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KIDNAPPED JOURNALIST SINGS PRAISES OF ISLAM
BY EMMA COONEY
11:00 - 25 February 2005
Muslim leaders have spoken out against Islamaphobia in a meeting to examine the myths and facts surrounding the faith. The day-long conference at Bath's Guildhall yesterday attracted a crowd of about 70 from community groups in the city and some members of the public.
One of the guest speakers was journalist Yvonne Ridley who was kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2001, and converted to Islam on her release.
Ms Ridley continues to write for the national press, and presents a programme on satellite TV for the Islam channel.
She emphasised her feminist credentials and stressed Muslim girls must be educated.
She said: "I used to look at Muslim women as a bunch of veiled oppressed creatures, and now realise I was wearing the veil of prejudice and bigotry.
"I have always been a big promoter of women and women's rights, and was a founder member of Women In Journalism.
"There is a saying that you educate a girl and you educate a nation."
The journalist, who is thrice divorced, said she was no longer judged by the length of her skirt.
"There is no room in Islam for casual relationships, so I am no longer bound by being stood up and waiting for the phone to ring."
She said her biggest struggle - or Jihad - was giving up smoking.
"I just feel more content and more fulfilled, and I am happier and heal- thier," she said.
The press and the Government came in for a grilling about the spread of Islamaphobia.
Guest speaker Inayat Bunglawala, of the Muslim Council of Britain, talked about the ten men arrested in the Manchester area on suspicion of planning to bomb Manchester United's football ground.
The men were held for a week and released without charge, and then offered tickets to see the game, he said.
He added: "Islamaphobia is now a growing problem throughout Europe after 9/11.
"The anti-terrorism legislation almost criminalises the Muslim community, but there can be criminal elements in every community.
"Muslims are not a species apart. They are a part of our fabric.
"Islam is the largest minority faith in this country."
The event was organised by a group called Islamascope, made up of The Islamic Centre, Bath and North East Somerset Racial Equality Council, the Interfaith Group, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, and Bath and North East Somerset Council.
The event included a recitation with translation from the Quran, a talk on the media and Islam by editor of The Bath Chronicle David Gledhill, and workshops on race relations and Islam, the law and Islamaphobia and Islam today.
The talks included two testimonials from British converts to the faith, including Zucci clothes shop manager Leon Catley, 25, who converted to the faith nearly two years ago, which Mr Bunglawala described as "moving".
Community liaison worker for Ba &NES Council, Waki Rahman, looked at the seven most common myths surrounding Islam, such as the religion has many Gods, all Muslims are Arab or Asian, the religion is intolerant, and Muslims have contributed nothing to society.
He said Islam had one God, was a mixed community, the Quran preached tolerance, and that Muslims had been responsible for many advancements in mathematics and science.
e.cooney@bathchron.co.uk
http://www.thisisbath.com/displayNo...tentPK=11898327
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25-02-2005, 20:49
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