Now that the Islamic Forum of Europe has again gone on the record to deny accusations that it is linked to Jamaat e Islami in Bangladesh, I feel more comfortable legally in reporting part of a conversation I had with Lutfur Rahman last year.
You’ll remember that I posted a transcript of a conversation I had with former IFE president Habibur Rahman here. That took place in March 2009 at about the same time I talked to Lutfur and the transcript for part of that conversation was reported here.
Here’s more of it.
TJ: People say that IFE supports Jamaat e Islami in Bangladesh. What are your views on that?
LR: OK. That is something I don’t know. In terms of Bangladeshi politics, yeah, I don’t belong to a party and I don’t even support a party in Bangladesh, nor do I get involved in anything to do with Bangladeshi parties. I’m so happy that we’ve got a democratically elected government after two years of quasi-military rule. I’m grateful that people have seen sense and elected a democratically elected government, a socially progressive government in Bangladesh. I don’t get involved in Bangladeshi politics because I don’t even know anything about it. All I know that and I care about is that people are being fed and people have a chance to lead a decent life.
TJ: Would you like to see, as [Jamaat e Islami want], Bangladesh become an Islamic Republic?
LR: Ted, I want to see a democratically elected country in Bangladesh. That’s all I care about. What I care about, I come from the centre-Left of British politics and I struggled through my life, I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth, I believe in libertarian, liberal values, I believe in free speech, I believe in people having a chance in life and equality of opportunity and I believe in people expressing themselves. People have spoken and they have elected a government and I’m very happy with that. I do not indulge in Bangladeshi politics.
TJ: But to the direct question, would you like to see an elected Islamic Republic of Bangladesh?
LR: To me, the faith politics is not important to me. What is important to me is I want to see a progressive government, whether that be an Islamic republic, or that be a socialist republic or whether it be a capitalist republic, I want to see a progressive government for the people. How do you define progressiveness? To have been fed twice a day, to have equality of opportunity, a hood health service, free education and that people can go about their normal life.
I have just posed the same question to Helal Abbas. Here’s what he said:
HA: I definitely would not want an Islamic republic of Bangladesh. I would not support it. I would not want any single-issue based party. I’d want a socialist-leaning government in Bangladesh which serves the needs of all communities regardless of faith.
An interesting comparison, in style and substance.
Trial by Jeory 
And your point is????
The point is in the post, David. How would you have answered the question? One candidate gave a broad, politically clever, but slightly evasive answer, while the other gave a direct and definitive one. The subject matter was a significant factor in the NEC’s decision, remember.
you have too much time on your hands looks like Ted. You’re seeing wrongs where there are no wrongs, I am tempted to say get a life but I think your blogs do give a wider perspective.
There is no wrong with any government as long as they are serving the people and not God, the party, their gender, their race etc. Problems will start to occur when you start looking out for your own and not take into account the views of the other.
I have been shocked to discover from a senior female Tower Hamlets politician recently that women councillors are still intimidated in the Town Hall. You would benefit society more if you exposed the sexism that exists.
Don’t worry about an Islamic Republic, we the Muslim women (or at least most of us) will never, ever willingly want to live under a male dominated government as is normally the case with Islamic Republics. With the British system I despair for the lack of women but know that it can change (albeit very slowly) but you can never argue with someone who has God on their side.
Once this election is over, I will get it back, that’s for sure! You’re absolutely right about sexism in the town hall; I’ve heard that before.
Remember to read the Lutfur transcript in context: there were a number of allegations being made against him and I was seeking his views on them.
More insunuation that IFE and Jamaati Islam are some sort of boogey man type organisations (or shall we use Gilligan’s words of Islamic Supremecists)?
Question: Has IFE or Jamaati Islam done something illegal or criminal, or are they bannned or prosecuted?
Answer: No.
So many numurous slandering and accusations have been made over the last few decades about both organisations and a lot of guilt by association. Even allegations of war crimes in the 1971 Bangladeshi independant war. Yet to date not a single one of these accusations have been taken to the hague or prosecution made in court.
The reality is, this is Ted and Gilligan’s way of using insinuation sinisterism in order to push through a political agenda. Ted and Gilligan are just recycling old news/propaganda for their own political purposes. That is why you will notice most of his articles are written in a particular style. Its all part and parcel of the gutter journalism that tabloids have been doing over the last few dacades on these organisations.
It is not just these two organisations, but the tabloid journalists attack many other Muslim organisations and leaders for their own political motives. Reality is this is just islamaphobia under the guise of “journalism”.
Are you saying there were no war crimes in 1971?
Allegations of war crimes made against these organisations and some of their leaders. If you look back, I think over a decade ago, there were some documentaries made of allegations of war crimes of some individuals in this country. To date non of these individuals have been prosectued.
Its a cycle of attacks on Muslim organisatios and their leaders for many years and often journalists in order to discredit them. Nothing but covert Islamaphobia!
Here more on the war crimes allegations on the East London Mosque and IFE people:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2010/oct/17/big-issue-islam-campus-extremism
I have come across your blog sifting through comment on the election results. I quite like it.
‘War crimes denial’ is a slur used by people who wish to capitalise on the blood of so many who died unjustly. Its a retarding blood capitalism used to score points against non-seculars and those who challenge monolithic self-serving narratives of valour in 1971. I call it Jionijom, its not about justice but political vendetta, but lets work for justice anyway.
I wonder if hacks in the uk are going to stir and skew it further because it presents far to interesting an opportunity to attract attention to power. Trials should be fair and the accused must have the opportunity to be heard, understood and dignity damaged prevented/redressed. The wronged whose stories dont ‘fit’ must also be heard.
Beyond law. Bangladesh needs to avoid being split on eurocentric fictions of secular nationalism, military nationalism and 1930s mislamisms, and progress its political identity to greater heights. It is not the place of UK people, even of deshi heritage, to fiddle with the ongoing results. Lets not feed the monsters!
By the way you have been quiet about Ken’s support for Lutfur (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11569758). Are you going to start discrediting Ken as you have done with Lord Nazir? Come on Ted we just want to say “we knew Ted’s gonna say that”. Come on Ted you know we love journalists like you, because you are a bit more easy to figure out in regards to your bias!
It’d be easier for you to figure out by actually reading the blog….https://trialbyjeory.wordpress.com/2010/10/18/kens-future-and-oonas/
I think what Ken has done is attract more national media attention to an election campaign that needs covering. His intervention was more about his own election in 2012.
Thanks for pointing this out. I guess it took a bit of time to read through some of your coded tabloid journalism.
I realised after i read that article fully that it was written in your usual journalistic style to try to sway readers away from the real issue of Ken’s support for Lutfur to attacking Ken in order to fit your political agenda.
http://towerhamletseyes.wordpress.com/2010/10/14/the-politics-of-fear-in-tower-hamlets/
It is deeply worrying that the Tower Hamlets Labour party has recently started to woo voters by using fear mongering tactics. White voters especially are being canvassed by Labour on an explicit ‘stop Muslim fundamentalists taking over the borough’ slogan.
It seems that Rushanara Ali and Helal Abbas have the clout within the national Labour party to just label, without evidence, anyone they oppose for personal political reasons, as an Islamic fundamentalist! They are now carrying out a witch hunt against political opponents using the ‘Islamic fundamentalist’ label and thus removing many hard working and respected politicians from leadership positions. So far, the elected Mayoral candidate, eight councillors and many party members have been forced to leave Labour on this basis.
The ‘fear Islam’ bandwagon is easy to play on, as there is ample support from the media, wider society and the so called global ‘war on terror’ drive. It is not only unethical to use such a powerful propaganda machine to achieve personal political ends; but also highly dangerous as they are fuelling fear, violence and discrimination against ordinary Muslims in Tower Hamlets. Furthermore, young Muslims are increasingly losing faith in mainstream politics, since it appears that anyone with faith community ties can just be labelled as an extremist and lose their political careers.
On 4 September the Tower Hamlets local Labour party members overwhelmingly voted for Lutfur Rahman as the man to represent them in the Tower Hamlets Mayoral election. The Labour party and the community then gathered, united, behind Lutfur, with a huge launch on 14 September, with speakers from across the community.
On 21 September, 3 days before the deadline to register mayoral candidates, the central body of the Labour party, the NEC, made the decision to remove Lutfur Rahman as the Labour candidate, and replace him with Helal Abbas. Helal Abbas had came a poor third with only a 157 votes to Lutfur Rahman’s 433 votes. The decision shocked not only the whole community, but also most of the local Labour party which had already started to work hard together for Lutfur’s campaign.
The published account of the NEC meeting and Helal Abbas’ leaked signed statement reveal that Rushanara Ali and Helal Abbas were the architects behind this decision. Not satisfied with winning as MP, Rushnara wants to ensure that there is no one to balance out her power in Tower Hamlets. Harriet Harman in the NEC meeting states that Rushanara’s word against Lutfur was more important than certain allegations made by the journalist, Andrew Gilligan. Indeed, the Labour party did not act on the ‘evidence’ provided by Gilligan for over 6 months, and despite all the propaganda had actually declared Lutfur as its Mayoral candidate on 4 September.
It seems Rushanara Ali and Helal Abbas will stop at nothing and stoop to any low to retain every power in their own hands. They fear monger to such an extent that Helal Abbas actually implies in his statement that the imam of the Kaba will effectively rule Tower Hamlets if Lutfur wins!
The electorate in Tower Hamlets has already demonstrated its strength by choosing to vote-out and vote-in Labour. But rejected old ghosts such as Oona King, who failed to represent the community’s views, have been bought back to support Rushanara’s campaigns. Rushanara Ali has developed her role within Labour through international development activities in Bangladesh; but there needs to be immediate investigation on how in return she is importing corrupt, messy and sometimes violent politics from Bangladesh through the local Labour party.
The Mayoralty cannot be a personal platform for self interest driven national and international politics, by power hungry politicians. It must represent Tower Hamlets first and foremost.
just thought I’d mention, I too was bullied by 2 Labour sitting Councillors and one Labour Party member, I also had one sitting Labour councillor make a hate crime comment against me. I have never reported these although I had written up a statement about the hate crime as I was so upset. As one of the very few Bangladeshi women activists you would think they would try to hold on to me not bully me into keeping away from politics. I despise all politicians who do very little about women’s rights and the ones that try to keep away the few women that are interested are the worst scum in my books. Girl Power will prevail!
Respect’s Salma Yaqoob (pakistani) is a good example of “Girl Power” and their current TH Chair Carole Swords (who is half jewish) is another example. I am not promoting Respect, but just goes to show women can get places even if there is so much put up against them.
Ridiculous. Respect is incredibly mail dominated. Look at youtube to see their last big hurrah, a march in Brick Lane in support of Abjol Miah. As Respect became more and more a conservative force in the borough the presence of women declined. Contrast this with how active Bangladeshi women were in support of the ESOL cuts struggles – (can also be seen on youtube).
Salma Yaqoob and Respect nec member (maybe former?) Yvonne Ridley are very happy to work with and share a platform with the Jamaat Islami.
‘Girl Power’ combined with the religious Right may work well for Sarah Palin, but don’t try to sell it as something progressive.
That is the typical rant and fear mongering by Islamaphobes. Nothing new about these sort of false and baseless accusations!
As a strong believer in women’s rights I will support the candidate that has the most women actively supporting him. Looks like one candidate has the market cornered.
Care to share?
all I can say is he does not have several allegations of violence and bullying against women. That always helps.
Well in all honesty, neither Abbas nor Rahman are free of allegations of sexism…
Well in that case I hope the least worst man wins.
Ted am I allowed to post in comments on this blog the link to the Dispatches programme re the alleged war criminals?
It’s here among other places
[LINK REMOVED FOR LEGAL REASONS]
Of course it is correct that no prosecutions came out of this.
Am afraid not. I understand that Channel 4 made a settlement for libel against at least one of the named individuals.
this is why you work for the Express and not a more respected newspaper.
People in Bangladesh have better things to think about – like what to eat for dinner – than whether or not they would like a Islamic Republic. Get a grip on reality.
Tony, how very patronising. People in Bangladesh do vote, you know.
yes quite. People vote in Bangladesh not on who can establish an Islamic State but on who can can feed them, grow the economy, create prosperity. You know, traditional topics. Yet you choose to ask Lutfur and Helal Abbas if they think Bangladesh should become an ‘islamic republic’. whatever that means. and then you go on to make hay of the fact that Lutfur answered it in three questions, giving you a more nuaunced answer – while Mr Abbas chose to answer in one, rather vacuous answer.
Again i refer to your employer, and my lack of surprise at your inability to see nuance.
Tony, you do know that Jamaat e Islami stand for election in Bangladesh, don’t you? Do you know what their aims are? See here: http://jamaat-e-islami.org/
You do realise that Jamaat say that people could be better fed by following its objectives, don’t you?
The questions posed to the candidates were in the context of the allegations surrounding Lutfur’s alleged (and denied) links to IFE.
But perhaps that was too nuanced for you. Maybe you should take out a subscription to my employer’s newspaper. It’d help pay my wages, at least.
Also let’s not forget that the voters of Bangladesh came out in record numbers in 2008 to get rid of the Jamaat. I’m not a big fan of the Awami League, but it was very inspiring to see people rejecting the religious Right parties so clearly.
We’re not yet as advanced here in Tower Hamlets of course, but I live in hope.
yes i can tell you have a deep understanding of bangladesh and bengalis. that’s you know of course that whilst a state is a long held ideal for islamists (much like zion for jews or shall we say utopia or the final stage of communism for us), they are basically social conservatives who have worked within governments in coalition to better Bengali society. that is why bengalis vote for them, because they feel they share their views on religion. That is why your question is so irrelevent. questions of a ‘islamic republic’ have long been forgotten in bengali society.
@ rach. yes bengalis came out in record numbers to vote and award awami league 90% of the seats. similar to iraq when Saddam won 90+%.
actually tony, what I was trying to say is that Bangladeshi people don’t tend to vote for the Islamic parties any more. and certainly in B’desh no leftist believes that an Islamic party can be progressive!
You don’t have to be pro-Awami (and I’m not) to find that encouraging.
but i agree that its not very relevant to this election anyway. Lutfur Rahman is no ‘Islamic fundamentalist’ and since Respect is dead there’s no point in worrying about whether they are either.
Far more important is remembering that it was Respect who committed the unforgivable crime of saddling us with the elected mayor in the first place.
A disaster no matter who wins today.
I am new in this game, but few questions to everyone incl the Wise Ted.
1. What are we doing to build One Tower Hamlets? The media attention on Luthfur and Abbas so far has been about their links with IFE or not, who is more practicing muslim, who believes in traditional muslim values etc etc. The danger we is very clear, we are pushing our future generation into a badly labelled camp as ‘islamists’and not really thinking about using their calibire and talent to develop our leadership.
2. Is this all about Islam or fear of Islam; or is it about unconsious racicism? what I have learned over last few weeks is that in this day of ‘glocal’movement people still think they have superior status, both politically, racially and intellectually. Come on get over it. It’s a lost battle.
3. Can we not work together at this testing time of recession national hardship? i urge both Luthfur and Abbas [and our wise Ted] to come up with smart solutions to the challenges we are facing as a community.
what’s the big fuss about an ‘Islamic State’, I am a practicing Muslim and use my God given free will in combination with common sense to make decisions in life. I don’t need no Islamic politician or any other politician telling me what to do. Now can we please stop talking about the imaginary ‘Islamic States’ and start talking about things that really happen like job cuts, poverty and unequal representation? Because this thread of the conversation is nonsense as it is boring.
Anyway if Britain ever becomes an Islamic State I’m moving out…
There are many allegations and counte allegations. I believe that some of the allegations about all parties are true but many are untrue and exegerated.
Lutfur has been elected in fair election and the process has been dirty. It is now the duty of everyone to hold Lutfur to account and prevent (if Lutfur has any hidden agenda) Tower Hamlets becoming an Islamic Republic in London.
I for one do not believe that Lutfur has any hidden agenda and certainly do not want to make the Council into an Islamic state. He has said he wants to serve everyone and his policies will be based on descent housing, better social servics, improved environment, successful olympics, etc.
Rather than predicting that Lutfur will turn the Borough into an Islamic republic it will be more productive if Lutfur’s policies and actions are srcutinised and and he is allowed to play his role an an executive mayor.