Press release
Muslim Parliament to Blair: Tell Bush this is not our War
Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, Leader of the Muslim Parliament of Great
Britain, has asked Prime Minister Tony Blair to resist US pressure
and tell President Bush that this is not our war. Dr Siddiqui has
addressed a letter to Mr Blair on the eve of a special session of
the Parliament at Westminster to discuss possible attack on Iraq
suggesting he allow the nation's elected representatives to vote
on the issue lest he risk a parliamentary revolt and serious civil
strife in the country at large.
The following is the text of the letter:
'On Tuesday, 24 September, Parliament at Westminster meets, at
your invitation, to discuss the issue of a possible attack on Iraq.
I write to explain the views of a great number of people in Britain.
People find it difficult to accept the argument put forward by
President Bush that Saddam Hussain poses a real threat to the US
or Britain. Surely you know that no sane person can seriously contemplate
such views. But if the US and Britain do go to war, have you considered
how many dead Iraqis would be an acceptable figure as collateral
damage?
Innocent Iraqis are already suffering from continuous aerial attacks
and UN sanctions. Is it that Iraqi lives are expandable simply because
they are not British or American? Any attack on Iraq runs the risk
of undermining the International Order and will serve only to corroborate
the Immoral principal that might is right. Do you really wish this
to be your legacy to posterity, to go down in history as another
Palmerston?
The sentiments I express are not confined to Muslims only but represent
the overwhelming majority of British people whose instinctive sense
of fairness leads them to see Bush's war as unnecessary and Immoral.
Since Britain is a representative democracy why are our elected
representatives not allowed to vote on this matter on Tuesday? The
anti-war demonstration in London on Saturday, 28 September, will
show you the feelings of ordinary people.
Opting for a military alternative Britain would be seen to be subject
to an agenda dictated by foreign i.e., non-British interests, namely
the American oil and armament industries. Regrettably, their powerful
lobbies presently dictate US foreign policy of which the current
Administration is clearly a prisoner. To resist US pressure is never
easy. Morality and expediency alike dictate no other course, for
our present attitude risks alienating our European partners with
whom the future of this country lies.
I hope you would resist US pressure and tell President Bush, like
Harold Wilson did to President Johnson, that this is not our war.'
For further information, please contact:
Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui - 0208 563 1995 / 07860 259 289
23 September 2002
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