London, Jan 13, IRNA — British Muslims have criticised the government’s decision to ban the extremist Islam4UK entity and its other pseudonyms, saying the only beneficiaries are bigots and Islamophobes.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) also questioned why such right-wing groups as the English Defence League (EDL), which have provoked violence by targeting mosques, were not being outlawed instead.
“Our overriding concern should be for the public safety of our citizens, irrespective of their backgrounds,” said MCB secretary general Abdul Bari.
“We are concerned that violent protests by groups such as EDL, are still free to cause people to fear for their safety in violation of our laws, yet non-violent groups are at risk of being banned for political expediency,” Bari said.
“We would also encourage the government to disclose the consultation process that took place, and with whom before deciding to ban the group,” he said in a statement obtained by IRNA.
On Tuesday, Home Secretary Alan Johnson laid an order to add Islam4UK and other names the group calls itself to the list of Muslim groups proscribed for the “glorification” of terrorism even though they are not known to be involved in the use of violence.
The MCB described the group led by Anjem Choudary, as a “tiny band of misfits” which the overwhelming majority of Britons, including Muslims, want nothing to do with.
“Addressing this public nuisance by banning the latest nomenclature of the same individuals will not serve long term interests,” it warned.
The decision to proscribe Islam4UK comes after it controversially proposed last week to march through a town in southern England used for the repatriation of UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan to highlight the thousands of Muslim civilian killed in the war.
The plan was widely condemned, including by Muslims and on Sunday, Choudary announced that the march through Wootton Bassett had been cancelled, saying it had “successfully highlighted the plight of Muslims in Afghanistan”.