mahussain3
Son of Aa'ishah(R.A)
UK Jews welcome MCB Holocaust stance
London, December 17: British Jews have welcome a decision by the British Muslim umbrella group to end its boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day, though Muslims remain divided on the move.
"I believe this is a step in the right direction," Rabbi Barry Marcus from Great Portland Street Synagogue said. "There is still a lot of work to be done to improve relations between the two communities but a serious stumbling block has been removed."
Earlier this month, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) announced an end to the boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day.
"Whilst noting with satisfaction the results of a national survey that gave full support to MCB's non-participation in the Holocaust Memorial Day in the past, a significant number of respondents have indicated that the MCB should participate in the future for the sake of the common good," it said in a statement.
"It is therefore resolved that the MCB will participate in the Holocaust Memorial Day." The MCB had not attended previous events since 2003, calling for an inclusive commemoration event to remember all worldwide victims of genocide.
While ending its boycott, the MCB reiterated that position. "The MCB will, in partnership with others, continue to work towards a Genocide Memorial Event in respectful memory of the victims of all genocides."
Holocaust Memorial Day is held on January 27 each year, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945, to commemorate, educate and prompt action in the UK. Liverpool has been chosen as UK host city for Holocaust Memorial Day 2008.
Inclusive Event
The new MCB decision won support from Muslims and non-Muslim alike, who also supported the call for a more inclusive commemoration.
"I’m afraid that participation was agenda driven and am happy that common sense has prevailed," Graham Bird, 24, from Stoke Newington, London said.
"We are all God’s flock as far as I’m concerned. My late grandfather knew of many Muslims that helped Jews during the Second World War." He, meanwhile, supports the MCB call for a more inclusive event.
"I read of a poll in the Jewish Chronicle that 31% of people think there should be a genocide day and with this in mind, in the future I would like to see all victims of genocide remembered."
Anita Mizrahi, an accountant from Stoke Newington, also approves the MCB decision. "I am delighted that the MCB will participate, simply because I hate the fact that all Muslims were seen to be anti-Semitic with this boycott," she said.
"In an ideal world I’d like to see all genocide victims, be it Palestinian, African or Jew remembered. In the future we must make an effort to commemorate the sufferings of humanity with the same vigor as we do with the holocaust."
Asia Ebraheem, 32, from Suffolk, was furious with the MCB. "Though, I am all for commemorating the victims of the holocaust I am dismayed by the lack of interest in other genocides," she told.
"How cheap is the blood of the victims of Srebrenica, Darfur, Sabra and Shatilla?
"This is our (Muslims) fault and weakness, and only we are to blame."
Divided
It has emerged that some MCB members were not happy with the reversal of the boycott decision.
An insider, who did not wish to be named, told that "certain members did not see any reason to change the stance and felt that the members were caving in due to the pressure of the barrage of criticism directed towards the MCB."
He added that these members wanted the MCB to stand its ground on what it felt was right.
"This was not a case for disrespecting the deceased, it was a call towards the recognition and preservation of all human life." Anas Al-Tikriti, a leading British Muslim community activist, has also criticized the MBC decision.
"Despite this sorry episode, Muslims and non-Muslims around the world will never forget Palestine," he wrote. "Only time will tell what impact this will have on the MCB, internally and otherwise, particularly considering its umbrella organization status."
Inayat Bunglawala, the assistant secretary general of the MCB, defended the new position. "This issue has been discussed since 2003, the year we declined attending National Holocaust Memorial Day," he told.
"For a number of years the MCB have been accused of anti-Semitism and of being insensitive towards the suffering of Jews during the holocaust. We have been criticized from all quarters, despite our affiliates attending holocaust remembrance events over the UK," he noted.
"The MCB has a yearly vote and this year a clear majority of our membership felt that the lack of participation was causing more harm than good, and thus voted accordingly." -Agencies
London, December 17: British Jews have welcome a decision by the British Muslim umbrella group to end its boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day, though Muslims remain divided on the move.
"I believe this is a step in the right direction," Rabbi Barry Marcus from Great Portland Street Synagogue said. "There is still a lot of work to be done to improve relations between the two communities but a serious stumbling block has been removed."
Earlier this month, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) announced an end to the boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day.
"Whilst noting with satisfaction the results of a national survey that gave full support to MCB's non-participation in the Holocaust Memorial Day in the past, a significant number of respondents have indicated that the MCB should participate in the future for the sake of the common good," it said in a statement.
"It is therefore resolved that the MCB will participate in the Holocaust Memorial Day." The MCB had not attended previous events since 2003, calling for an inclusive commemoration event to remember all worldwide victims of genocide.
While ending its boycott, the MCB reiterated that position. "The MCB will, in partnership with others, continue to work towards a Genocide Memorial Event in respectful memory of the victims of all genocides."
Holocaust Memorial Day is held on January 27 each year, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945, to commemorate, educate and prompt action in the UK. Liverpool has been chosen as UK host city for Holocaust Memorial Day 2008.
Inclusive Event
The new MCB decision won support from Muslims and non-Muslim alike, who also supported the call for a more inclusive commemoration.
"I’m afraid that participation was agenda driven and am happy that common sense has prevailed," Graham Bird, 24, from Stoke Newington, London said.
"We are all God’s flock as far as I’m concerned. My late grandfather knew of many Muslims that helped Jews during the Second World War." He, meanwhile, supports the MCB call for a more inclusive event.
"I read of a poll in the Jewish Chronicle that 31% of people think there should be a genocide day and with this in mind, in the future I would like to see all victims of genocide remembered."
Anita Mizrahi, an accountant from Stoke Newington, also approves the MCB decision. "I am delighted that the MCB will participate, simply because I hate the fact that all Muslims were seen to be anti-Semitic with this boycott," she said.
"In an ideal world I’d like to see all genocide victims, be it Palestinian, African or Jew remembered. In the future we must make an effort to commemorate the sufferings of humanity with the same vigor as we do with the holocaust."
Asia Ebraheem, 32, from Suffolk, was furious with the MCB. "Though, I am all for commemorating the victims of the holocaust I am dismayed by the lack of interest in other genocides," she told.
"How cheap is the blood of the victims of Srebrenica, Darfur, Sabra and Shatilla?
"This is our (Muslims) fault and weakness, and only we are to blame."
Divided
It has emerged that some MCB members were not happy with the reversal of the boycott decision.
An insider, who did not wish to be named, told that "certain members did not see any reason to change the stance and felt that the members were caving in due to the pressure of the barrage of criticism directed towards the MCB."
He added that these members wanted the MCB to stand its ground on what it felt was right.
"This was not a case for disrespecting the deceased, it was a call towards the recognition and preservation of all human life." Anas Al-Tikriti, a leading British Muslim community activist, has also criticized the MBC decision.
"Despite this sorry episode, Muslims and non-Muslims around the world will never forget Palestine," he wrote. "Only time will tell what impact this will have on the MCB, internally and otherwise, particularly considering its umbrella organization status."
Inayat Bunglawala, the assistant secretary general of the MCB, defended the new position. "This issue has been discussed since 2003, the year we declined attending National Holocaust Memorial Day," he told.
"For a number of years the MCB have been accused of anti-Semitism and of being insensitive towards the suffering of Jews during the holocaust. We have been criticized from all quarters, despite our affiliates attending holocaust remembrance events over the UK," he noted.
"The MCB has a yearly vote and this year a clear majority of our membership felt that the lack of participation was causing more harm than good, and thus voted accordingly." -Agencies
