I'd like to see Sir Iq address the points made here regarding his defense of the jihadist group Hizb-ut-Tahrir, or here about his own background and earlier statements. But so far all we are getting is that such things are "preposterous."
"Top Muslim group denies extremist roots," from Reuters, with thanks to Scaramouche:
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's leading Muslim lobby group, thrown into the spotlight by last month's bombings in London, rejected an accusation on Sunday that its roots lay in extremist politics in Pakistan.Iqbal Sacranie, leader of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), said the allegation, made in the Observer newspaper, was "absolutely preposterous".
"I can't believe that anyone who knows anything about the MCB could take that statement seriously," he told Reuters.
In a lengthy report on the MCB, the Observer alleged the council's leadership and some of its 400 diverse affiliates had "links with conservative Islamist movements in the Moslem world" and "the extremist politics of Pakistan".
It said the links were particularly strong with Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan's leading mainstream Islamist party.
That party was founded by Syed Abul Ala Maududi, a respected Muslim scholar and commentator on the Qur'an, whom I quote in The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades). He declared that non-Muslims have "absolutely no right to seize the reins of power in any part of God’s earth nor to direct the collective affairs of human beings according to their own misconceived doctrines." If they do, "the believers would be under an obligation to do their utmost to dislodge them from political power and to make them live in subservience to the Islamic way of life."
As jihad (not the internal struggle variety) is a Hizb ut-Tahrir approved tactic in the implementation of a worldwide Caliphate, their claim of non-violence is nonsense, as is their defense by the MCB.
The following two-year old Heritage Foundation article concerning them is enlightening.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/RussiaandEurasia/BG1656.cfm
“Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami (Islamic Party of Liberation) is an emerging threat to American interests in Central and South Asia and the Middle East.
It is a clandestine, cadre-operated, radical Islamist political organization that operates in 40 countries around the world, with headquarters apparently in London.
Its proclaimed goal is jihad against America and the overthrow of existing political regimes and their replacement with a Caliphate (Khilafah in Arabic), a theocratic dictatorship based on the Shari'a (religious Islamic law). “
I believe Jamaat-e-Islami is essentiatly an Indian org, since it was founded in pre-partition India and continues to function under name Jamaat-e-Islami-e-Hind in India.
"The BBC should not allow itself to be used by the highly placed supporters of Israel in the British media to make political capital out of the July 7 atrocities in London." - "Sir" Iqbal.
I am sure I wrote to Al BBCeera a similar letter from the opposite viewpoint, only dfference is the word "Israel" being replaced by "Muslims.
Orwellian double speak from the the "Queens Pet Muslim" - as I believe other "Moderate Muslims" in the UK call him.
Al BBCeera could never, ever be described as Pro Israel - it is absolutely ridiculous for Sir Iqbal to say this - let alone write it down & send it to the DG.
The politics of deflection are rife amongst Muslim leaders - say anything, do anything but at all costs don't let the infidel broadcaster get a straight answer - even if they have bent over backwards to spread your word.
Apparently, the crux of the matter is the MCB's interpretation of "innocent victims". They won't condemn the deaths of Israeli citizens - women, children, men are all guilty by their very existence to the MCB.
You see, Sir Iqbal, we are concerned that your turny twisty use of the English language is hiding your true feelings & beliefs.
Now put your toys back in your pram & tell us the truth about your associates - you are, afterall, a Knight of the Realm, Knighted by the Head of the Christian Church of England, Queen Elizabeth the second, & by your word & your honour on that day, on your bended knees, you swore to uphold certain values.