MEND rebuttals to allegations of extremism Table of Contents Introducing Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) ................................. 3 Our mission ...................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Who are MEND ............................................................................................................................................................... 3 Volunteers ................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Staff .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 The Board ................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Our funding ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Our achievements .......................................................................................................................................................... 6 Global accolades and commendations ............................................................................................................................ 6 Community recognition ...................................................................................................................................................... 6 Recognised partners .............................................................................................................................................................. 7 Our advocacy work ....................................................................................................................................................... 8 What do we believe in? .............................................................................................................................................. 9 What we DON’T believe in ................................................................................................................................... 10 Our Policy Pledges ...................................................................................................................................................... 11 The context of allegations against MEND ................................................................. 13 The Islamophobia Industry and Professional Islamophobia .................................................................. 13 Attacks on MEND ...................................................................................................................................................... 15 MEND’s attackers ....................................................................................................................................................... 15 Neo-conservatives ............................................................................................................................................................... 15 The Henry Jackson Society (HJS) and Tom Wilson ............................................................................................. 16 Tom Wilson ........................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Media figures and outlets ................................................................................................................................................ 20 Why is MEND perceived as a threat? .............................................................................................................. 24 The importance of engagement ............................................................................................................................ 25 Allegations against MEND ......................................................................................... 27 MEND’s approach to these allegations........................................................................................................... 27 Allegation: MEND as an extremist organisation ....................................................................................... 27 Allegation one: killing of British troops ........................................................................................................... 28 Allegation two: praying for Mujahideen .......................................................................................................... 31 Allegation: MEND’s engagement with ‘extremist’ speakers .............................................................. 31 Allegation: MEND attempts to alienate other Muslims – such as Mak Chishty, Quilliam Foundation and Tell Mama. .................................................................................................................................. 32 Mak Chishty ....................................................................................................................................................................... 33 The Quilliam Foundation ........................................................................................................................................... 35 Tell MAMA .......................................................................................................................................................................... 37 Allegation: Undermining counter-terror efforts ........................................................................................ 39 Allegations against Mr Azad Ali ................................................................................ 42 Allegation: Anwar al-Awlaki ............................................................................................................................... 42 Allegation: Mumbai attacks, 2008 ...................................................................................................................... 42 Allegation: Opposition to democracy .............................................................................................................. 43 MEND | Bow Business Centre 153-159 Bow Road London E3 2SE | Tel: 0208 980 4591 | www.mend.org.uk Allegation: Westminster attack ............................................................................................................................. 44 Allegation: Privacy invasion ................................................................................................................................. 45 Allegation: Shakeel Begg ....................................................................................................................................... 47 Allegation: Shaikh, JIMAS and Abu Muntasir .......................................................................................... 47 Shaikh ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 48 JIMAS and Abu Muntasir .............................................................................................................................................. 49 Allegation: Support of Hamas ............................................................................................................................. 49 Allegations against Mr Sufyan Ismail ....................................................................... 51 Allegation: British Jews fighting for the IDF and British Muslims fighting in Syria .......... 51 MEND | Bow Business Centre 153-159 Bow Road London E3 2SE | Tel: 0208 980 4591 | www.mend.org.uk Introducing Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) Our mission Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) is a community funded organisation that seeks to encourage political, civic and social engagement within British Muslim communities through empowering British Muslims to effectively interact with political and media institutions. We firmly believe that enhancing the mainstream participation of vulnerable and under-represented communities is an important step towards deepening and strengthening our democracy. We attempt to achieve this in a variety of ways: • MEND encourages voter registration and political engagement by British Muslims through our ‘Get Out and Vote’ campaign, providing educational workshops, and through hosting events – such as hustings and debates – that are intended to promote and facilitate participation in the political sphere. • MEND provides educational courses and training designed to equip Muslims with the skills, resources and materials necessary to foster active citizenship and socio-political participation. • MEND provides commentary and analysis on the high volumes of news content and coverage that maligns Islam and Muslims and foments Islamophobia in the UK and across Europe. • MEND works with other Muslim and non-Muslim organisations to tackle Islamophobia and all forms of hatred, including anti-Semitism, homophobia, xenophobia, racism, and hatred based upon disability. • MEND encourages greater participation by British Muslims in voluntary bodies and institutions in order