LONDON: More than 400 UK Imams and scholars have joined to reject the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak government’s new “extremism” definition which solely targets more than 3.5 million British Muslims and the Islamic faith on the advice of Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
The UK Imams and scholars said in a joint statement that the right-wing minister Michael Gove has a history of targeting Islam and Muslims under the label of “Islamism” and he is known for campaigning against Muslims in association with anti-Islam racists and Islamophobes.
They said they were issuing the joint statement in response to the recent announcement by Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, regarding an expanded definition of extremism targeting Muslim groups such as MEND, CAGE, and The Muslim Association of Britain.
The statement said: “We note that the discourse of ‘extremism’ relies on the faulty and academically baseless neoconservative notion that ideology is a cause of political violence. We observe that Mr Gove has a history of targeting Islam and Muslims under the label of ‘Islamism’.
“We further observe that Mr Gove has deep connections with pro-Israel lobbies that propagate Islamophobia and anti-Muslim conspiracy theories. It appears the underlying motivation behind this announcement is the dissatisfaction among neoconservative, pro-Israeli figures within the Government towards legitimate activism opposing Israeli and Zionist aggression against Palestine, notably, Gaza.
“It is evident to us that individuals who prioritise the Israeli-Zionist agenda above Britain’s interests aim to stifle the political engagement of Muslims. The hypocrisy of Mr Gove et al, who coercively apply ‘British values,’ which includes democracy, whilst simultaneously suppressing democratic participation that opposes their agenda, is glaringly obvious.”
The UK Imams and scholars said that despite the prime minister’s purported commitment to bridging gaps with the Muslim community, his government’s actions suggest a preference for divisive tactics over genuine dialogue and engagement.
They said: “The ability of a select few to influence government decisions, including the alteration of laws and definitions to suit their agenda, raises serious concerns about the integrity and independence of our political system. The targeting of Muslim organisations also demonstrates how the politicised discourse of ‘extremism’ undermines the rule of law, often at the expense of minorities. It is imperative that we, as Muslims, unite against such abuses of power and reject this new definition of extremism and its ideological assumptions.
“The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘No (Muslim) man will desert a man who is a Muslim in a place where his respect may be violated and his honour aspersed without Allah deserting him in a place where he wishes his help; and no (Muslim) man who will help a Muslim in a place where his honour may be aspersed and his respect violated without Allah helping him in a place where he wishes his help.’”
The Imams and scholars said: “We call upon the Muslim community and supporters of political integrity and accountability to support organisations like MEND, CAGE and The Muslim Association of Britain for a fairer society. We also stand in solidarity with Imam Shakeel Begg, recognising his selfless service to his community, while firmly rejecting the ideological, legally flawed, and unscholarly characterisation of him as an ‘extremist’.
“As Imams and scholars, we reaffirm our dedication to working towards a better, more just United Kingdom, free from corruption and injustice. The government’s focus on extremism is a distraction for their failure to address pressing social issues, such as the living expenses crisis, housing crisis, and escalating incidents of violence and anti-Muslim hatred. We urge the public to remain vigilant in safeguarding against this Orwellian drift and holding our elected officials accountable.”
Those who have signed the joint statement include:
- Dr Haitham Al Haddad, London
- Dr Mufti Abdur Rahman, London
- Shaykh Zahir Mahmood, Birmingham
- Shaykh Muhammad Yasir al-Hanafi, Aylesbury
- Dr Mufti Yusuf Shabbir, Blackburn
- Shaykh Asrar Rashid, Birmingham
- Imam Shakeel Begg, London
- Imam Mohmed Tahir, London
- Imam Mohammed Nadat, London
- Imam Muhammad Anas, London
- Imam Abdul Mateen, London
- Imam Abu Muhammad, London
- Imam Raza Ali, London
- Imam Sajid Patel, London
- Imam Hishaam, London
- Imam Zubair Mangera, Blackburn
- Imam Aadil Chuniya, London
- Imam Raja Imaad Ishaq, Batley
- Imam Ali-Haider Abdul Rashid, Sheffield
- Imam Muhammad Hussain, London
- Imam Mahmudal Ali, Slough
- Imam Uzair Patel, London
- Mufti Shah Shuaib, London
- Imam Mashud Ali, London
- Imam Vahab Bhikhi, London
- Imam Salim Patel, Plaistow
- Imam Shokat Patel, London
- Imam Shah Qurayshi, London
- Imam Afzal Ahmed, London
- Imam Shaykh Ebrahim Noor, Coventry
- Imam Ismail Mulla, Blackburn
- Imam Huzaifah, Edinburgh
- Imam Mohsin Ali, London
- Imam Anas Khan, London
- Imam Husain Patel, Bolton
- Imam Mohammed Abubakar, Huddersfield
- Imam Amin Sadak, London
- Ustadha Fatima Patel, Blackburn
- Imam Iman, Blackburn
- Imam Irfan, Bolton
- Imam Abu Aasiyah Muhammad, London
- Imam Fadhil Choudhury, London
- Imam Imran Patel, London
- Ustadha Hajra Mayet, Blackburn
- Imam Abdul-Rehman Karam, Bury
- Imam Suheil Patel, London
- Imam Bashirulhaq Hafejee, Blackburn
- Imam Mohammed Langree, Manchester
- Imam Hajrabibi Randera, Preston
- Imam Abdulsamad Randera, Preston
- Ustadha Khadija, Leicester
- Imam Rasheed Ahmad, Preston
- Imam Mohamed Bhikhi, London
- Imam Mufti Adeel Zaman, Brierfield
- Imam Abbas Afzal, Darlaston
- Imam Shah Muaz Ahmed, London
- Ustadha Sharifa Nakhuda, Preston
- Imam Abdul Musaib, Shipley
- Imam Mohammed Aminur Rahman, Birmingham
- Imam Dr Ghulam Ashraf, Bolton
- Ustadha Ayesha, Blackburn
- Imam Mo Ahmed, Kidderminster
- Ustadha Anisa Mayat, Blackburn
- Imam Mohammed Hussain, London
- Imam Mohammed Rahman, Birmingham
- Imam Shah Hamzah Ahmed, London
- Imam Ahmed Zaman, Birmingham
- Imam Liaquat Zaman, Birmingham
- Imam Bodrul Hussain,London
- Imam Moulana Omar Ghanchi, Leicester
- Imam Zeeshan, London
- Imam Shah Musa, London
- Imam Emad Uddin Ahmed, London
- Imam Zeeshan Qayum, London
- Imam Shah Yahya Ahmed, London
- Imam Imam Waseem Amin, Glasgow
- Ustadha Salma Kadia, Dewsbury
- Imam Mohsin, Bolton
- Imam Mawlāna Ayaaz Chikhalia, London
- Imam Abdus Sattar, London
- Imam Mohammed Patel, Leicester
- Imam Muhammed Patel, Leicester
- Imam Mohammod Abdulla, London
- Imam Masjid Taybah, Leicester
- Imam Serajul Islam, Kidderminster
- Imam Mufti Mohammed Haroon Hussain, Birmingham
- Ustadha Fatima, Manchester
- Imam Abdul Mateen Khandoker, Milton Keynes
- Imam A Rawat, Bolton
- Ustadha Bint Nazir, Lancashire
- Ustadha Maryam Aswat, Blackburn
- Ustadha Sumaiyah Shaikh, Blackburn
- Imam Arif Patel, London
- Imam Yasin, Bradford
- Imam Iftekhar Alam, Norwich
- Imam Huzaifah, Blackburn
- Ustadha Hafsah Khan, Bradford
- Imam Huzaifa Kolia, London
- Imam Moonaf Bapoo, Bolton
- Imam Zhuhaa, Oldham
- Imam Ashraf Madari, London
- Imam Sheikh. Zakaria Al Andalusi, Leicester
- Imam Muhammad Patel, London
- Imam Lyba Raza Mir, Oldham
- Imam Abdul Rozak, Bradford
- Ustadha Areebah, Oldham
- Ustadha Aneesa, Manchester
- Imam Zubair, London
- Imam Mohammed Yahya, Manchester
- Ustadha Zainab, Oldham
- Ustadha Farzana, Oldham
- Imam Akhtar, Oldham
- Imam Abdul Hadi, Oldham
- Ustadha Zulaikha Farooqi, Manchester
- Ustadha Zakiyya, Leicester
- Imam Mohammed Patel, Leicester
- Imam Rabia Gulam Ismail, Blackburn
- Imam Mohammed Samee-Ur-Rehman, Chorley
- Imam Abul Monsoor Riyad, Newcastle Upon Tyne
- Ustadha Amina, Nuneaton
- Ustadha Irtikha Arif, Blackburn
- Ustadha Sarima Arif, Birmingham
- Imam Sheroze Arif, Blackburn
- Ustadha Sarima Arif, Lancaster
- Ustadha Hanifa, Manchester
- Imam Hafiz Sha’ban, Luton
- Imam Shoaib Mohammed, Blackburn
- Imam Shaykh Ammar Salim, Manchester
- Imam Jamil Jeeva, London
- Ustadha Suria Zainab, Oldham
- Imam Iqra Mahmood, Manchester
- Imam Taybah Hussain, Manchester
- Ustadha Sara Shah, Bradford
- Imam Ahmed Desai, Bradford
- Imam ISMAIL BULBULIA, Dewsbury
- Ustadha Shaakirah Arif, Birmingham
- Ustadha Irtiqa Arif, Birmingham
- Imam Zeibun, Leicester
- Ustadha Fatima Limbada, Bolton
- Imam Abdul Patel, Leicester
- Ustadha Farzana Haroon, Manchester
- Imam Tariq Mahboob, Ilford
- Imam Muhammed Ahad, London
- Imam Shaheda, Leicester
- Imam Mohammed Yasir, Luton
- Imam Sajid Safdar, Bradford
- Imam Mohmadzuber Shaikh, Leicester
- Ustadha Safiya Koser, Oldham
- Imam Siddique Patel, Leicester
- Imam Muftī Ismail ibn Nazir Satia, Blackburn
- Imam Hana Farman, Manchester
- Imam Ozma Qayyum, GLASGOW
- Ustadha Fazila, Hackney
- Imam Mohammed Waseem, Bradford
- Imam Mohammed Yusuf, London
- Imam Muhammad Valli, Leicester
- Imam Laiba Qayyum, Glasgow
- Ustadha Hafsa, Blackburn
- Ustadha Ayesha Sheikh, Blackburn
- Ustadha Fatima Bharucha, Manchester
- Ustadha Khadija Begum, Manchester
- Imam Zakaria Wolf, London
- Imam Idrish Nekiwala, Leicester
- Imam Ashfaq Rafiq Patel, Blackpool
- Imam Saif Ali, Glasgow
- Imam Majid, Glasgow
- Imam Mubassar Ashfaque, Glasgow
- Imam Mufti Mohammed Dilwar Hussain, London
- Imam Ziyaad, Leicester
- Imam Mahfuz Ahmed, London
- Imam Shah Ishtiaq, Manchester
- Imam Huzayfah Mangera, London
- Imam Redwan Ahmed Omor, London
- Ustadha Sadia, Birmigham
- Imam Shaqur Rehman, London
- Imam Shakir Hussain, Irchester
- Imam Abdul Mitha, Leicester
- Imam Suleman Sidat, Leicester
- Imam Aqif Naqash, Edinburgh
- Imam Mohammed Irfan, London
- Imam Fokhrul Islam, London
- Imam Zakir Umar, London
- Imam Fuad Abdo, London
- Imam Minhaj Haque, Luton
- Imam Mohmed Yasin Patel, London
- Imam Moulana Qasim Amir Hussain, London
- Imam Shah Muhammed Anas, London
- Imam Nizam Hussein, Leicester
- Imam Mohammad Zakariyya, Batley
- Imam Hanif Dudhwala, Blackburn
- Imam Siddiq Rahman, Walsall
- Imam Hammad, Birmingham
- Imam Abubakr Ahmed, London
- Imam Tahmid Ahmed, London
- Imam Mohammed Ahmed, London
- Imam Imam Ammaar Domun, London
- Imam Muhammad Hussain, Wednesbury
- Ustadha Aatiqa Khalifa, Leicester
- Imam Riyadh Patel, Birmingham
- Imam Sayed Ahmed, London
- Imam Yusuf Badshah, London
- Imam Jabir Divelli, Bolton
- Imam Shah Zaman Hussain, London
- Imam Waqar Khan, Birmingham
- Imam Ustadh Anwar, Huddersfield
- Ustadha Yasmeen Salloo, Walsall
- Imam Abul Kalam, Ipswich
- Ustadha Hamida Begum, Oldham
- Imam Ikram Haq, Slough
- Imam Syed Ahmed, Kidderminster
- Imam Rayhan, London
- Imam Md Kayser Ahmed, London
- Imam Muhammad Osama Sabreen, Bolton
- Imam Muhammed Sharif Uddin, London
- Imam Usman Iqbal, Leeds
- Ustadha Sumeya Gani, Dundee
- Imam Aa’sim Aswat, London
- Imam Mawlana Adam Ayub, Bolton
- Imam Muhammad Motara, Batley
- Imam Muhammad Usman, Bradford
- Ustadha Humaira, Bolton
- Imam Yahya Motara, Heckmondwike
- Imam Mubashshira Dawod, Blackburn
- Ustadha Khadija Hussein, Dundee
- Imam Muhammad Gous, Birmingham
- Imam Mohsin, Bolton
- Imam Shuja Ahmad, Birmingham
- Imam M Ilyaas Limbada, Yeovil Somerset
- Imam Sheema Usmani, Oldham
- Imam Huzayfah Patel, Birmingham
- Ustadha Sameenah Kausar, Birmingham
- Imam Shafa Ahmad, Birmingham
- Imam Sidra Qamar, Birmingham
- Imam Abdul, Leicester
- Imam Dhoimini, London
- Ustadha Zakiyya, Leicester
- Imam Amir, Sunderland
- Imam Muhammad Haroon, Leicester
- Imam Shahzad Ahmed, Great Harwood
- Imam Amjid Amin, Glasgow
- Ustadha Uzmaa Butt, London
- Imam Molana Yahya, Batley
- Imam Ahmed S Sidat, Blackburn
- Imam Syed Faisal Ahmad, Sunderland
- Ustadha Amina Nagori, Blackburn
- Imam Ml Saeed Ahmed Nagori, Blackburn
- Imam Mohammad Hamza Ashraf, Birmingham
- Imam Faydhullah Redhwan Shaikh, Birmingham
- Imam Salim Mansur, Birmingham
- Ustadha Fatima Tariq, Greater Manchester
- Imam Mohammed, London
- Imam Mohammed Aslam, Villiers-le-bel
- Imam Tauseef, Bradford
- Ustadha Tasnim Patel, London
- Imam Khalid Sharif, Keighley
- Imam Saif, Todmorden
- Imam Farheen Sheikh, Preston
- Imam Muhammad Mamaniat, Batley
- Imam Uvais Ismail, Blackburn
- Imam Mohamed Seedat, Batley
- Imam Mehnass Tariq, Oldham
- Ustadha Fatema Patel, Blackburn
- Ustadha Zabina, Bradford
- Imam Razika Azim, Luton
- Ustadha Maariyah, Wakefield
- Ustadha Zayneb, Blackburn
- Imam Unaisah Lorgat, Leicester
- Imam Zaria Nadeem, Greater Manchester
- Imam Mohammed Hamid, Slough
- Imam Khaleel, Rochdale
- Ustadha Samina Kausar, Blackburn
- Ustadha Aisha Khan, Stockport
- Imam Muthiur Rahman, London
- Ustadha Adilah, Leicester
- Imam Irfan Patel, Blackburn
- Imam Adnan, Leicester
- Imam Ahmed Patas, Leicester
- Imam Hassan Natha, Blackburn
- Ustadha Fatima, Luton
- Imam Shah Talha, London
- Imam Junaid Gulraiz, Leicester
- Ustadha Aisha Satchell, Birmingham
- Imam Shah Usman Ahmed, London
- Imam Salmaan Patel, Kettering
- Imam Shaykh Ahmad Sidat, Blackburn
- Imam Maulana Mohammed Dawood, London
- Imam Salma, Dundee
- Imam Harun Holmes, Nottingham
- Ustadha Samira Patel, Leicester
- Imam Jamila Umarji, Preston
- Imam Haroon Adam, Bradford
- Imam Shahnaz, Leicester
- Ustadha Noorjahan Patel, Leicester
- Imam Sheikh Zubair Miah, Milton Keynes
- Imam Muhammad Abdur-Rahman, Birmingham
- Ustadha Irfana, Leicester
- Imam Muzzammil, UK
- Imam Mufti Zubair Patel, London
- Imam M M Salloo, Redditch
- Imam Ahmad Raja, Batley
- Ustadha Fatima, London
- Imam Ajmal Hussain, St albans
- Ustadha Ateka Nurgat, UK
- Imam Aftab, Dewsbury
- Imam Umaira, Birmingham
- Imam Momodou Jobe, Norwich
- Imam Saleha Sayeed, London
- Imam Mohammed Tariq, Glasgow
- Imam Khadijah Anwar, Manchester
- Imam Imam Omar Saddique, Nottingham
- Imam Mubeen A, London
- Ustadha Rabia, Manchester
- Imam Shaykh Dr Rafaqat Rashid, Bradford
- Imam Ilyas Khalifa, Bradford
- Ustadha Hind bint Awf, Leicester
- Ustadha Rubina Sattar, Leicester
- Imam Ahaed Zhulfikar, Wolverhampton
- Imam Adnaan Yaqoob, Bradford
- Imam Umran Amin, Bradford
- Imam Fatih Atmaca, Edinburgh
- Imam Zain, Bolton
- Ustadha Najiba Habib, London
- Imam Rashid Adat, Bolton
- Ustadha Farzana Sheikh, London
- Imam Shuaib Esmail, Batley
- Imam Jesan Ahmed, UK
- Imam Zaid Tootla, Leicester
- Imam Adam Sabat, Leicester
- Ustadha Summiya Ali, Oldham
- Ustadha Hafsa Patel, London
- Imam Musarrat, Manchester
- Ustadha Aisha, Bury
- Imam Syed, Leicester
- Imam Ziauddin Bhaiyat, Bradford
- Imam Mufti Umair Zulfiqar, London
- Ustadha Tasneem Ali, Edinburgh
- Imam Mustafa Abdulhussein, Manchester
- Imam Afraz Aslam, London
- Imam Jahid, London
- Imam Amin Buxto, Edinburgh
- Imam Arif Master, London
- Imam Amro Abdallatif, London
- Imam Yahya Govalia, Birmingham
- Imam AMJED HUSSAIN, EDINBURGH
- Imam Muhammad Umar Draz, Newport
- Imam Mr. Zubier Ismail, Blackburn
- Imam Hussain Ahmad Rabbani, Cardiff
- Ustadha Siddiqa, Oldham
- Imam Nasir Hussain, London
- Imam Khalid Karim, Treforest Pontypridd
- Ustadha Sonia Malick, Manchester
- Ustadha Roswana Mann, Solihull
- Imam Riaz, London
- Imam Yaseera Adam, Coventry
- Imam Shamsul Islam, Colchester
- Ustadha Raeesa, London
- Imam Tariq Rehman, Bradford
- Imam Asad Khan, Manchester
- Imam Syed Shah, Leicester
- Imam Raffick Chamurally, Maidenhead
- Ustadha Siama Azhar, Manchester
- Imam Qari Khalil Ahmed, Leicester
- Imam Seham Kassim, London
- Imam Dr. Abid Hussain, Huddersfield
- Ustadha Farida, Preston
- Imam Imam Mohammed Abubakar, Huddersfield
- Imam Sharafat Ali, Huddersfield
- Imam Sajid, Manchester
- Imam Nasser SATTAR, Leicester
- Imam Mohammed Imran, Birmingham
- Imam Muhammad Gora, Batley
- Imam Sirin Begum, Birmingham
- Imam Imam Nizamul Islam, London
- Imam Saduf Chaudhri, Manchester
- Imam Ayub Patel, Falkirk
- Imam Faiza Ali, London
- Imam Ebrahim Bhikha, Birmingham
- Imam Habib Khan, Sheffield
- Imam Muhammad Kaysar Hussain, St Albans
- Imam Mufti Yousaf Baig, Batley
- Imam Subhi Abduljalil, Cardiff
- Imam Adnan, Cardiff
- Ustadha Rehana Baig, Middlesex
- Imam Yunus Patel, Batley
- Imam Ibrahim Hassan, Manchester
- Imam Mohamed Vankad, London
- Imam Shakeel Amir Razak, London
- Ustadha Ms Attia Razzaq, London
- Imam Khurshid Qureshi, Ilford
- Imam Naseem Khan, London
- Imam L Karim, Reading
- Imam Rehaz Abdoolla, Cardiff
- Ustadha Zeenat Karim, Leicester
- Imam Anis B, Romford
- Imam Mohammed Sarki, Birmingham
- Imam Zubair, Luton
- Imam Asif, Bristol
- Imam SHAFQAT ALI, Cardiff
- Imam Tarek Issa, Harrogate
- Imam Arshad Ahmed, Birmingham
- Imam Shaz khan, Romford
- Imam Shahid Rasheed, Ripon
- Ustadha Shahida Lambat, Coventry
- Ustadha Iqra Khan, London
- Ustadha Asma Khan, London
- Imam Cerie Kaleem Bullivant, London
- Imam Shazad, Bradford
- Imam Rafiq Ali, Blackburn
- Imam Khaleel Asmal, Preston
