British Muslims “disown” the Woolwich murderers, and such extremists should be “totally demolished” in UK society — but in order to do that, the UK must change its “illegal” foreign policy, imam of the Oxford Islamic Congregation Dr. Taj Hargey told RT.
The
beheading of a UK soldier near the Woolwich army barracks in
southeast London on Wednesday has shocked the country, and was
condemned as “horrific” and “sickening” by UK
officials. “Strong indications” the murder was connected to
terrorism and Islamic extremism were also noted by UK Prime
Minister David Cameron.
But the Muslim community in the UK had never known such brutal
terrorist attacks until the UK’s previous government drew Britain
into overseas conflicts in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan, and
started “slavishly following” US policies, Dr. Hargey
explained.
RT: Do you agree with the allegations that the
attackers’ actions were inspired by radical Islam?
Dr. Taj Hargey: We need firstly to condemn this murder in
the strongest possible terms, and to send condolences to the
victim’s family and the loved ones. Yes, I think there is an
element of that… But it’s not just Islamic fundamentalism, there is
also a linkage, I believe, between what Tony Blair did with his
illegal war in Iraq and subsequent slavish following of US policy.
I mean, there was no Muslim terrorism in the United Kingdom until
Blair went illegally into Iraq. And I think we need to admit and to
acknowledge that fact… not just to blame it on Islamic
fundamentalism.
RT: One witness report is saying one of the meat
cleaver killers was seen in the local community days before
“preaching hatred.” From what you see and hear around you — how
widespread are radical sentiments among Muslims in Britain?
TH: I think, they are most probably recent, or new Muslim
converts, they are fundamentalists, this brand of Islam is
attractive to them. I don’t think they were born Muslims, these two
people, I would be very surprised if they were. But what is
important to remember is that they are being breast-fed on this…
Islamic extremism and radicalism — that the only way to deal with
the situation is by violence. All integrated British Muslims know
that, although we are against British foreign policy, we can
protest legitimately and through democratic means — you do not have
to slaughter someone in the streets of London.
RT: When it comes to the Muslim community in the
United Kingdom, some refer to an ‘outspoken minority but a silent
majority.’ Isn’t there a responsibility for the majority to step up
and do something about this?
TH: Absolutely, and I think it’s high time that the
majority came out of the woodwork, so to speak. They have to put
their heads above the parapet, we need to confront these radicals
and extremists. Now, where is this extremism coming from? It is
coming from the philosophies, like the Wahhabis in Saudi Arabia,
and the Taliban in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and the Salafis in
Syria.
We need to tackle this — this type of imported virus is coming
from the Muslim heartland, it’s got no place in a Western society,
or in the United Kingdom. So yes, it is up to the majority to take
on this minority. The minority is very few — I wouldn’t put them
more than 1 or 2 percent of the population, and their ideology and
philosophy must be totally demolished. It must be shown not have
anything to do with Islam.
RT: What can the UK authorities do to protect the
people and to prevent such attacks from happening in the
future?
TH: The United Kingdom must look at the causes of this. I
think that for us just to deal with the aftereffects of this
slaughter in Woolwich is nonsense — we need to look at what is
causing this. It is clearly UK forces in places like Afghanistan,
and the UK’s blind support for US policy with the Somalia, or
Yemen, or Syria, or wherever else. We need to take stock of that,
we can’t just expect that we are blameless. And I think once the
United Kingdom takes stock of this and sees how to be an impartial
actor on the world’s stage, that would be a big step forward.
RT: We’ve already seen anti-Muslim protests in London
in the aftermath of the attack, do you think there’s a danger of a
significant growth in anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant
sentiment?
TH: Absolutely. Last week, as you know, we had this issue
of Muslim pedophile gangs… in Oxford — they were convicted,
thankfully. So, last week it’s pedophilia, this week it’s terrorism
— so there is an escalating tendency to label all Muslims either as
terrorists or pedophiles. So the right-wing British national party,
and English Defence League, and other fascist groups are obviously
taking advantage of this.
So it’s incumbent on the mainstream majority Muslims to tackle
this, and say, firstly, we disassociate ourselves totally from all
forms of pedophilia, and, secondly, terrorism is not part of Islam.
And whatever is engaging in violent bloodshed and terrorist
activities — we disown you, and you can’t do that in our name… You
don’t kill someone in the name of God, Islam condemns that… it’s
pure blasphemy.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.
This article originally appeared on : RT