British organisations criticised in an official report which branded members of the Muslim Brotherhood as “possible terrorists” have denied they have any link to the organisation.
The Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), which helped the Finsbury Park mosque emerge from the shadow of militant preacher Abu Hamza, and the Cordoba Foundation, a Middle Eastern thinktank which has negotiated the freedom of 19 hostages in Iraq – sometimes at the request of the government – denied having “any links to the Muslim Brotherhood”.
Released by David Cameron a few hours before parliament’s Christmas recess, the report stopped short of banning the Muslim Brotherhood but said the group characterised the UK as fundamentally hostile to the Muslim faith and identity and had expressed support for terrorist attacks by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
The Cordoba Foundation, set up to promote peace in the Middle East, was said to be “associated with the Brotherhood”. However in a press conference held at Finsbury Park mosque, Anas Altikriti, the founder of the Cordoba Foundation, said he had “absolutely no links to the Muslim Brotherhood”.
“I think that the Muslim Brotherhood remains the most important democratic voice that espouses multiculturism, human rights and basic freedoms. But I do not have any links to it. I just think these values are essential … to reach out to Muslim youth.”
He added that he supported Hamas “only on the basis that it is the democratically elected government in Palestine. It does not mean I support every tactic or statement Hamas makes. I am against suicide bombing on religious and political grounds. As for Hamas, Tony Blair has held meetings with the leadership so is it an issue for him?”
The report accuses the MAB of being “dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood”. However Omer El-Hamdoon, the president of the association, said it had no links with the organisation. He also took issue with the claim that the MAB had “consistently opposed programmes by successive governments to prevent terrorism”.
“What we have said is that we are specifically taking issue with (anti-radicalisation programme) Prevent. We think the measures go too far in terms of registering and inspecting nurseries and out-of-hours schooling. It’s not just us; students and teachers also have raised concerns.”
El-Hamdoon said the danger was that critics were being tarred as possible terrorists. “The danger is that if anyone criticises the government then you are attacked. We think we have a right to disagree with the government over Iraq or Palestine or Prevent – but we do so with peaceful protest. Opposing and speaking out is part of being an active citizen. But we are not enemies of the state.”
The report came after a long-delayed official inquiry into Muslim Brotherhood activities in Britain and went far further than expected by claiming that “aspects of Muslim Brotherhood … are contrary to our values and have been contrary to our national interests and our national security”.
In November, the Guardian revealed that the United Arab Emirates, dominated by the oil-rich emirate of Abu Dhabi, threatened to block billion-pound arms deals with the UK, stop inward investment and cut intelligence cooperation if Britain did not act against the Muslim Brotherhood, which UAE regards as a terrorist outfit.
A trio of the UK’s closest allies in the Arab world – Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE – have all complained that London is a base for the Brotherhood, which began and was developed in Egypt. The MAB is also outlawed by the UAE.
These Arab nations have all outlawed the group and accused it of links to terrorism. The Brotherhood denies this, saying it is a peaceful political movement. The report accepts that the organisation has opted for “non-violent incremental change on the grounds of expediency”.