The apparent attempted suicide bombings in London on July 21 2005, exactly two weeks after the attacks that left over 50 dead, 700 wounded and countless other people affected left us all in utter shock and horror. In Commissioner Ian Blair’s words, “Our security services were faced with the greatest operational challenge since the Second World War.”
Ethnic Eritrean Mukhtar Said-Ibrahim, aged 27, was apprehended after being identified by his London-based parents. According to information provided to interrogators by Hussein Osman, Said-Ibrahim was the alleged ringleader of the cell. His family arrived in Britain in 1992 to claim asylum as refugees when he was aged 14. Estranged from his parents, his world view appears to have become radicalized while serving time in prison. Hussein Osman, 27, of Stoke Newington, London, was a naturalized Briton of Ethiopian origin, married and with children. Yassin Hassan Omar from Somalia was arrested the following Wednesday in Birmingham. Yassin came to the UK very young and lived with foster parents before moving out to live in a council flat on his own. “There’s no link between them and our community whatsoever,” said Nur, a Somali social worker, expressing a view echoed by Eritreans and Ethiopians alike. “Whatever developed in these guys’ heads happened here in the United Kingdom.”
When the ethnic origins of the suspected culprits were disclosed the implications for the East African communities in the UK were disturbing, to say the least. Much as they tried to disassociate themselves from these individuals, the debate about Islamic terrorism and immigration raged around them. East Africans being generally distinct and ‘visible’, were easy to identify by those bent on victimization and revenge.
Slurs such as ‘home-grown’ terrorism, ‘evil ideologies’ of violence and hatred, “barbaric crusaders, envious people who resented and were jealous of the western world’s freedom and democratic heritage” etc…. were endlessly thrown at the Muslim communities. No serious reference was made to the current or historic contribution to this Nirvana world nor were the issues of socio-economic and cultural exclusion and the corollary alienation of its subjects. Arefaine Berhe, the Eritrean community peace activist said, “There is a strong feeling of alienation within our people. We feel that all fingers are pointing at us; Sometimes walking down the street, I feel people staring, waiting for me to detonate a bomb.”
One victim who suffered as result of these atrocities was Aziza Ahmed. Her husband became a suspect as his gym membership card was found on one of the suicide bombers.
Aziza sadly recalls the traumatizing events that took place: “Plain clothes police-men came from nowhere on my way to the mosque and pointed guns at me and my son. We were asked to drop our bags and face the floor. They were even holding a gun against my 74 year-old mother’s head and were severely manhandling us. It was all too devastating.” This heavy handed treatment led to her mother suffering a heart attack and being rushed to hospital. After an intensive investigation, the police cleared both Aziza and her husband of any connection with the bombers. One year on, Aziza has not received any compensation for what she endured, not even an apology. No wonder there exists a great deal of distrust and hostility towards the police amongst these communities. “We do not feel protected. How can we feel safe and protected when the Metropolitan Police clearly believe themselves to be above the law when it comes to its dealings with us?” says Sadia Ali whose husband had also been randomly arrested last April for suspicion of participating in terrorist activities. Jamal, an A-level student says, “Sometimes I feel angry and want to retaliate when I get searched and stopped all the time. Yet, I am only trying to get some education and build my life for a better future so as be able to contribute positively to this society.”
In the ensuing meetings and community consultations, the one thing that has become clear is the need to reach out to young Muslims by creating platforms for dialogue and discussions. Somehow, the profound gulf of distrust and misunderstanding between young Muslims on the one hand and Community leaders, parents and the authorities, on the other, needs to be overcome. A comprehensive approach needs to be adopted throughout the system: in youth centres, schools, colleges and places of worship in order to reach and engage the few disaffected youngsters who may be at risk to themselves and to us all. “I feel isolated and alone. I feel that the system is against me, as the stop-and-searches have increased,” says Abdi, from Fusion Youth Organisation. “Young people feel like they don’t want to co-operate with the police. We see them as our enemies and people who are there just to get us.”
George Rhoden, the Head of Black Police Officers’ Association, has advised the Muslim community, “Report any hate crime. They are recorded and we will take them seriously.” The events of July 2005 have highlighted a number of issues which will not be resolved by the communities distancing themselves from the suspected individuals nor by the kind of slurs and damaging allegations from tabloid newspapers. This will only further alienate the Muslim youth who are already alienated from both their communities and mainstream society. • |
