27th January 2009

Dear Peter,                                                                                          

Today marks the annual Holocaust Memorial Day which by definition commemorates the tragic loss or suffering of all innocent human beings at the hands of acts of mass destruction or oppression and each year marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau to remember those who lost their lives there and in similar death camps. The occasion is vital to remember atrocities both past and present with this year again sadly bringing images of Gaza across every medium so profusely scattered with the evidence of mass destruction and human suffering. When will never again actually mean never again?

As an advocate for the HMD remembrance; we thank you both for your recent proactive stance against the destruction and atrocities of and within Gaza and for continuing to speak out passionately for peace and we trust you will continue to do so wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. Importantly we thank you not on the basis of a Muslim issue but rather an issue of humanity and justice. As you are no doubt aware as a local faith community and as Muslims in general we are hurt but rather than a desire to seek retribution as some would like to believe we simply seek justice and equality for all life and ultimately God willing healing, reconciliation, and peace for all.

Similarly we at the FMO as representatives of the Muslim community of Leicestershire would like to reiterate our abhorrence to all forms of oppression, genocide and human suffering regardless of the race, religion or ethnicity of those tormented or the tormentors, as contrary to common misconceptions and misinterpretations, Islam teaches us that every life is sacred. It is with this stance we attended the collective prayer for Gaza at Town Hall Square with our Lord Mayor Councillor Mrs Manjula Sood and other elected councillors and will also be attending the HMD remembrance this evening. We regret and are greatly disappointed that this has not been the stance of all of our local faith leaders in attending the collective prayer for Gaza and we leave this to their own conscience.

We ask you to join us to urge Prime Minister Brown to develop a Foreign policy based on equality and justice, sought to achieve lasting peace rather than one effectively subservient to the White House and halt all Britain's arms exports to Israel with immediate effect as it’s clear that you can't both help to kill Gazan’s and then cry over them.

We thank you again for your continued support.


Respectfully
 
Riyaz Laher
Secretary FMO