Scotland United Against Terrorism (updated with speeches)

It's been an incredible week. The despondency of the attack on Glasgow airport a week ago was turned on it's head in Glasgow today at the extraordinary Scotland United Against Terrorism rally.

It was called by a few of us younger folk in the Muslim community and quickly backed by the city's mosques and Islamic organisations. We had hoped for a good response from the rest of Scotland in terms of standing with us.

In fact, we were really touched by how the country responded to us doing this. I was on Newsnight Scotland on Monday when I first announced it. Straight away my phone was going and the emails were coming in from people saying they were really glad we were doing it and that they were coming.

The platform was broad, ranging from Strathclyde Police to the Stop the War Coalition. Civic Scotland was well represented, and then calls started coming in from around the globe. This was quite possibly the first time Muslims had organised anything like this anywhere in the world.

The sun came out this afternoon for the 2000 or so people that came along for something I was really proud to be a part of.

Speeches:

Humza Yousaf intro

Assistant Chief Constable John Neilson, Strathclyde Police

Dr Hany Al-Banna, Islamic Relief

Rev Dr Graham Blount, Church of Scotland

Matt Smith, STUC & UNISON

Keir McKechnie, Stop the War Coalition

Osama Saeed, Muslim Council of Scotland

Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister

Azad Ali, Muslim Council of Britain

Imam Mustaqeem Shah, Al-Furqan Mosque, Glasgow

More pictures

Comments

[Eck]

This rally was a very good idea. Contrary to our popular perception of ourselves, Scots are less tolerant of outsiders than the English are. We're also readier to use direct methods to express our disapproval - hence the reaction of the punters at Glasgow Airport.

We had sporadic attacks on Muslims after the bomb attempt. Imagine what might happen after a future attack if (a) there are mass casualties or (b) the culprits turn out to be Scots-born. Or both. The smart people in the Scottish Muslim community are hammering home the message about what side they are on - Scotland's.

The denial and ambivalence that you see from Muslims down south simply wouldn't cut the mustard here. You're either with us or against us.

[Omar Tufail]

A beautiful historic day that made us all proud, with Sunny Scotland setting an example to the rest of the world. United we stand tall!

[Mustafa Arif]

Osama: "This was quite possibly the first time Muslims had organised anything like this anywhere in the world."

No. Malcolm X (post Hajj) beat you to it by about 4.4 decades :-P Nevertheless it shouldn't detract from what seems like it was a good effort. (I must confess I'm one of those people who never really likes the idea of demonstrations and marches.)

Eck: "The denial and ambivalence that you see from Muslims down south simply wouldn't cut the mustard here. You're either with us or against us."

You have to appreciate an important cultural difference here. As Londoners we are *used* to terrorism. IRA bombs went off near where I live and in most parts of the city. Whilst bombs are always notable, there have been many more scares that affect public transport and they just sort of fade into the background of the daily commute. That doesn't make the terorrism any less bad. It's just that we are more likely to "take it on the chin" because it happened before and it'll happen again and we'll just carry on with life.

Places with no major previous (psychological) experience of terrorism will always draw a stronger emotional reaction.

I wouldn't describe it as "ambivalence".

As for the "denial" I guess you are talking about those Muslims who are in denial about the 7/7 bombers. I agree, they are in denial. Again, there's a crucial difference - those bombers managed to kill themselves. So people have to trust the official version of events. The fact that they are dead and can never be proven guilty in a court of law creates room for doubt in the minds of those who are paranoid about government conspiracies, etc. The denial, in part, reflects distrust of authority.

In the Glasgow case the guys failed to kill themselves and were apprehended. So it's obvious that the guys in the car really were the ones responsible. Consequently it's that much harder for any sane person to be in denial.

[Bilal Patel]

It remains to be seen whether this rally has any positive effect overall. I have very serious concerns that community leaders, rally organisers and so on are simply reinforcing the narrative linking religion and violence.

I really liked the joint letter advertised in the major newspapers two years ago about foreign policy and signed by all the major Muslim organisations. Of course the press and the politicians hated it, and made all sorts of noises about concessions to terrorism. This is because the letter shifted the narrative, which didn't suit their purpose, and it was dangerous for them because it would have got the public thinking about foreign policy rather than religion as a factor in attacks against Britain.

I think you should keep on repeating this message about foreign policy, because that is the only way to counteract the negative spin and shift the Islamophobic narrative. I really do think that rallies are not the way forward, however well intentioned they might be.

[Abdur Rahman]

Salaams Osama,

Ma sha Allah! An excellent idea. May God strengthen your arm.

Abdur Rahman

[dougie]

Scotland (particularly Glasgow where I grew up) is far more racist in comparison to London. It's the main reason I left for London along with every other well-educated Scot of my generation. However this march was impressive and it did make me proud to see Muslims waving Scotland flags whilst denouncing terrorism. They had no obligation to - Glasgow is an unpleasant, violent place, but I wouldn't accept being held responsible for the actions of other Glaswegians simply because I too am Glaswegian.

[Sohaib]

To Bilal Patel: that aspect was expressed by one of the speakers (from Stop the War), to noises of agreement from the crowd. But sometimes you need to have a feel for what's needed at a particular moment, and I think the organisers felt that a reassurance was needed that all Scots will stand together to face threats on us (whatever the reason for these threats).

[Danny]

A few questions for Osama

1) Was this demo staged to deflect blame for Terrorism away from Islamist/Jihadist doctrine and heap it squarely on the shoulders of the West?

2) If not, then wasn't it a mistake to involve MAB (who, via their links to the Muslim Brotherhood, are efectively Al Qaeda's step brother) and wasn't it also a mistake to involve the Stop the War Coalition? (this was supposed to be about condemning terrorists, not slamming the war in Iraq for the 9 millionth time!)

3) Since this terorism is staged in the name of Islam, isn't it about time that the world's influential clerics issue fatwas declaring violent "physical jihad" to be haraam and Jihadists to be "apostates"? Don't influential clerics need to be more clear and vocal? Doesn't West-blaming simply muddy th waters?

4) Is the deliberate, targetted killing of random Israeli civilians (in bars, restaurants etc.) a) terrorism you utterly condemn b) legitimate resistance c)defendable/justifiable on some level

[Clairwil]

'Glasgow is an unpleasant, violent place'

Good God! Is it really? I've lived here all my 32 years and whilst I wouldn't deny it has it's problems I rather like the place on the whole. Perhaps it's a by-product of not being 'well educated' that I take such a balanced view. Must try harder.

Moving on to happier matters. The atmosphere at the demo was great. Some excellent speakers and a fantastic idea. Well done to all the organisers.

[aineliva]

Well done, Osama and colleagues, this is the kind of effort we all need and it is heartening to see you were well supported.

[Editor]

Masha'allah, this is great

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[Dougie]

Danny: yes, sadly, it probably is because you are poorly educated (Glasgow's schools are not the best). I wouldn't bring my children up in the place anyway.

[joe90]

Danny saks
4) Is the deliberate, targetted killing of random Israeli civilians (in bars, restaurants etc.) a) terrorism you utterly condemn b) legitimate resistance c)defendable/justifiable on some level

I don't know anyone who supports violence of any description except western fundamentalist christianist and racist zionists fanatics like yourself, who endless justify, apologise and defend Israeli and western war crimes.

As far as occupied Palestine is concerned,
if Israeli apologists for Israeli war crimes don't like what the Palestinian resistence Movement do they they can always do something about it - go back home to Israel and stop carrying out an illegal military occupation of Palestine (the West Bank and Gaza), as well carrying out a continuing campaign of genocide against native Palestinians.

Hitler didn't like the resistence much in nazi-occupied Europe - he could always have done something about it as well, by going back home to Germany and leaving innocent defenceless people in peace to get on with their lives.

I haven't met anybody yet, who cares about Palestine (as well as the spirituial and moral well-being of Jewish Israelis trapped inside the barbaric and racist Israeli state) who supports violence. There are reasons for Palestinian violence and resistence, terrorism if you want to call it that - and that is the greater crimes of Israel War Crimes.

If Israel wants to end the far lesser crimes of the Palestinian Resistence Movement then, just like Hitler, it has to stop carrying out the greater crimes of illegal occupation (as well slow-motion genocide against occupied Palestinians) and abide by international law and order.

ps
Israeli Soldiers Shoot Dead Palestinian Child in Hebron; Body Mauled by Military Dog
ISM
5 July 2007
Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian child carrying a toy gun in Hebron yesterday. 15-year-old Ahmad Abed Al-Muhsin Skafi was shot 4 times in the upper body by Israeli soldiers who then allowed a military dog to maul the body, tearing the boy’s intestines from his stomach and mutilating his right hand.

A school-wean executed then its corpse mutilated!

Did you see....?
posted at JSF
06 July 2007
an al Aqsa TV cameraman being shot on the ground by Israeli soldiers until both of his legs needed amputating

The world's most moral army!!

[joe90]

I couldn't physically make it to the rally,
but was there in spirit!

Well done!

[joe90]

Danny asks
1) Was this demo staged to deflect blame for Terrorism away from Islamist/Jihadist doctrine and heap it squarely on the shoulders of the West?

The same can be said for the British government, which also doesn't support terrorism. HMG's fight against terrorism is a campaign merely to deflect blame away from 'Islamist/Jihadist doctrine' and onto the shoulders of the 'West'. In fact, the same can be said for the US and Israeli governments objections against terrorism as well.

You have to love the imbicilic logic here!

To say that this rally was staged, in some way, to try and deflect blame away from terrorists and terrorism is utter bilge. 'Scotland United Against Terrorism' - where is the justification for terrorism, any terrorism, here or attempts to blame innocent people for the crimes of others?

In case you didn't notice, the Deputy Head of the Scottish Government was at the rally. The Scottish Government have been absolutely brilliant since the nonsense at Glasgow Airport.

Indeed, Glasgow Airport has been the scene of other but much greater crimes than the mere terrorist attack recently. It was used by the UK and the US to facilitate war crimes against Lebanon in summer of 2006, whose consequences still continue to murder, mutilate and ampuate defenceless innocent Lebanese -
In pictures: Lebanon's leftover munitions
BBC
(forget the usual BBC crude propaganda in the service of Israeli war crimes - cluster bombs were deliberately used to ethnically cleanse south Lebanon by the Israeli airforce, part of the world's most moral army)

And Glasgow Airport is also implicated in these US international terrorist kidnappings -
Off the Record
U.S. Responsibility for Enforced Disappearances
in the "War on Terror"
AI Report
07 June 2007

After all, western war crimes are the cause of most of the terrorism in the world, especially since the attacks on Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon (as well as the illegal occupation of Palestine). You don't need to believe me about this. I could care less if you do. I am only repeating what western intelligence agencies say are the reasons for terrorism, and also their judgement about how to easily avoid terrorism ie don't carry out war crimes then you won't have to worry about the far lesser crime of terrorism.

If you have any complaints about western intelligence agencies trying to deflect the blame for terrorism away from your favourite scapegoats Danny, I suggest you get in touch with your local political representative, as this is what they are saying is the truth of the matter when it comes to terrorism and preventing it.

[joe90]

Blair Admits Terrorist “Blowback”
by David Morison
ukwatch.net
undated

...it’s not as if Blair wasn’t warned in advance. In February 2003, the British intelligence services warned him that the risk of a blowback of this kind would be increased by taking military action against Iraq...

British Joint Intelligence Committe report, 10 Feb 2003 -
"...assessed that al-Qaida and associated groups continued to represent by far the greatest terrorist threat to Western interests, and that threat would be heightened by military action against Iraq."

The JIC report also -
"..assessed that any collapse of the Iraqi regime would increase the risk of chemical and biological warfare technology or agents finding their way into the hands of terrorists, not necessarily al-Qaida..."

..Blair didn’t tell the House of Commons about either of these warnings on 18 March 2003, lest their enthusiasm for military action against Iraq be dampened.

"...Blair justified military intervention in Iraq in March 2003 on the grounds that there was a threat to Britain from Iraq, which had to be countered. There was no threat to Britain from Iraq in March 2003. But the intervention in Iraq increased the threat to Britain from al-Qaida. The first al-Qaida action against British interests took place in Istanbul on 20 November 2003."

Question -
What do you call someone who carries out an unprovoked attack against innocent defenceless Iraqis, telling lies in order to be able to do so - and who also doesn't tell the truth about the danger, they know for a fact, they are putting the British People in?

Answer -
The British Prime Minister (Tony Hitler)

And the icing on the British government cake of Hitlerian foreign policy -

"...that 11 out of the 15 members of the Security Council were opposed to the military action, and wanted UN inspection to continue. The Straw/Brown argument is that the US/UK took action to enforce the will of the Security Council – against the will of the Security Council."

[Bunc]

Good to see some of the Muslim community standing up visibly to the terrorists. It would be nice to see a massive muslim demonstration against the violence that Muslims atre committing against other Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan. How about "not in my name" on that one?

[Rory Winter]

Eck, there's no room for complacency here. Evidence is increasing that the Glasgow/London attacks were false flag ops involving UK intelligence and others (I would say most likely CIA and Mossad). The entire manner in which the Glasgow fire was put out so slowly and clumsily needs to be questioned. Now I understand the baggage handler, 'John Smeaton', who punched the man in flames is nowhere to be found. When enquirers have approached the Home Office they've been told to mind their own business. The Glasgow Police refuse to comment on the mysterious John Smeaton.

While it's good that a homogenuous Scottish population does not go on the rampage it's alarming that revenge attacks have been made and these have gone unreported by a totally discredited BBC propaganda machine. It's also significant that early comments by the First Minister, Alex Salmond, were made in such as guarded manner as to condemn terrorism without necessarily indicating who the terrorists might be.

Well, let me be more explicit: the UK Government has a history of terrorism, particularly in Ireland and with mainland bombings which were carried out by British intelligence and the UDA and conveniently blamed on the IRA. The recent investigation of the assassination of the Dublin lawyer, Pat Finucane, was another blatant
whitewash.

Through its membership of NATO, Britain supported the terrorism of Operation Gladio whose singular purpose was to carry out attacks against the populations of friendly countries and then blame it on the Red Brigade etc, eg the Bologna bombings.

The entire "War on Terror"is a fake, fabricated by the West and their intelligence services in order to justify the naked imperialism and genocide being carried out by the USUK in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan.

Typically it is they, the real terrorists, who then project their crimes onto others. It is more than likely that those responsible for both the London and Glasgow incidents were entrapped into doing so by British and Coalition intelligence. It wouldn't be the first time and certainly not the last.

Finally, it's simply arrogant to accuse Muslims of "denial and ambivalence" when the most significant denial that is that of British politicians of their real reasons for occupying Iraq and Afghanistan. As for ambivalence, whilst the population at large oppose the British occupations that opposition is based more on concern for British lives, not the lives of over a million the Coalition has so far murdered.

If Germans were collectively responsible for the war crimes of the Nazis, then we in Britain now stand equally responsible for the war crimes of politicians who we have not been prepared to act against. It is not Muslims who are in denial, it is the big time imperialists in Britain and the USA.

Please see my blog article, WAR CRIMES, USUK HYPOCRISY & COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY, at Chimes of Freedom, http://chimesofreedom.blogspot.com

[joe90]

Some really excellent stuff there Rory mate!

I particularly like the way you bring out the accusation that charges Muslims with being ambivalent or that they are in denial - especially when its the western fundamentalist jihadis like Bush-Blair-Brown-Murdoch-BBC who are guilty of this.

Blame the victims!

This chimes (if you don't mind me borrowing some of your own blog vocabulary) with the propaganda deployment of terms such as 'Muslim moderates' and 'Muslim extremists'. In order to puncture these examples of insidious Goebbel's newspeak, all you have to do is apply these self-same terms and labels to (non-Muslim) British and Americans.

You never hear of (non-Muslim) British being refered to as 'moderates' - nor do you ever hear of British 'fundamentalists', likewise for the Yanks.

By the very use of these deeply loaded terms the debate, discussion or whatever has already been pre-supposed and pre-framed, regardless of actual reality itself.

Now the victims of such Orwellian organisations as the BBC are trapped in a (non) debate about moderates-extermists in their midst, and that each and every Muslim victim of the BBC is forced to decide on which side of this false dichotomy of moderate-extremist, they are on.

Not only that, but British Muslim victims of BBC propaganda must be seen to be constantly chanting the mantra that they they are against 'extremism' and they themselves are 'moderates' - ad infinitum ad nauseum.

And of course, as Muslims they have to apolgise for the crimes of other people who just happen to be Muslim - a principle which Hitler loved so well, but the BBC is so indoctrinated it doesn't even know they are one of his ideological followers.

all the best Rory and I promise to come and visit your blog!