Independent Inquiry Into the Aalami Majlise Tahaffuze Khatme Nubuwwat Stockwell Mosque
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Independent Inquiry into the Aalami Majlise Tahaffuze Khatme Nubuwwat Stockwell Mosque Interim Report Requested by the Muslim Council of Britain July 2016 1 1. Background 1.1. MCB Constitution 1.2. Introduction 1.3. Terms of Reference 2. Investigation 3. Trustee roles Aalami Majlise Tahaffuze Khatme Nubuwwat Stockwell Mosque 4. 5. BBC interview request to Mr Qureshi 6. Written response from Mr Qureshi 7. 8. Position Statement: The Muslim Council of Britain and Ahmadis 9. Panel Assessment 10. Conclusions 11. Recommendations 2 Interim Independent Inquiry of The Aalami Majlise Tahaffuze Khatme Nubuwwat Stockwell Mosque requested 1. Background The Muslim Council of Britain has requested an Independent Panel to conduct an Inquiry into allegations made by the BBC regarding Aalami Majlise Tahaffuze Khatme Nubuwwat Stockwell Mosque. The Panel is and will remain independent and ensure the report is based on evidence. The Panel have used the terms Ahmadiyya and Ahmadi as have indeed the wider community. I would like to thank the Panel members for their valuable insight into this matter which has resulted in this balanced interim report. The final report will be completed when there is a response from the BBC and Metropolitan Police Service. (Copies of correspondence have been published in this report at Appendix E and F) The entire Panel has unequivocally condemned any violence or threat of violence against the Ahmadi community. The leaflets identified are abhorrent and the Metropolitan Police Service must be supported to carry out a rigorous investigation into those responsible for publishing and distributing them. Mr. Qureshi, who was the subject interviewed for the BBC 12th of April 2016 broadcast, has registered complaints with Ofcom and the BBC, it is right and proper that these complaints are examined in full by Ofcom and the BBC, and then their findings considered in the final iteration of this report. 1.1 MCB Constitution The Muslim Council of Britain is a national representative Muslim umbrella body founded in 1997. The Declaration of Intent within its Constitution shapes its ethos and vision, of foremost importance the commitment to be ‘informed and guided by the Qur’an and the Sunnah in all its aims, policies and procedures’, and to be ‘a non-sectarian body working for the common good without interfering in, displacing or isolating any existing Muslim work in the community.’ It is thus an association based on Islamic religious values, with the pursuit of the ‘common good’ encompassing responsible citizenship and respect for religious pluralism. 3 The MCB has over 500 affiliates on its books, including mosques, professional groupings, charities, women’s organisations and other civil society bodies, from all parts of the British Isles, and reflecting diverse social and cultural backgrounds and schools of thought. This makes it a leading and authentic voice of the nation’s Muslim communities. The organisation conducts its affairs in a transparent and democratic manner, guided by a constitution and other governance documents available on its website ( www.mcb.org.uk). Its office bearers are elected for a two-year term of office, and stand accountable to an annual general assembly comprising affiliates’ delegates. The MCB’s core work is funded by affiliation fees and donations from well-wishers. It has successfully bid for the delivery of services, notably the dissemination of legislation and health-related information, through its affiliate network and web presence. An example of the former is its collaboration with the Department of Trade & Industry in 2003-2004 to increase community awareness of the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations and for the MCBDirect web project in 2007. The MCB has not sought funds from Government at any time for its core activities, in case this inhibits its aim to remain a constructive and critical friend of HMG. It is in this spirit that the MCB invests considerable time and effort in responding to Government’s public calls for consultation and appearing before parliamentary committees. 1 1.2 Introduction On the 21st of March 2016, Mr Qureshi was interviewed by Owen Bennet Jones following an email exchange with Innes Bowen, who, as the senior producer arranged for Mr Qureshi to be interviewed. Mr Qureshi is one of four trustees at the Aalami Majlise Tahaffuze Khatme Nubuwwat Stockwell Mosque, and states he does not have authority to speak on behalf of the Mosque. 1 Recent examples include evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee on the impact of the Prevent strategy and the proposed Counter-Extremism Bill (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLGSVD5W- VI) and written submission to the Women & Equalities Committee (see http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/women-and- equalities-committee/employment-opportunities-for-muslims-in-the-uk/written/30260.html). For an archive of MCB submissions in response to calls for consultation since 2002 see http://archive.mcb.org.uk/consultations-submissions/ 4 Mr Qureshi stated he has undertaken a considerable level of interfaith dialogue, including working with the Ahmadi community, and he believed the BBC interview would focus on these issues. In addition Mr Qureshi stated he was working in the Middle East for 10 months and was not in the UK when the leaflets were allegedly found in the Mosque in 2015. The interview in the BBC coverage focused on leaflets allegedly found in Aalami Majlise Tahaffuze Khatme Nubuwwat Stockwell Mosque. Mr Qureshi stated; “Stockwell Mosque is an independent body. Our association with AMTKN Multan is academic in nature. They have material from the Ahmadiyya movement dating back to the 1900s. These materials include books, letters, pamphlets, newspapers, etc by the founder of Ahmadiyya movement that allow us to reference our theological differences. Many of these materials are not available in the UK, therefore, when we require these Ahmadiyya materials they are provided to us.” Evidence to the Independent Panel On Tuesday the 12th of April 2016, Mr Qureshi’s interview by the BBC about leaflets which ‘supported the killing of Ahmadiyas’ was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and was published online. The BBC alleged the leaflets were found in the Mosque. The report was subsequently placed on the BBC website (Appendix A). The Panel note that these leaflets have been supplied to the Mosque by the BBC and the Mosque has stated that it has no knowledge of these leaflets and states they have on no occasion had sight of the leaflets, prior to the BBC interview. The BBC also alleged that in 2011 certain leaflets of a similar nature were apparently also found at the Aalami Majlise Tahaffuze Khatme Nubuwwat Stockwell Mosque. The BBC report alleged the latest leaflets (Appendix B) were found on a table at the entrance to the Mosque. Panel members visited the Mosque and noted that the table on which the leaflets were allegedly found had been removed and a notice prohibiting display of leaflets (without permission of the Trustees) was posted. On Thursday the 14th of April 2016 , Aalami Majlise Tahaffuze Khatme Nubuwwat Stockwell Mosque affiliation membership of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) was suspended by the Muslim Council of Britain and an Independent Panel set up to review the claims made by the BBC. 5 Episode two of The Deobandis was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 09:00 BST on Tuesday 12 April 2016. Mr Qureshi was interviewed for the programme and states he was invited by Innes Bowen for an interview with Owen Bennet Jones. The subject/discussion points in the email were not the subjects discussed by Owen Bennet Jones. Mr Qureshi has made an official complaint to Ofcom (Appendix C). The Charity Commission has written to Aalami Majlise Tahaffuze Khatme Nubuwwat Stockwell Mosque after being contacted by the BBC to respond to the leaflets allegedly found in the Mosque. (Appendix D) 1.3 TERMS OF REFERENCE The panel’s Terms of Reference are listed below. The Panel was asked to report its findings by the 11th of May 2016. However this deadline has been extended to the 21st of June 2016 to allow for additional information requested to be brought forward to the Panel. 1. To investigate the veracity of allegations made against Aalami Majlise Tahaffuze Khatme Nubuwwat in the media only in so far as its conduct and activities in the United Kingdom are concerned. 2. To find all relevant facts in relation to the allegations including the genuineness or otherwise of alleged hateful publications found on the premises of the affiliate. 3. The Panel shall be free to receive oral and/or written representation from any person or organisation that is likely to assist it in making findings. 4. To determine whether the named affiliate has been and/or remains engaged in such activities that make its continued affiliation with the MCB undesirable and not in accord with the Sharia and the duty to promote and work for the common good of the society. 5. To make such recommendations as it thinks appropriate in the light of the findings of facts. 6. The investigation must be concluded within four weeks of today. It should submit its written report to the Secretary General and any findings and recommendations it makes must have the support of no less than two thirds majority of the Panel. 7. The Secretary General of the MCB shall be bound by the findings and recommendations that the Panel may make and shall take such steps as are necessary within 10 days of receiving the report. 6 8. The affiliate concerned has the right of appeal against any findings and/or recommendations made by the Panel as set out in Article 5(3) of the MCB Constitution. The Investigation Panel shall not involve itself in matters of theology or in actions/conduct/laws in countries other than the United Kingdom.