embark on a new round of shuttle diplomacy to bolster support for the international coalition against terrorism.
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is also in the Middle East trying to reassure Muslim allies like Saudi Arabia and Egypt who are deeply concerned about the fall out in the Islamic world of any military action against Afghanistan.
Lady Thatcher left office more than ten years ago but her international stature ensures that her views still attract attention around the world.
Muslims in Britain reacted with sadness and surprise at the outburst.
Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, leader of the Muslim Parliament, said: "I am very sad and surprised that she has said this sort of thing.
"Coming from a person like Baroness Thatcher it is very hurtful.
"People need to know that out of over 6000 people who died in this terrible incident, over 1500 of them were Muslims.
"The Muslim community has had to suffer twice - once when someone dear to them died, the second time when people say things like this.
"On the question of terrorism, we are all on the same side.
"We all want the people who did this to be identified, brought to trial and given whatever punishment they deserve.
"All Muslim organisations expressed immediately their horror and shock at what happened. Like the PLO did??
" We have said it once, why do we need to keep on saying it? We have also been mourning our dead."
Sher Azam, president of the Bradford Council of Mosques, said: "I am not aware of any Muslim leaders in Britain who did not condemn this attack.
"Many Muslim lives have been lost in America. We don't see this attack in terms of nationality, colour or creed, just as loss of lives.
"It is very sad that Baroness Thatcher has made Muslims a target at a time when the Home Secretary has given us comfort by announcing legislation against religious hatred.
"As a result of the US attacks the lives of ordinary Muslims have been affected.
"Women wearing the traditional dress are more or less housebound. We have stepped up security at mosques and for children coming to and from the mosque because people are very, very frightened.
"At a time when Muslims need support and sympathy from people of influence, it is very sad that she has felt the need to launch this unjustified attack."
The ones who are losing it are those who think the most important thing to do is to make sure that not one Mohammedan anywhere on earth is offended by the USA.
The problem is that the moderates reacted in a moderate way, while the extremist reacted in an extremist way.
The Muslim leaders followed a very old fashion British way of doing things which was writing a letter condemning the terrorist outrage and offering condolences sighing it and posting the letter to the Times, the Telegraph the Guardian, the Daily mail and all the other quality and Broad sheet Papers.
The extremists do what they always do go out on the street screaming shouting, mouthing useless slogans and burning flags.
Guess who gets the most publicity.
It is a well established fact and in my own opinion a sad reflection on are media that demonstrations involving nutters is more newsworthy than a respectable march and offers of sympathy.
Tony
My A**.
But there was condemnation of the attack by British Muslims, they wrote letters and took out full-page adverts in the quality press, it is what passes for demonstrations by the more conservative of the British population.
Tony
Tony
I have only seen expressions of sadness for the loss, very general statements that Islam is a loving religion, and a failure to make a detailed theological response putting the Jihad, as practiced by these terrorists, completely outside Islamic thought. Go Maggie!
No she's not...she's exactly right. Are you losing it? Or more to the point...did you ever have it?
So the free world knows FOR SURE where you stand.
And so you won't wake up dead one of these days ...
The largest, most comprehensive survey on religious identification was done in 1990: the National Survey of Religious Identification (NSRI) calculated that 0.5% of the U.S. population was Islamic.
Are you trying to convince me the demographics of the WTC were that far off the national stats?
I haven't seen it either. And I've noticed that, while it's okay to subject American culture and foreign policy to all kinds of criticism and scrutiny, it is absolutely forbidden to make any call for a similar treatment of Islam. And where I work, I notice that those screaming the loudest that YOU CAN'T SAY "Islam is violent" have never read the Koran. A good, careful reading of the first 9 chapters would put a new flavor in their mouths, if they just had the guts to actually read it.
I still go back to the press conference that was televised on C-Cpan2 shortly after the attacks. The event featured representatives from Arab-American organzations, with the venue being the National Press Club.
All of the speakers issued nearly identical statements- they were shocked and saddened by the attacks, BUT, this was brought about by America's foreign policy (Israel). During the Q&A session, it became apparent that the media in attendance weren't real impressed with the presentation. After someone asked a question regarding Islam beliefs towards terrorism, one of the panel finally stood up and said what should have been said all along- they condemn the attacks, and there was no justification for carrying these attacks out.
It was truly pathetic.
Whoever said "Moderation in all things" probably never envisioned waking up on a sunny Tuesday morning and witnessing the murder of over 5000 people as he sipped his morning coffee.
How anyone on earth can assume a "business as usual" attitude" in affairs of the home or state after such an atrocity boggles the mind.
Unitil we have proof one way or another we shouldn’t shout bulsh*t.
Eventually there will be facts about all those who died including there religion, some of those who lost there children in the attack are British Muslims.
We are fighting an evil enemy, but there seems to be a drive by many too widen the war against all those who are seen as a threat, and know it seems that includes those who are not vocal enough in there condemnation of this attack.
There are many who would like to see this conflict turned into some sort of holy war against all Muslims. and following a well tried formula you start of with demonising the enemy using the old rules such as they are not like you and me and so on.
I have seen it in North Ireland, the Balkans and in Parts of Africa it just leads to more pain and tragedies and in one case a holocaust
We should stick to the job at hand eliminating Osama Bin Ladens Terrorist Network, his finances, support and resources.
Tony
They acted the way a lot of other people in my country acted with prayers, letters and adverts in the paper, expressing horror and outrage. Many took part in the candle light vigils
What did you do that was different to that.
Tony
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