The BBC drama 'Spooks illustrates the continuation of the media campaign to demonise Islam

The BBC fictional drama 'Spooks ran a story of a UK Muslim preacher involved in the recruitment of young Muslims for 'suicide missions. The storyline sparked off a new wave of discrimination against the Muslim community in th e UK.

London, UK - On Monday 9th June 2003, the BBC fictional drama programme 'Spooks ran the story of a Birmingham based Imam involved in the recruitment of young Muslims for 'suicide missions. The storyline, a mixture of sensationalised acting and stereotypical images, generated a large number of complaints to the BBC prior to the broadcasting of the programme. It also sparked off talk of a new wave of discrimination against the Muslim community -- one Masjid in Birmingham was vandalised, with the words 'kill the suicide bombers sprayed on its walls.

In the light of these events, and after study and thought, we want to present the correct view towards these events and we ask you to consider and understand the following points:

1. The problem does not lie with one broadcast, but rather the very ideas that underpin Western society. Since the idea of freedom of speech is enshrined in Western capitalist states and societies, there will undoubtedly be hundreds of television programmes, radio broadcasts and articles that are equally as venomous towards Islam and Muslims. In the last year alone, we have witnessed a tremendous onslaught against Islam and Muslims, with vitriolic statements emanating from all political sides and using all mediums. We recall that it was this same freedom of speech that allowed the novelist Salman Rushdie to openly slander the Prophet (saw) and the Mothers of the believers. It is therefore not sufficient to limit ourselves to complaining about the broadcast of such programmes or calling for the BBC to change her policy, since Western media outlets will continue to air such programmes in the name of freedom of speech. Rather, it is also necessary, indeed an obligation, to challenge the ideas that underpin Western societies such as their freedoms that create immoral and perverse societies -- societies where the law of the jungle reigns and there is no sense of accountability towards any higher authority except for ones desires.

2. This is not the first occasion that the Western media has spewed out such anti-Islamic vitriol and neither is it the first occasion that Islam and Muslims have been in the dock. Muslims in Britain remember all too well the malicious attacks at the time of the Salman Rushdie affair, the Oklahoma bombing and more recently following the events of September 11th. 'Spooks is merely the tip of the iceberg, since the Western media continually put Islam and Muslims under the spotlight in an attempt to create a climate of fear, thereby hoping that Muslims become apologetic and twist Islam to fit Western tastes. It is also clear that since Islam provides the only ideological challenge to Western Capitalism, the Western media works to tarnish the image of Islam so as to malign it in the eyes of the masses. Almost every day, Muslims are exposed to lies, slander and propaganda by the Western media and politicians such that the image of Muslims in the Western mind has become connected with terrorism and killing to the extent that every single Muslim has become an object of doubt and suspicion.

3. These events highlight once again, if further evidence were needed, the need for Muslims to have a strong and independent ideological Islamic State -- the Khilafah. Only then will the Muslim Ummah be able to effectively counter their vitriol, malice and lies, defend Islam and the Muslims and challenge their corrupt and decadent way of life.

Today the Muslims have the task of exposing the Western ideology. We should be aware Muslims and not fall into the trap of merely defending Islam whenever it is attacked. We must take the debate to the doors of Western society and challenge its very foundations.

Simultaneously, we remind you to work for the return of the Khilafah State, for it is this state alone that will be able to amass the resources and media to project Islam as an ideological challenge to the West.