LONDON,
September 24, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Tens of
thousands of people took to the streets of London on Saturday,
September 24, to protest against the recent anti-terror measures and
demand the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq.
The
march, organized by the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) jointly
with the Stop The War coalition and the Campaign for Nuclear
Disarmament (CND), set off from the Houses of Parliament at around
noon (1100 GMT), and moved to Hyde Park.
The
protesters raised banners reading "stop discrimination against
Muslims," and "end occupation of Palestine and Iraq."
"The
first causality of the 'War on Terror' is our own freedom and
liberties," read another banner. "We say ‘don’t take
liberties with our liberties’."
The
rally is being held to coincide with similar marches in Washington,
Rome, Paris, Copenhagen, Oslo and Helsinki to protest the US-led
invasion-turned-occupation of Iraq.
Chief
among the speakers addressing the rally are Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the
secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), MP Jeremy
Corbyn, Anas Al-Tikriti from MAB, and Fatima Mahmoud from the
Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS).
The
march is meant to "show our absolute opposition to Blair’s
attempts to erode Britain’s international reputation as upholding
civil liberties and freedoms," MAB said in a press release.
"The
new measures proposed by the Prime Minster will remove
fundamental freedoms in British society and will not make our
country safer. As a result, an atmosphere of hate and fear is created,
attacks on Muslims have recently increased by 600 percent.
Furthermore, the onslaught by right-wing extremists on Islam as a
religion has crossed every boundary."
Since
the July 7 terrorist bombings, which claimed the lives of 56 people
including four British Muslim bombers, the center-left government has
introduced a string of new anti-terror measures.
It
issued guidelines of "unacceptable behavior" under which it
can deport and ban Muslim scholars accused of fomenting, justifying
and glorifying acts of terror and violence.
Home
Secretary Charles Clarke has also vowed to use his powers to deport
and exclude foreigners engaging in behavior deemed to threaten
security.
Iraq
War
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"It is now time, once again, for the British people to step forward into the streets and insist that this time we will not be ignored," said German.
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The
protesters further slammed the US-led invasion-turned-occupation of
Iraq and called for the pullout of British soldiers from the
war-battered country.
"We
want to withdraw the troops from Iraq. Clearly what happened in Basra
this week shows that British troops aren't helping there, they make
the situation worse," Stop the War spokesman Viven Lehal told
Agence France-Presse (AFP).
An
Iraqi judge on Saturday, September 24, issued an arrest warrant for
two British soldiers for killing a policeman judge in the southern
city of Basra.
The
incident provoked anti-British protests across the city.
MAB
agreed that the events in Basra proved the most pressing need to
withdraw UK troops from Iraq.
"The
coalition forces are seen as an occupying force, and their continued
presence in the region exacerbates the instability in Iraq. Far from
being seen as liberators, our troops are in the firing line," it
said in a press release.
The
same position was taken Thursday by Charles Kennedy, the Liberal
Democrat leader.
He
urged the government to "confront the fact that the presence of
British and American troops in Iraq are a part of the problem."
"After
this week's events in Basra, we cannot sustain the myth that Iraqis
see coalition troops as liberators. What they see is an
occupation."
Wider
Support
Lindsey
German, one of the march organizers, told the BBC they received wider
support for their campaign.
"Stop
the War Coalition have received support for this demonstration from
musicians, artists, academics, theatre and film personalities,
business, religious and trade union leaders," she said.
"The
Lib Dems have this week called for our withdrawal, Anglican bishops
have added their voice to this demand."
Four
Church of England bishops offered Monday, September 19, that the
Church takes the lead in reconciling with British Muslims by
apologizing to their leaders for the US-led war in Iraq if the British
government fails to do so.
"Enough
is enough. It is now time, once again, for the British people to step
forward into the streets and insist that this time we will not be
ignored," German told the BBC.
Reg
Keys, whose son Tom was one of six Royal Military Policemen killed in
June 2003, and Peter Brierley, whose son Shaun died in Kuwait in April
of that year, also took part in the demo, calling for British troops
to be brought home.
Sue
Smith, whose son Phillip Hewett died in July when a roadside bomb
exploded under his vehicle near Basra, unveiled during the rally a
letter to Blair urging him to pull British troops out of Iraq.
"I
am sitting writing this letter hoping that you will understand how we
feel, but I know that you don't".
