Politicians need intelligence lessons on terrorism

Feb 21 2008 Agenda

Following the convictions of five men for plotting to kidnap and behead a Birmingham soldier, Councillor Salma Yaqoob and Waqar Ahmad Ahmedi give their views on the case.

Salma Yaqoob:  I welcome the successful prosecution of Parviz Khan and others for a plot to murder a British Muslim soldier and congratulate the police for their vigilance and determination. These people are a threat to us all and terrorism has no place in our country.

There is no Islamic justification for these kinds of plots which have more to do with emotional, self-indulgent machismo than any deep understanding of faith. Plots to kill people in this country do nothing to address the plight of the Iraqi and Afghani people.

In fact, the opposite is the outcome: the real horror and brutality of the violence experienced by hundreds of thousands of individuals on the receiving end of our bombs and bullets gets pushed aside.

I have marched under the slogan 'Not in my name' when it came to my Government justifying violence against innocents abroad. I also marched under the same slogan after the tragic events of 7/7 to condemn those members of the Muslim community who also show disregard for innocents at home.

It is essential that in counteracting the threat of terrorism we have confidence in the criminal justice system, and when the efforts of the police are directed towards protecting all of our communities in this way, they have the support of the overwhelming majority of Muslims in Birmingham.

It is worth reflecting on some of the lessons the case highlights.

When news first broke last year about a plot to kidnap a British Muslim soldier I was outspoken in publicly supporting the police in their attempts to prevent a terror attack. But I also highly critical of the manner in which news of the raids had been leaked to the press. The media circus that followed risked the success of the police inquiry; threatened to corrupt any future trial; and were used by several newspapers to whip up fear and hostility against the entire Muslim community. All the media people that I spoke to at the time said the leaks came from Whitehall.

These concerns were echoed by a number of others including the West Midlands Police Federation, Ken Clarke MP, Simon Hughes MP and Liberty. They have now been reiterated by the former Director General of the Security Services in the Intelligence and Security Committee's annual report: "We were very angry . . . that most of the story of the arrests in Operation GAMBLE were in the media very, very fast. Indeed, before the arrests in Birmingham, the press were pre-positioned and before the police had picked up one of the plotters and the surveillance was still out looking for them, the story was in the press. So the case was potentially jeopardised by the exposure of what the story was. My officers and the police were jeopardised by them being on operations when the story broke."

The warnings of the Intelligence and Security Committee should have received more attention in the final analysis of the lessons from this case. Instead the very thing the security services caution against - compromising anti-terror work by irresponsible coverage of specific cases, and the dangers of media depiction of the Muslim community as if they are all someway complicit for the actions of a handful - is now being repeated in the most recent coverage.

It is disappointing that in the media coverage of Parviz Khan, most journalists decided not to report comments from Assistant Chief Constable Anil Patani, who heads security and cohesion for West Midlands Police, about the support the police received from the Muslim community. Instead much of the press tone has been one of 'I told you so'.

Similarly, the intervention from the MP Khalid Mahmood (Labour Perry Barr) that these events should serve as a 'wake up call' is cynical politicking - simply reverting to idea that Muslim community is not on same side against terrorism.

The politicians and media need to take greater heed from those in the intelligence services at the front line in tackling the treat of terrorism. For example, recent comments from the outgoing head of the police's Muslim Contact Unit, Bob Lambert takes a more informed, sensible and effective approach to the strategy required to undermine the appeal of terrorism. He highlights the importance of encouraging Muslim engagement in democratic routes over Britain's foreign policy in the Middle East and Afghanistan. Indeed he praises the anti-war movement and radical MPs such as Jeremy Corbyn and George Galloway for their role in offering Muslim youth a way to channel their political grievances into peaceful political action.

The Birmingham Post (Comment, Feb 19) is right to state that while we all recognise and support the security services in the difficult task they have to perform, "it is worth taking care to avoid a return to the 1970s when innocent members of the city's Irish community felt they were being treated as suspected terrorists simply because they were Irish".

The evidence suggests that the intelligence services are conscious to learn from past mistakes. It is a pity more of our politicians and media pundits do not follow suit.

* Salma Yaqoob is Birmingham Sparkbrook councillor for the Respect party.

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Waqar Ahmad Ahmedi:  Particularly since the 9/11 attacks, there has been much speculation and comment in the media attempting to explain the psyche of terrorists and their passion for causing death and destruction in the name of God.

Following the recent convictions of five men who were plotting to behead a British soldier, less than two years after the 7/7 tragedy, the question still burns: what motivates a minority to commit such evil?

Dr Mohammed Naseem, chairman of the Birmingham Central Mosque, should be commended for vowing to visit the fanatics now behind bars with a view "to tap into their minds".

However, we already know that American and British foreign policy has been a major factor, as evidenced in Mohammad Sidique Khan's infamous video message in which he blamed not just leaders but normal everyday citizens for atrocities against Muslims - an obvious reference to Iraq, Palestine and Chechnya.

Arguably, the motivation of militants like Khan and now Parviz and the rest has never just been to ensure justice for their brethren in faith, but seems to be inspired by the distorted vision of global Islamic hegemony that bullies the whole of mankind into submission.

But much less apparent, though no less interesting, is a connection with - Jesus.

Muslims, like Christians, expect Christ to revisit the earth, a belief based on prophecies contained in their sacred scriptures. Yet the image of the returning Messiah, as painted by certain mullahs, would even send a shiver down George Bush's spine.

According to their literal interpretation, when the Prophet of Israel reappears, he will carry a sword, smash every crucifix in his sight and kill anyone rejecting Islam.

To all who know and love Jesus, as one who personified peace and forgiveness, the very thought is intolerable, as well as founded on a gross misreading of religious texts that reject such notions. The Qur'an, for instance, opposes coercion in matters of conscience, declaring: "There should be no compulsion in religion" (2: 257).

To the young and impressionable, though, it can be an attractive and exciting concept. What some, particularly those exposed to the Maududian perspective, are taught is that to be counted as true believers, and to help pave the way for Christ, they must strike fear into the enemy - even if it means offering their lives. It is the highest form of sacrifice they believe will earn them eternal bliss.

Equally, if not more worrying, is that this vile perception of Jesus, contrary to the Qur'an though it is, is espoused by some of the same so-called 'moderate' leaders frequently heard denouncing terrorism.

Whilst they may speak out against suicide missions, and deny responsibility for wannabe martyrs attending their mosques, matters are hardly helped by their own belief in a doctrine so deadly. It also seems hypocritical for them to condemn the callous murder of non-Muslims by radicals, whilst praying for Jesus to come and do precisely that.

Fortunately there are some groups, like the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, who since their establishment have rejected the vision of a violent Jesus. As a result, and because they pledge complete allegiance to a clear and consistent code of ethics under a Khalifa (Caliph), they have never had a problem of militancy or terrorism among their members. Part of the solution, therefore, seems to lie in addressing and challenging the erroneous and misguided ideology of certain Muslims.

Such change can only be brought about by believers through a jihad waged within their own communities that not only counters all forms of extremism, but roots out the very ideas that encourage it.

* Waqar Ahmad Ahmedi is chairman of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association in the Midlands.