The Muslim Safety Forum

The Muslim Safety Forum (MSF)
Community Update & Press Release 21st August 2006

The MSF has contacted the Metropolitan Police, ACPO and the CPS and raised concerns following the charges earlier today.

"Following the charges made earlier, the MSF would like to draw your attention to any media, organisation of individual that is likely to further community tensions following these charges against 11 people for the alleged terror plot.

We would ask you to monitor and act robustly against those that are deemed to be breaching the Contempt of Court act or are straying in to matters that are Sub-Judice. We would expect that those charged should be allowed to face a fair trial and not be demonised or sentenced in the media.

We would draw your attention to the irrational behaviour of certain people on a Monarch airlines flight from Spain recently. The level of Islamophobia being stoked has reached irrational levels. We expect swift and robust handling of all Islamophobic attacks.

We expect that you will cascade our concerns to each borough and constabulary and ask them to be more vigilant and proactively seek to consult their local community on any issues."

We would ask the Muslim community to report all Islamophobic crimes to the Police and register it as Islamophobic. If you require assistance or have queries please do get in touch with the MSF.

Please for fair trial for those charged for the alleged terror plot to blow up airliners

The Muslim Safety Forum (MSF) urges the media and the wider community to allow the full process of the law to take its course, following the charges of 11 out of the 23 suspects arrested over an alleged plot to blow up airliners. The MSF has asked that the Police and the CPS take rigorous action against those that do not respect issues of sub-judice and are likely to fall foul of the Contempt of Court Act. Further, the MSF will ask the police to monitor some media outlets and organisations that have previously demonised Muslims to the extent of it becoming Islamophobic.

Azad Ali, Chair of the MSF said, " We hope that the Police, CPS and the Attorney General will act firmly against anyone who is likely to be in contempt of the due legal process which will either find these people guilty or not guilty."

The MSF, draws attention to those that are responsible in the irrational behaviour of passenger on the Monarch airlines flight from Spain recently, where 'mob' culture took the upper hand in demonising two young men. Islamophobia is on the rise and further demonising of the Muslim community is unacceptable. This is a direct result of the sensationalised reporting by certain media outlets.

"We would like to remind everyone of the sensationalism during the "Ricin" plot and the subsequent acquittal of those charged with that particular plot. It is wholly unacceptable to demonise anyone and possibly reducing the risk of a fair trial.

End

If you have any further queries then please contact:

Naeem Darr or Md Kalam
Muslim Safety Forum, London Muslim Centre
Business Wing, Suite 2, Second Floor,
38-44 Whitechapel Road
London E1 1JX
Tel. No. 020 7375 1811/12
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