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| | The already microscopically minuscule credibility of the Quilliam Foundation has suffered yet another hugely embarrassing setback with the publication of a new report from the Redbridge Faith Forum.
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The report produced by Redbridge Faith Forum (RFF) for Redbridge Safer Communities Partnership (RSCP), entitled, “Conversations with Muslim Community leaders in Redbridge about the Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) Agenda”, finds that contrary to the views articulated by the anti-Muslim brigade at Harry’s Place, the QF has no following whatsoever among British Muslims. According to the RFF report:
‘…negative view[s] towards the Quilliam Foundation [were] held almost universally by all participants and corroborated by attending meetings including Understanding Redbridge Communities (URC) meeting.’
Citing the views of respondents, the report reveals the collective disdain for organisations like QF which have been financed by the government to manufacture consent. Respondents said:
“About PVE, some Muslims are uncritically for the government; others are more distant from the mainstream. But there is big scepticism towards the Quilliam Foundation, with its staff on £80,000 salaries”.
“Yes Muslims are talking to No. 10 Downing St, but there are examples where the government is giving £1m to individuals who have no contact with the local community. Problems will come from this. It is not good giving money to the wrong people, with those who will all sing from the same hymn sheet that the government wants, because they appear to be meeting the government’s set objectives.”
"One major disappointment with the Quilliam Foundation was their silence on international issues and the need for the Muslim community to have an international voice in common with other major faiths."
“Instead (of support for MCB), they have given a £1 million to the Quilliam Foundation, who state that what happens in Palestine does not affect us here. Our support for Palestine is because of injustice. This is a two way thing. It is part of the principle of communitarianism of brotherhood all around the world. It is the affiliation we have because of the faith, of commitment to basic human values. The Roman Catholic Church is allowed to have this international perspective of connectedness all over the world. No one questions this. The same is true of British Jews and their commitment and support for Israel. We don’t say kill the Jews. That’s wrong.”
The Quilliam Foundation is not the only organisation criticised by participants for being out of touch with British Muslims:
“Representative grassroots organisations should be at the forefront of all this (consultative work with the government). The MCB (Muslim Council of Britain) were isolated by the government and the Sufi Council was promoted in their place. But people don’t accept the Sufi Council. The MCB should be representing Muslims nationally. We accept MCB at our Mosque. MCB say Holocaust Day should be for everybody and renamed the International Genocide Day and was disliked for saying this. The MCB does not go against the grain of the community. We work to consensus.”
The identification of many Muslims with the MCB is strongly evinced in the views of respondents. For example:
“As Muslim community leaders, we have to be realistic. We can’t deny true feelings of Muslim community. There has to be a responsibility from central government. Their policy has an impact on the inhabitants. The MP follows the whip’s line. This is dangerous and causes resentment. People will be disenfranchised.”
“The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) is not being allowed to represent the views of Muslims in Britain. Grass roots led organisations, with the voice of the people are affiliated to MCB. It has 400 bona fide affiliated organisations attached to it. The government needs to work with bona fide organisations. The MCB speaks in a just way, but the government does not want that. It stands up to Israeli bombings.”
“It has a balanced approach and is objective. We hoped the government would work with the MCB and help them to build its infrastructure.”
“MCB goes with the sentiment in the community. That’s a democratic right. It goes by debate to reach consensus. Our Mosque is similar. We want to be part of the mainstream. The Muslim sentiment in the local community is similar to that of the MCB.”
It is becoming increasingly difficult and embarrassing for the government to defend the considerable financial support the QF receives from various government departments. How long before the Home Office and Foreign Office publicly recognise the ruinous impact of the Quilliam Foundation and the damage it is doing to the government's credibility amongst British Muslims? We would urge all British Muslims that are working with local authorities across the UK on Preventing Violent Extremism initiatives to be vocal in making their views known to all local government officials about the QF stooges.
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