Quilliam Foundation gets funding pulled

[WM]

http://maqasid.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/quilliam-foundation-the-beginnng-of-the-end/

The Quilliam Foundation, the think tank devoted to promoting harmony in West/Islam relations, is facing the withdrawal of its financial backers.

The foundation was set up by former Hizb ut-Tahrir members Maajid Nawaz and Ed Husain in April with the explicit aim of freeing Western Muslims from “the cultural baggage of the Indian subcontinent and the political burdens of the Arab world”. Its work has already been feted by such figures as Michael Gove, the Conservative Shadow Secretary for Children, Schools and Families, and socialite Muslim Jemima Khan. But now its financial backers, based in the Gulf, have cut off funding because they are incensed at its criticism of Ken Livingstone’s favourite Islamist, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi.

Husain, author of The Islamist, who is now seeking new sources of funding from Muslims based here in the UK, blames the Muslim Association of Britain and the Muslim Council of Britain for mounting “a character assassination attempt” on his organisation and intimidating its advisers. “It’s a challenge having the funds pulled out,” he tells me. “But it’s not easy for normal Muslims to condemn figures like Qaradawi and then sustain themselves. The people who are trying to shut us down are the same people who were behind Ken Livingstone’s campaign to mount a character assassination of Boris Johnson, portraying him as a racist.”

Evening Standard, 27 May 2008

[WM]

I'm sure the Home Office will be more than willing to step in ;)

[Abu wakee]

Alhamdulilah.

[Yasir]

... to mount a character assassination of Boris Johnson, portraying him as a racist.”Boris admitted that much himself! He had to apologise for his comments on “piccaninnies” and “watermelon smiles”.

[Yasir]

muhaqiq, do you have a link to the actual article from The Evening Standard?

[WM]

Sorry bro, I can't get any better than this:

http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2008/5/27/ed-husain-accuses-muslim-critics-of-intimidation.html

But I'm sure you could search the Evening Standard online and find something.

[WM]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-archive.do

Couldn't find it. They're archive is terrible; 24-27 May missing, most stories left out etc.

I did find this, though: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23487640-details/Who's+in+and+who's+out/article.do

"The energy of London is nowhere more reflected than in the shifting balance of power among its thoughtmakers, trendsetters and leaders. Every week, Gideon Spanier looks at who's in and who's out."

Ed Husain isn't 'in' ;)

I guess the market is over-saturated with his type nowadays. That said, he's done quite a lot to stick out.

[Magoo]

off the topic abit but did you hear that james whales (talk sport presenter) got sacked from his job on the radio after over 10 years of service for saying "vote boris"

[Abu Ma'mar]

I used to listen to him every single week day night on the radio but i haven't listened to him in maybe 3yrs.

The radio watchdogs were on him for years though, the amount of time he would attack callers was crazy.

They wanted to get him fired a long time ago when he had a fight with that evil Jewish presenter.

[Yasir]

JZK muhaqqiq…off the topic abit but did you hear that james whales (talk sport presenter) got sacked from his job on the radio after over 10 years of service for saying "vote boris"It’s part of Ofcom’s broadcasting regulations (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/codes/bcode/elections/) that broadcasters are not to show any bias towards a political party in the run-up to a poll.

You may recall Islam Channel (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/jul/31/ofcom.broadcasting) being fined £30,000 last year because of similar breaches.

[Yasir]

that was why sister yvonne ridley left the channel right?It may have been one of the factors, but there seems to have been a little more to it (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/apr/21/pressandpublishing3)…

[Magoo]

JZK muhaqqiq…It’s part of Ofcom’s broadcasting regulations (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/codes/bcode/elections/) that broadcasters are not to show any bias towards a political party in the run-up to a poll.

You may recall Islam Channel (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/jul/31/ofcom.broadcasting) being fined £30,000 last year because of similar breaches.

that was when yvonne ridley got taken off, i remember, also now u mention it i remember george galloway being very careful on party related questions on his show, explains alot, jzk

james whales gave me jokes, he was well into his conspiracy theiries, i think mansoor ali would have liked his show

[Brother_Mujahid]

It is ironic, Mahboob "Eddy" Hussein and Maajid Nawaz talk about separating religion from politics (separation of church and state), yet they want to government to fund their organization and help push their religious agenda.

I also find it interesting how Hussein has allied himself with right-wing figures like Boris Johnson, as if he is posturing for a job at jihadwatch.com or the American Enterprise Institute, or even trying to get a job with the BNP.

[Ibn_Anas]

May allah swt disgrace these hypocrites.

[fahim1]

they are a disgrace as it is but inshallah they will be brought lower than this and they will be recompensed fully on the day of ressurection.

[anam]

anyone remember Ian Lee:D


Anyway when Galloway came he exposed the general hatred for Muslim or foreigners and the pro jewish facist stance of some of the presenters

[Umm]

May allah swt disgrace these hypocrites.
Ameen.

And be not compliant to the unbelievers and the hypocrites, and leave unregarded their annoying talk, and rely on Allah; and Allah is sufficient as a Protector. 33/48

[Logic lover]

These are not hypocrites, rather apostates. Hypocricy is not known to us as the hypocrites prentend to be Muslims. These people are open apostates.

[AbiSalahuddin]

You may recall Islam Channel (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/jul/31/ofcom.broadcasting) being fined £30,000 last year because of similar breaches.

Lol, I found that very funny indeed.

[Logic lover]

Freedom of speech cost them £30k. Freedom is costly in this world too.

[Naseer08]

Looks like the people backing them realized their a bunch of losers who arent going to accomplish anything.

[Abuz Zubair]

Looks like the people backing them realized their a bunch of losers who arent going to accomplish anything.
I think we should expose those responsible for backing them... It is bad enough backing ppl like that.

[green musallah]

New fund 'to stop radicalisation
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7432051.stm
Monday, 2 June 2008

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44710000/jpg/_44710483_mosqueprayer_ap226b.jpg

A new £12.5m fund is to be launched by the government in an attempt to tackle radicalisation in the Muslim community.

Community groups and councils in England and Wales will be allocated cash to fund projects that "challenge and resist" violent extremists.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the scheme was a "key element" of a four-stage counter-terrorism strategy.

But some critics have voiced concerns that the funding plans could alienate young Muslims.

The announcement comes as ministers are seeking new laws allowing police to hold terror suspects without charge for up to 42 days - an extension of the current limit of 28 days.

'Fresh approach'

The Home Office has also unveiled new guidelines on how to work with people who are deemed to be vulnerable to radicalisation, as well as supporting "mainstream voices" who oppose extremism.

Grassroots projects would also benefit from the funding - especially in areas of England and Wales where extremists have been active.

This would see police leading projects to identify those who are thought to be at risk of being targeted by extremists.

The Prison Service is also being asked to carry out further work to tackle radicalisation among inmates.

Ms Smith said a "fresh approach" was needed to deal with the national security threat to the UK.

"A key element of our strategy aims to stop people getting involved in extremist violence," she said.

The new initiative to prevent radicalisation is one of the four prongs of the government's counter-terrorism strategy, known as Contest, which includes pursuing offenders and disrupting threats.

'Loss of integrity'

The strategy was welcomed by West Midlands Police - seen as one of the key areas where extremists are active.

Ch Supt Paul Scarrot told the BBC: "It's about dealing with the problem at it's origin.

"Instead of picking up the pieces, let's do something about it and work with all communities, whoever they are, to prevent extremism."

But others have expressed concerns that the proposals would be ineffective and risk alienating young Muslims.

Dr M G Khan, of the University of Birmingham, who has campaigned against negative portrayals of Muslims, said: "It really is like trying to sell Christmas to a Turkey.

"I know organisations who are reluctant to accept funding on the basis of preventing violent extremism, simply because they feel they would lose integrity - it would compromise access to young people."

BBC home editor Mark Easton said many mosques were signing up to the strategy and that the timing of the announcement was significant.

He said: "The government wants to reassure the country - and its own backbenchers - that when it comes to fighting extremism, it's about carrot as well as stick."