: Muslim ‘Fundamentalists’ Hold Conference in London

Britain has seen more polarity in Muslim ideology than other Western countries as of late. Add to that an unlikely conference held last week by a group called Al-Muhajiroun, widely considered a militant, anti-West organization. Although the 150 people in attendance indicated a bark worse than its bite, British tabloids have gasped at the pro-Osama revelry and requisite blind and disfigured imams such as Abu Hamza al-Masri, who Yemen wants Britain to extradite on terrorism charges related to the murder of European tourists in 1998 by a group linked to Masri’s Supporters of Shariah (he was arrested and released in the UK on these charges and Britain is reluctant to extradite). Another speaker, Yasser al-Sirri is wanted by both Egypt and the US. Inayat Bungalawala of the mainstream Muslim Council of Britain said the meeting reflected the views of a small minority. “No mainstream Muslim organization will touch al-Muhajiroun with a barge pole,” he said. The feeling goes both ways, as conference organizers accuse MCB of being a puppet organization of the British government.

Zahed Amanullah is associate editor of altmuslim.com.  He is based in London, England.