Conference In Manchester With Speakers Who Support Terrorist Groups

The Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) - a group with a history of promoting extremists - will be holding an event called "The Palestine Conference 2010" at Manchester University on 13 February 2010. The event will include speakers who support a proscribed terrorist group. The event website is: 

( http://fosis.org.uk/events/calendar/details/82-fosis-palestine-conference-2010 )

FOSIS, who claim to represent around 90,000 Muslim students in Britain, has consistently denied that extremism exists on British University campuses. After revelations of Detroit bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's links with UCL, FOSIS President, Faisal Hanjra said: "We reaffirm our stance that there is no credible evidence to suggest that university campuses in the UK are arenas of radicalisation or that students are particularly at risk of the threat of radicalisation; however we remain committed in conjunction with various partners and organisations to ensure that universities remain safe places for both students and staff."

Nevertheless, "The Palestine Conference 2010" will include the following speakers:

Azzam Tamimi, who stated in January 2009, that he was in close contact with a leading member of Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation. He has also described himself as a 'sympathiser and supporter of Hamas'. During a speech in Trafalgar Square in 2006 he glorified two terrorist organisations, Hamas and Hezbollah saying "It is a matter of time as they (Israel) withdrew from South Lebanon, because of the great Jihad of Hizbollah...as they withdrew from Gaza, because of the great Jihad of Hamas and Islamic Jihad." Tamimi supports Hamas suicide bombings and in a November 2004 interview with Tim Sebastian on BBC Hardtalk, he stated that "were he given the opportunity, he would carry out a suicide bombing against Israel." Azzam Tamimi also told Sebastian "You see sacrificing myself for Palestine is a noble cause. It is the straight way to pleasing my G-d and I would do it if I had the opportunity". Tamimi is known to have made antisemitic remarks, saying "that Jews should sail on the sea in ships back to where they came or drown in it." 

Ismael Patel who has previously told Manchester students "that a Palestinian state could only exist at the expense of Israel and referred to Hamas, proscribed by the US and UK as a terrorist organisation, as 'one of the noblest resistance movements I've come across."During a January 2009 protest against Israel's Operation Cast Lead, Patel gave a speech in which he again praised Hamas. "Hamas is no terrorist organisation. The reason they hate Hamas is because they refuse to be subjugated, occupied by the Israeli state, and we salute Hamas for standing up to Israel". In January 2007, Patel wrote an article in which he praised senior Hamas member Ismael Haniyah, suggesting that western leaders could learn from him.

Daud Abdullah is the deputy secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB). In March 2009, the then Communities Minister Hazel Blears cut ties with the MCB because of Abdullah's endorsement of a statement which supported an uncompromising jihad against Israel. Included in the statement to which Abdullah put his name was a rejection of all Middle East peace initiatives in favour of jihad. Abdullah sais "we affirm in full conviction that the Palestinian Authority, whose mandate is coming to an end, is not eligible to represent the Palestinian people. It stands outside the will of its people, and has given up the choice of jihad in the way of Allah. We affirm in full conviction that the so-called Arab peace initiative is a proven betrayal of the Islamic Nation and the Palestinian cause."

David Berkley, President of the ZCC stated "Once again the University campus is being used to promote an extreme form of anti-Israel hatred which will intimidate Jewish students and damage the cause of peace and reconciliation. The organisors have given a platform to supporters of Hamas and in doing so are failing to advance the cause of Palestinian self determination but are promoting a theocratic or extreme political agenda."

"The ZCC views this meeting with considerable concern and will be making direct representations to the University. Meanwhile we and other communal organisations will continue to liaise with and support the welfare of our local Jewish students."

Douglas Murray, a recent ZCC guest speaker, who is the Director of the Centre for Social Cohesion,  said "FOSIS has shown yet again that they are part of the problem rather than the solution. They have a long track record of promoting extremists before the Detroit incident, and now continue to do so.

"Their continued support for terrorist sympathisers and supporters proves that FOSIS are the wrong partners in the fight against extremism."