MEND rebuttals to all allegations 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-conservatism ............................................................................................................................. 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 Allegation: MEND’s removal from the APPG ............................................................................... 41 Allegation: Using a verse from the Qur’an in our fundraising ................................................... 42 Allegation: MEND uses a logo similar to the jihadist hand signal adopted by Islamic State . 43 Allegation: Targeting the NSPCC .................................................................................................... 44 Allegations against Mr Azad Ali ...................................................................................... 46 Allegation: Anwar al-Awlaki ........................................................................................................... 46 MEND | Bow Business Centre 153-159 Bow Road London E3 2SE | Tel: 0208 980 4591 | www.mend.org.uk Allegation: Mumbai attacks, 2008 .................................................................................................... 46 Allegation: Opposition to democracy ............................................................................................. 47 Allegation: Westminster attack ........................................................................................................ 48 Allegation: Privacy invasion............................................................................................................. 49 Allegation: Shakeel Begg ................................................................................................................... 51 Allegation: Shaikh, Jimas and Abu Muntasir................................................................................. 51 Shaikh ............................................................................................................................................... 52 Jimas and Abu Muntasir .................................................................................................................. 53 Allegation: #OnePunch ..................................................................................................................... 53 Allegation: Support of Hamas .......................................................................................................... 54 Allegations against Mr Sufyan Ismail ............................................................................. 56 Allegation: Playing “Kingmaker” .................................................................................................... 56 Allegation: British Jews fighting for the IDF and British Muslims fighting in Syria................ 57 Allegation: Politicians failing to condemn 2013 arson attack in Muswell Hill ......................... 58 Accusation: Lack of transparency in respect to a donation to Yasmin Qureshi MP in 2017 ... 59 Allegation: MEND’s stance on Israel .............................................................................................. 60 Accusation: Anti-Semitism and Homophobia ............................................................................... 60 Accusation: Holocaust Memorial Day Boycott .............................................................................. 63 Heena Khaled ..................................................................................................................................... 65 Siema Iqbal .......................................................................................................................................... 66 Vaseem Ahmed .................................................................................................................................. 67 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