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 COUNCIL of INDIAN MUSLIMS (UK)
/ PRESS RELEASE
British Indian Muslims Anxious at Irresponsible Media Reports
London, 17 August, 2006: Council of Indian Muslims — UK (CIM) has expressed deep sense of shock at the alleged involvement of British born Muslims of Indian descent in the high profile and, if true, highly deplorable plot to blow up aeroplanes.
“The whole saga is as painful and frightening for us as it is for other Muslims in the country. But for us this is a double tragedy because Indian Muslim youths do not have a record of being infected by the disease of terrorism. However, the alleged involvement of British born Muslims of Indian descent has shocked us all.” CIM’s Chairman Mr Munaf Zeena said in a statement issued here today.
“We have always deplored and opposed terrorism and will continue to cooperate with the police in its anti-terror campaign. However, because there is no information available to the public about the alleged plot and related evidence, it would be foolish for anyone to jump to conclusions. We are particularly concerned at the mischievous reporting in some of the press establishing, almost with certainty, that all of the alleged detainees are guilty.” Zeena said.
“We have adopted the policy of wait and see until more information is available and would urge the media to do the same.” Zeena added.
Mr Zeena, who is also the Chairman of North London Muslim Community Centre and Co Chair of Muslim Jewish Forum, further said, “Until the accused are proven guilty, the media has no right to act in such an irresponsible way. We live in a multi-ethnic and multi religious society and irresponsible reporting and insensitive comments in the press will not be conducive to good inter-communal relations in India as well as in the UK. While trying to malign the whole Muslim community for an alleged crime, media people should not forget the fact that of all the 1000 arrests made in the past for the so called terror crimes, charges could be brought up only against seven percent and most of them were for petty crimes rather than terrorism.”
COUNCIL of INDIAN MUSLIMS (UK)
66c Cazenove Road, Stoke Newington, London N16 6AA UK Tel: 020 8806 1147 Fax: 020 8806 6859,
www.coim.org.uk , Email: info@coim.org.uk
For further information please contact Munaf Zeena on 07956335384 «
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