FYI: Imam Musa Banned from the UK

As you all may know, Imam Musa, along with 15 others, has been banned from the UK. The name is misspelled (Abdul "Ali" Musa), the reasoning is flimsy ("considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by glorifying terrorist violence"), and the timing is a mystery (it's been a while since Imam Musa has traveled, or shown desire to travel, to the UK). And what was Imam Musa's reaction? [jokingly] "I'm so hurt."

In the words of one of our associates, Iqbal Siddiqui, who is based in the UK:

"What has probably got Imam Musa on to the list of people banned from the UK is the fact that he is a charismatic and fearless speaker, who has never taken a backward step when challenged to speak his mind on any subject... he is a clear thinker and direct speaker, with a knack of cutting straight to the heart of any issue concerning Muslims in America or the world."

To read more of Iqbal Siddiqui's thoughts, click here.

And regarding our own views on "terrorism":

When one speaks of terrorism, if one is speaking of the terrorism behind the dropping of 500-lb. bombs on women and children, or the terrorism of telling a civilian population to leave town while sealing off all the exits, in order to ensure their slaughter, or the terrorism of shooting pre-teen Palestinian schoolchildren to death, then this is our definition of terrorism. If it is the "TV terrorists" one speaks of--the mysterious "Al-Qaeda" network (provided as a means to demonize the goals of the Islamic movement at large), well, for us this is all wrapped up in a CIA-style cloud of questionable authenticity. When it comes to "suicide bombers"--if what is being referred to are those in Palestine who target military personnel and armed settlers, consciously sacrificing themselves to defend the helpless and innocent against oppression and injustice--then Imam Musa considers them martyrs in the way of Allah (insha'Allah). The dynamics of the oppressor vs. the oppressed must be taken into consideration.

We praise the Islamic resistance against the occupying Zionist oppressor, and we also hope for and dream of a world where such fighting is not even necessary; where people deal fairly and justly with each other, and such oppression is outdated. The human being has all of the ingredients it needs--knowledge, resources, technology--to create such a world... all except for the collective management and control of his own lower nafs.