Channel 4/ Dispatch
A pre-determined agenda to create mischief
In the current era when British Muslims are being routinely demonised, it comes as no surprise that next Monday’s edition of the Channel 4 documentary programme, Dispatches,
clearly seeks to engage in sensationalism at the expense of peaceful community relations.
Based on the latest transcript we have seen, it is obvious that the programme has been
edited in a highly selective and unfair manner, to present an image of Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith which is grossly distorted.
It is revealing that Dispatches did not at any time ask us for an interview to respond on camera to their
claims.
Unfortunately, it appears that Dispatches set out with a pre-determined agenda to create mischief and portray some leading
Muslim organisations in a negative light, in order to foment sectarian divisions among British Muslims and generate mistrust among the British public.
We would like to make it clear that Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith cannot be regarded as endorsing
every word uttered by every speaker we invite to our various mosques. Islam commands us to respond in kind to those who desire peaceful co-existence.
If anyone contradicts this teaching then we would repudiate their views without hesitation.
The
Secretary General, of Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith, Shaykh Shouaib Ahmed has said:
“We
reject all forms of extremism. It is deeply alarming that a few sentences have
been taken out of context in order to create the impression that our institution is a hotbed of fanaticism they could have approached us directly - we operate an open door policy in our mosques. We have nothing
to hide. The religion of Islam is very clear.”
We believe that the Dispatches programme will play into the hands of those who wish to
exacerbate tensions within society.
In a response to Channel 4’s documentary the following letter has been sent to Andrew Smith, the producer of the programme, clarifying the issues raised regarding Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith.
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