By IRNA,
London : The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has sent a congratulatory letter to US Ambassador to London Robert Tuttle, following the victory of Democrat Senator Barack Obama in the country’s presidential elections.
“I take this opportunity to congratulate you and your fellow citizens in crossing this historic threshold,” MCB secretary general Abdul Bari said.
“The election of Senator Obama to be your country’s 44th President has been hugely symbolic and will no doubt be a
cornerstone of inspiration for people well beyond the shores of the USA,” Bari said.
He said that the president-elect “inherits a situation where we are still discovering the extent of the global financial crisis, a fragile world where our peace has been threatened and where injustice continues to go unresolved.”
The MCB, which is the UK’s largest Muslim umbrella body with around 500 affiliated organizations, sent their best wishes to Obama as he take over the mantle of the US leadership and said that they hoped he carries the goodwill of the world with him.
Bari also suggested that the Democrat Senator would no doubt be a role model for many people, particularly including young British Muslims.
“He demonstrates the art of the possible and restores faith inn our democratic ideals. I wish him well as he proceeds to fix the damage done in our international system and in the Muslim world following the misadventure in Iraq,” he said.
The Muslim News also welcomed the landslide victory by Obama, saying it looked forward to a fresh approach to American policies in the world, especially in the Middle East.
“Even though Obama portrayed the traditional American bias towards Israel, he devoted much time on peace and justice,” Muslim News editor Ahmed Versi said.
“He also talked more about reconciliation in his victory speech, when he said he was willing to work even with his enemies,” Versi added.
But the editor of the monthly also cautioned that Obama faces massive challenges in overcoming the financial crisis sweeping the world and disengaging America from the notorious wars fought by President George W Bush.
“He said he is going to focus on Afghanistan, withdraw most of the troops from Iraq and wishes to engage with Iran, but the extent of his success will be not in his words but his actions,” he said.
The Muslim News expressed reservations on whether the US president-elect will be able to achieve a fair and just policy in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but expressed hope that he would adopt a fresh approach.