Ex Quilliamite Reveals WhiteHall Backing!
I have received a testimonial of a former Quilliamite Ashraf ul Hoque who has now seen what they truly represent and wants to spill the beans! Here is his letter that he sent exclusively to the traditionalislamism site.
What makes this revelation all the more powerful is that it comes from a close friend of Maajid who has a liberal disposition
Since Ashraf wasn’t compliant enough new recruits are being sought directly using a government website.
Here is the letter that Ashraf sent me providing the reasons for his resignation
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Salam wa aliakum,
Thank you for responding.
Bro, Maajid is a friend of mine and has been for over 10 years. I disagree with his politics and he is more than aware of those disagreements. That’s as far as it goes – I see no problem in that, certainly not enough to render him unworthy of my friendship.
As far as clarifying my position: in brief, I agreed to write for the Quilliam Foundation as I was under the pretense that this was an independent think-tank to voice Muslim grievances to the powers that be - a platform for resistance. As events unfolded, I gradually ascertained that this was not the case. That, in reality, the causes of extremism was not the agenda (i.e., social marginalisation, foreign policy, racism etc), but rather it was the symptoms (and quite a rudimentary analysis at that!). I realised that QF had no intention of criticising government policy pertaining to the causes of radicalsiation but focused instead in trying to become the de facto Muslim lobby in the U.K., overly concerned with “wrapping the knuckles of the community” in an attempt to please Whitehall. This aim cannot be justified, in my opinion, as the QF has thus far garnered negligible grassroots support at best and therefore does not represent the Muslim community in this country. Furthermore, words and actions of certain individuals of that organisation are inflammatory, superfluous and irrelevant to issues pertaining to countering religious extremism/radicalisation and could potentially pose as an unwarranted obstacle to social cohesion.
I have never argued for anything other than what I have stated in this e-mail. The two articles that I did write for QF does not contradict the above, they were written while I was still “hopeful” of the outcome of events. In any case, I stand by what I wrote (to be honest, I’m surprised they ever published them as they contradict their ethos!) As soon as I began to harbour doubts towards the organisation, I ceased writing until QF clarified my reservations (at this point I was still commissioned to write two more articles which i refused to until I was satisfied with their strategy). Eventually, QF’s explanation did not suffice for me and I decided to resign my post.
I would like to state that I do not claim to be an expert in Islamic theology, nor to posses the ability to prescribe religious law, nor am I what some would consider to be a “practising Muslim” – like us all, I am a sinner, maybe the biggest of sinners, Allah alone reserves the right to redeem me for those sins – I am under no obligation to explain or justify my personal acts to anyone else. I am, however, an anthropologist, and I will continue to research and write on issues relating to religious identity and radicalisation among Muslims in Britain – I implore you to engage with the objective arguments of these writings instead of my personal character. (I am aware that your blog was not responsible for smearing Maajid and for that akhlaq I appluad you).
I aim to produce a more elaborate and nuanced article regarding the critique of QF in the near future. At the moment I’m trying to finish my thesis, which, as you can imagine, takes up a significant proportion of my time. Once I have completed the critique, I will inevitably disclose it to you.
Finally, I would like to thank you again for your humility and patience. If you require my assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Your brother
Ashraf-ul Hoque
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
HOW ironic
This can be the first “testimonial” from repentant ex-Quilliamites – you can set up a new section for it
lol
Respect to brother Ashraf for realising that this foundation is simply an opportunistic parasite which aims to parrot the government line in exchange for funding and favours, while harming the Muslim community and general community cohesion at large
Abu Abdullah
August 21, 2008 at 6:26 pm
May Allah reward brother Ashraf and guide him inshallah!
traditionalislamism
August 21, 2008 at 6:32 pm
May Allah reward Br Ashraf immensely for his courage and humility and be kept on the path of the Truth. Amin.
We hope you finish your thesis quickly and with ease, as well as deliver us your piece on the QF, insha’Allah.
I hope other Quillamites follow suit.
Ahmadi
August 21, 2008 at 6:48 pm
salaam aleikum,
3 things to keep in mind:
1. The reference in this letter is clearly to that piece of human garbage – Ed Husain. He remains the govt.’s central point man in implementing its political objectives via Quilliam and the one who is the central character in the plot.
2. Majid was recruited at some later stage to lend weight and add “street credibility” as Ed never had any.
3. You need to reach out to Non-Muslims both in the govt. and in the publishing industry (who first published his book “the Islamist”/ aka the fantasist). Somewhere someone else knows and feels *exactly* what this person felt while being motivated enough to write to you. Only by encouraging that person to speak (even if anonymously) will we learn the complete elements of this conspiracy against Muslims and Islam.
We should be vigilante as well as remain very very humble. I am reminded that when one Muslim conqueror opened a city held by the Byzantians, he poured dirt over himself and proceeded to walk with his head down. The victory comes from Allah (swt) but we have to remain vigilant and persistent in our efforts.
yours in Islam,
Sameer
Sameer
August 21, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Salaams
I am glad that ashraf is out of quilliam it is also quite interesting that he clearly states whitehall direction as well as its negligible support.
The irony is that maajid tried to have these testimonials written once a week for ppl who left HT. Now we have testimonials of ppl leaving quilliam and it hasnt even been 6 months……
Abu Laith
August 21, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Look at what MI5 have said in a recent report
“Far from being religious zealots, a large number of those involved in terrorism do not practise their faith regularly. Many lack religious literacy and could actually be regarded as religious novices. Very few have been brought up in strongly religious households, and there is a higher than average proportion of converts. Some are involved in drug-taking, drinking alcohol and visiting prostitutes.
***MI5 says there is evidence that a well-established religious identity actually protects against violent radicalisation. ***”
This is one big point – we know that people turn to reactionism as a result of greivances etc. rather than because of an “ideology”, and this is what Ashraf knows, and the QF are whitewashing this away for their handlers in the government who need those muppets in order to clean their hands of the blood of their foreign policy and the failure of their local policies
Abu Abdullah
August 21, 2008 at 8:57 pm
yeah I read that. Well balanced report by the MI5 lol!
traditionalislamism
August 21, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Brothers Assallamu’Alaikum,
I would request brothers to seriously consider taking this document and presenting it to these sell-outs at the JIMAS conference. yes you heard me correctly…they are invited guests at the conference. I received 4 calls from different brothers who were in shock and completely aghast. If anyone has time I would recommend that they travel to Leicester University and firmly but with civility present this and all their excesses and insults to them in front of the community they continually denounce and unjustly berate. They are being naturalised brothers and we as a community should not allow this. And Allah (swt) knows best.
Ibrahim
August 22, 2008 at 3:41 pm
this is treating the heretic with honour by inviting them – but then what do we expect from JIMAS who seem to have little if any shame, may Allah guide us all
I hope that people hear about this and see it for their own eyes, then they will be forced to make their own decisions about which side they want to stand on
Abu Abdullah
August 22, 2008 at 3:52 pm
in any case – we know where these people stand with respect to the British Governments attempts at demonising Islam and the shariah – they do not have the courage to stand up on the truth, and in fact they are so defeated they are willing to collaborate with anyone to “stay safe”
Abu Abdullah
August 22, 2008 at 3:56 pm
‘they are invited guests at the conference.’
Who?
Anon
August 22, 2008 at 7:29 pm
If JIMAS say nothing against QF, I’ll lose all trust in them.
Anon
August 22, 2008 at 7:33 pm
@anon ED and majED supposedly
Abu Abdullah
August 22, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I’ll give JIMAS till the end of the conference to do something. It may be that they invited Ed and Maj to correct them or advise them, Allahu a’lam. But if they say nothing at all against secularism- they’re worthless.
Anon
August 22, 2008 at 7:58 pm
^^Benefit of the doubt
vs
not being bitten from the same whole twice…
Lets wait and see, but don’t hold your breath….maybe one of their guest speakers will say something but i doubt JIMAS (Abu Muntasir) will, but I wait to be proven wrong inshahAllah
Abu Abdullah
August 22, 2008 at 8:04 pm
If JIMAS has really invited Flash Eddy (he reminds me of a spiv trying to flog something that fell off the back of a lorry) then they now have the same status as QF and CC. They would then be covered by Sheikh Suhaib’s fatwa.
Ali Abdullah
August 23, 2008 at 7:53 am
This was just a matter of time in coming reallly, but I’m rather taken aback that Ashraf seriously did not realise this from the beginning?! He has written this as if he has just “discovered” what they are about yet it was evident from the start, at Maajid’s In and Out of Islamism lecture at City Circle for example, that Quilliam were not a credible or meticulous enterprise for Muslims. I know Ashraf and at least he has the intellectual honesty to retract from what he thought was a serious and scrupulous project for the Muslim community in the UK.
AbdulHaq
AbdulHaq
August 23, 2008 at 8:18 am
“I am writing to you from Leicester right now, from the Jimas conference. I was invited by Abu Muntasir as his guest. Here I met Suhayb hassan, and Usama Hassan. Fistly, it is not true that Sh. Suhayb Hassan wrote that “fatwa”, it was written by a young man who just sent it back in Sh. Suhayb’s name. Secondly, the question was a loaded question, I would never say that the Shari’a was barbaric. I would only ever say that certain interpretations of it were so. Thirdly, Abu Muntasir, Abu Aliya Usama Hassan etc all received me with the highest respect and brotherhood. Shaykh Haytham sent us an invite to meet him to.”
A supposed reply from Maajid Nawaz! This as yet to be confirmed
here is the link
http://forums.islamicawakening.com/showthread.php?t=15309&page=3
traditionalislamism
August 23, 2008 at 8:29 am
Going by the above post, there is an urgent need for clarification about all these Brother’s attitudes to QF!!
Ali Abdullah
August 23, 2008 at 9:20 am
‘I would only ever say that certain interpretations of it were so.’
- these interpretations wouldn’t happen to be the ones prescribing ‘maiming’ etc, would they Maj?
Anon
August 23, 2008 at 9:50 am
It is amazing how this man lies!
He claims that it was written by some young “punk” without Shuhaib Hassan’s knowledge yet we have it SIGNED by Shuhaib Hassan himself that he checked it!
He claims that only an intrepretation is Barbaric( I assume he no longer believes that all intrepretations are now Dhunni! lol!) yet he says that the model that he supports IS THE TURKISH model WHERE THERE IS NO APPLICATION OF THE HUDUDD AT ALL!
In other words the MODERN application is BARBARIC! AS ED SO CLEARLY MENTIONED!
The guy is a liar and a charalatan
traditionalislamism
August 23, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Bro Ibn Adam, we never expected any better from Majid. But JIMAS? This is a very sad episode in the history of Islam in Britain.
Anon
August 23, 2008 at 1:11 pm
As-Salaamu ‘alaikum,
Has Maajid made that remark about “barbarism”? As I recall, it was Ed who said that.
Yusuf Smith
August 23, 2008 at 1:26 pm
JIMAS have clearly made their stance clear and I reject them along with the heretical QF.
Ahmadi
August 23, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Well he did in the reply! His understanding of “certain intrepretations” are those that are established by Ijma and Qati texts! So yes in the reply he has confirmed what Ed has said. As for Kufr, well, his reponses are all out there for people to see
traditionalislamism
August 23, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Salaams
Yusef, the co founder (ed hussain) and former head of research for the quilliam both described the hudood as barbaric. btw that was during the time rashad was still head of research.
Maajid argued that the hudood does not need to be applied and he erroneously used najmudeen at tufi (allamah!) to defend this point. Obviously Najmudeen Tufi did not say that and infact he said the exact opposite. Anyways you can refer to majids in and out of islam(ism) city circle for the exact quote.
Abu Laith
August 23, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I’m surprised anyone believe Jimas has any credibility – their close link with Saudi traitors who were appointed by the British along with their quiestionable take on Islam makes them natural allies to QF et al
jk
August 23, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Bro jk, we are all believers in shari’a and khilafa here, whether HTers or otherwise. Your comment isn’t fair: salafis believe secularism is kufr…
Anyway, pay attention, apparently something (insha Allah) will happen at JIMAS. Expect harsh words and the explicit, unambiguous condemnations we have all been waiting for insha Allah:
http://forums.islamicawakening.com/showthread.php?p=142047#post142047
Anon
August 23, 2008 at 11:00 pm
salaam aleikum,
actually i second brother jk’s post, Quilliam heretics spent weeks and months attacking Wahabbis in the British press, they then got bolder and made front line attacks on all political islam groups (Ikhwan/HT/Jam’aat ee islami) and even pushing for Muslims to openly accept the state of Israel as well as secularism (via Ed). It is thus quite interesting that rather than answer back any of this, we see the very same people/group publicly attacked ally with those backed by kuffar against Muslims.
All of this should seem familiar to everyone. For this is NOT the first time this has happened. In 1990, When Saddam’s tanks crossed into Kuwait and the Saudis “invited” the Americans to take over the Arabian peninsula to eject him from Kuwait, the Saudi govt got nervous and asked all of the leading ulema on their payroll to legalize this via a fatwa, known as the “Mecca Document” signed and issued on 10 October 1990. It legalized the Americans coming into Saudi Arabia and was well refuted here:
http://www.muslimedia.com/ARCHIVES/special98/trechery.htm
5th paragraph down lists the signatories.
It should be noted that this “fatwa” was cited by the General leading the American army into Iraq at the time (Norman Schwartzkopf).
Fast forward 18 years and similarly the Quilliam Foundation is being praised by another U.S. army commander in Iraq:
http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/opedsPDFs/487faa39e38cb.pdf
http://www.newamerica.net/publications/articles/2008/unraveling_7221
the more things change, the more things stay the same.
salaam aleikum,
S
Sameer
August 23, 2008 at 11:24 pm
“Thirdly, Abu Muntasir, Abu Aliya, Usama Hassan etc all received me with the highest respect and brotherhood.”
Remember, these people are praised by “Ed” and Majid in the QF launch document!
Ali Abdullah
August 24, 2008 at 3:17 am
This is about Ed and his tactics, he has in his power (the powers that be) to try and turn anybody, he uses the tactics and approaches governments have used for years.
Now, be warned, these tactics use fear. They will find something from your past, your dealings, your money, your movements, your halal and your haram doings to force you to take their line – in return for your livlihood, your public image, to not be publicaly flogged by the press/media, to remain in the country, to safegaurd your income etc. If they cannot find anything on you they will set you up or make it up altogether.
They will pick on something to defame you or mame your image, put that on paper and force you to take their position. These are tactics used by secret services.
There have been people approached or warned not to go against Ed or to join Ed, otherwise they would be ‘exposed’ for various reasons. Many of these people have stood their ground, some have done 180 degree turns out of fear.
So guard yourself, protect your body and mind, stick to the sunnah tightly and remember Allah in situations that are staged to get you into trouble.
Clearly those who do not fear Allah are the losers in this dunya and in the hereafter.
Ahmadi
August 24, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Salam brothers. I am emailing you from the Jimas conference. As i am using my mobile to do this, i will not write a lengthy email now.
I want to just let you know that something very unexpected happened.
Out of all the speakers, it was Abu Muntasir that held it up for the muslims. He completly took out the concept of secularism. Condemed it, and those who adhere to it, very severely.
The talk will be available on the net in two weeks.
It was truly an amazin talk.
Also Sheikh Suhaib Hasan held it up.
Captain
August 25, 2008 at 2:52 am
I hope people can tell us more…
And bear in mind they brought Usama Hasan as a *speaker*- surely they should clarify a little?
Anon
August 25, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Well, having Ed and Majid as guests and Usama as a speaker, I doubt they would be criticising ‘political’ secularism or condemning the same political secularists. What and who were they criticising exactly? ‘Metaphysical’ secularists/ism? That sounds more plausible, doesn’t it?
al-Harrani
August 25, 2008 at 1:07 pm
The government and M15 have some dirt on certain leading members of JIMAS and have pretty much told them to allow QF in or else.
And you know Muslim dirt, it’s usually very dirty.
Solaiman
August 25, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Proof?
Anon
August 25, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I dont think ‘muslim dirt’ is any different from any other dirt. But like I said before brothers, protect your body and mind, as they will use it all against you. If not, they will set you up.
These proofs are hard to put forward, cos people in question cannot be named nor hard evidence is obtainable easily.
Ahmadi
August 25, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I want to respond brothers JK and Sameer, first about their accusation that Salafis collaborate with the kuffar and secondly about the position of the Salafi da’wah towards the secularists. JK mentioned that the Saudis were appointed by the British which contains some truth as King Abdul-Aziz aal-Su’ood did collaborate with the British against the Ottomans in the beginning of the 20th century and he must be condemned for this treachery from an Islaamic viewpoint. But in the meantime, we see many Sufis who like to mention this point are silent on the treachery of Sharif Hussein who also collaborated with the British or even worse, King Abdullah I of Jordan who collaborated with the Zionists in 1940’s. Why the hypocrisy from many Sufis on this point? Is it because that Sharif Hussein and King Abdullah I are looked upon with favour by many Sufis?
As to the first point which bro. Sameer made in his comment that the Quillam heretics spent weeks attacking the “Wahabis” and that they haven’t responded and now the “Wahabis” are allying with the Quillam crowd. First of all, some Salafis have responded to the Quillam crowd and written and spoken in refutations of their ideas. If JIMAS invites someones such as Usama Hasan and gives him a forum for propagating his filth, then that it is clearly wrong and they must be condemned for this. But that does not mean that JIMAS is representative of all Salafis in the UK or that their actions are condoned by them. As for some shuyookh and du’aat not speaking up, then I think many of them fear receiving the “Dispatches” treatment where they attacked and maligned in the British media. Are JK and Sameer going to accused the shuyookh or du’aat who were profiled in the “Dispatches” program of allying with the Quillam crowd?! What was even more galling about the
“Dispatches” program were the Muslims who appeared as analysts in the program such as Taj Hargey, Haris Rafiq, Irfan Alawi and Abdul-Hakim Murad to incite the kuffaar against the “Wahabis”. While Haris Rafiq, Taj Hargey and Irfan Alawi may be fringe characters, Abdul-Hakim Murad is certainly not. He is someone of good standing among some “traditionals”. Where is the condemnation of this person for his actions among the shuyookh and du’aat from the “traditionals”? Isn’t incting the kuffaar against the Muslims, especially in matters of the deen, from the kaba’ir? This is similar to Hisham Kabbani, the “mufti” of the neocons, who wrote an article directed towards non-Muslims criticizing Shaykh Ali al-Hudhayfi for making takfeer of the Jews and Christians!
Regarding the second paragraph of Sameer’s post about the fatwa which was issued that allowed American troops in Saudi Arabia which was signed by Shaykh Ibn Baz or other fatwas which permitted American troops which were signed by other Salafi ‘ulama in Saudi Arabia, then clearly this is something which must be condemned. I know many Sufis like to cite this even by those who themselves are now cavorting with the enemies of Islaam like Kabbani or Abdul-Hadi Palazzi and I think this is another example of selective criticism by the enemies of the “Wahabis”. From among the first people to criticise the fatwas that permitted non-Muslim troops into the Arabian peninsula were Salafi shuyookh and du’aat such as Shaykh Safar al-Hawali, Shaykh Salman al-Awdah, Shaykh Naasir al-’Umar and others which led to their imprisonment and their are many Salafi ‘ulama andf shuyookh who have criticised the Saudi government for its foreign policy. Contrast this with the actions of other Arab governments which are just a bad as Saudi Arabia in their collaboration and submission to the kuffaar. Where are the Sufis who criticise the Saudi government but are silent on other Arab governments? Many Sufis are fond of using the term Petro-Islam as a way of maligning the Salafi da’wah because the Saudi government backs the some of the Salafi groups and organizations outside of Saudi Arabia. Yet, when Arab governments especially ones wih a strong secularist bent such as Egypt, Syria, Morocco, Tunisia, and others promote and fund some Sufi groups and tariqas, especially as a counterbalance to Salafi and other Islaamic groups which don’t believe in tamyee’ of the deen, I don’t hear anybody calling these Sufis, Mukhabaraat Islaam. The final point I want to discuss is the position of the Salafi da’wah towards secularism which JK and Sameer crearly are very ignorant about. Salafi ‘ulama, shuyookh, du’aat have been at the forefront of confronting sec ularism in the Muslim woorld, especially in the Arab countries. Go to the Salafi websites in Arabic such as http://www.islamway.com where there are many lectures exposing secularism and secularists. This is not to say that other Islaamic groups aren’t against secularism or haven’t spoken out against it. Finally, I think Salafis and “traditionals” should collaborate in confronting these neo-Zanadiqah like the Quillam crowd.
saarim
August 25, 2008 at 9:15 pm
salaam aleikum,
much of the comments/discussion has gone beyond the points of the original post (about the letter revealing original Whitehall funding). Furthermore, I don’t disagree with much of what “saarim” has written, actually to be honest, it is the first time i’ve ever heard someone make a solid and eloquent case for what salafis have done in the past and are trying to do now. However, 3 things i will add:
1. The comment that you have written is probably a minority view among salafis, at least many of the ones in North America and central Europe certainly are NOT like what you have written. Most are stubborn like mules when it comes to discussing ideas, have nothing but racist condescension for anyone not like them or from the same racial/linguistic background, and are responsible for some of the worst sectarian and partisan tensions in most masjids/Islamic gatherings around the world. There are websites/blogs which have done a better job in exposing this phenomenon, from the inside out which I’m sure some of you are familiar with:
a. Rise and Fall of the Salafi Dawah in the West
(now being made into a book):
http://www.archive.org/download/TheRiseAndFallOfTheSalafiDawahInTheUnitedStates/TheRiseAndFallOfTheSalafiMovement.doc
b. Salafi Burnout
http://salafiburnout.wordpress.com/
2. Much of your comments i’ve already covered in another post here:
http://traditionalislamism.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/ed-on-holiday-in-egypt/
specifically read thru the comments and you’ll see that under NO circumstances do I consider the Sufis any better nor any different than those of the Salafi background. The Salafis were bankrolled by the Saudis and allowed to grow by the U.S./UK govts. in the 1980s and mid 1990s to further the fight against the Soviet Union and serve as a counterweight to communist/socialist/nationalist movements in the Muslim world. After the Gulf War and especially 9/11 that is simply impossible now.
the RAND report should make this explicitly clear that the U.S./UK govts. are grooming “Progressive” Muslims, Quilliam Foundation, and Sufis for the role that the Salafis played in the 1980s and 1990s — as an ideological counterweight to further maintain the status quo.
3. Do both of these groups contain people who are sincere and want nothing but good for the Ummah? Probably.
However they are drowned out by voices which are amplified (via funding and platform granteing) by foreign govts. which have their own vested interests in making sure certain spokesman/personalities/figureheads are featured prominently and tell the narrative these govts. want people to hear. So for example, condemning political Islam or “wahabbism” as the sole ’cause’ of extremism and not say U.S./UK foreign invasions, support of Israel, or foreign policy in general is simply NOT an acceptable part of the discussion.
All the more better to get domesticated brown lackeys/pets i.e. Mr. “Ed”/Majid/Shiraz to say this and you have the objective accomplished by people claiming to speak for and on behalf of all Muslims.
It is therefore up to Muslims to reference the Quran and Sunnah and define their deen to the world, or you will have govts. who will gladly give misguided, deviated, and apostate Muslims money to do it for you.
salaam aleikum,
Sameer
Sameer
August 26, 2008 at 5:00 am
ya ikhwan, this is an issue of walaa wal baraa
it goes beyond “salafi/ wahabi” / “sufi”
We all remember what happened right after 9/11, who lined up where, who wrote and said what….
Each has their turn
wasalam
Abu Abdullah
August 26, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Agreed Sameer… couldn’t have said it better myself
jk
August 27, 2008 at 2:33 am
Either all of you have gone crazy or you just can’t read. Where did he say that they were backed by Whitehall? How can you name the article ‘ex-quilliamite reveals whitehall backing’ when he hasn’t said anything of the sort. Fear Allah people and stop fabricating lies, you guys are are starting to steep too low. Shame.
Tiaq
October 6, 2008 at 1:22 pm
‘I realised that QF had no intention of criticising government policy pertaining to the causes of radicalsiation but focused instead in trying to become the de facto Muslim lobby in the U.K., overly concerned with “wrapping the knuckles of the community” in an attempt to please Whitehall.’
perhaps you missed the above
Abu Laith
October 6, 2008 at 2:34 pm