PRESS RELEASES
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Largest Muslim Student Group Promotes Extremists
Centre for Social Cohesion Press Release 20 January 2009
"The Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) - a group with a history of promoting extremists including al-Qaeda linked cleric Anwar al Awalki - are due to hold an event on 13 February which includes speakers who support a proscribed terrorist groups..."
University of Birmingham Refuses to Ban Supporter of Suicide Bombing
Centre for Social Cohesion Press Release 18 January 2010
"Just weeks after revelations about the radicalisation of Detroit bomber Umar Farouk Adbulmutallab during his time at University College London (UCL), the University of Birmingham has sanctioned the appearance of a supporter of a terrorist organisation on their campus at an event on 20 January..."
January Email Update
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How UCL Authorities Ignored Islamist Extremism
Centre for Social Cohesion Press Briefing - 5 January 2010
Failed Detroit bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was president of the University College London (UCL) Islamic Society (ISOC) in the academic year 2006-07, and organised a controversial 'War on terror week' featuring a debate 'Jihad v Terrorism'.
Abdulmutallab's politicisation of the UCL ISOC is not an anomaly. The CSC can reveal that a wide range of extremist speakers have regularly addressed UCL ISOC. Speakers since 7/7 include supporters of the terrorist group Hamas, members of Hizb ut-Tahrir (while subject to a NUS ban), and those who have spoken in support of the Taliban, warned Muslims not to integrate into western societies, argued in favour of domestic violence and advocated the destruction of Israel.
Haringey Council Whitewashes Hizb ut-Tahrir Schools
Centre for Social Cohesion Press Release 11 December 2009
"The Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC) can reveal that the curriculum of schools at the heart of a political row over public funding systematically teaches primary school children the extreme Islamist ideology of Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT)..."
December Email Update
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Government mistakes, Conservative inaccuracy
CSC Statement: Islamic Shakhsiyah Foundation and Hizb ut-Tahrir 26 November 2009
Yesterday the leader of the Opposition, David Cameron, accused the government of using money allocated to prevent violent extremism to fund the Islamic Shakhsiyah Foundation (ISF), a registered educational charity with links to the extreme Islamist party Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT).
The government’s response – contesting the source of the public funds and publicising previously unpublished Ofsted inspections – is an attempt to divert attention. Public money has gone to two primary schools and a nursery set up by members of HT, a revolutionary Islamist group that supports violent jihad and uses front groups to embed its divisive ideology into local communities.
November Email Update
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ANWAR AL‐AWLAKI: The UK Connection
CSC Press Release 11 November 2009
In a briefing paper released today, Anwar al-Awlaki: The UK Connection, the Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC) can reveal an extensive post 9/11 network of UK organisations which have promoted and defended pro al-Qaeda preacher Anwar al-Awlaki. Nidal Hassan, the gunman suspected of carrying out the 5 November 2009 attack on Fort Hood, Texas, had been in previous contact with Awlaki.
CSC Exclusive: London Mayor's Links With Man Wanted By Interpol
25 October 2009
In the Sunday Express, the Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC) revealed that the Conservative London Mayor's office has worked alongside Mohamed Ali Harrath, who is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice for "terrorism", "counterfeiting" and "crimes involving the use of weapons/explosives." This is despite previous statements from the party condemning Mr. Harrath. Click below for more information.
October Email Update
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Neo Nazi Group Glorify Murder of Minorities
Centre for Social Cohesion Press Briefing 18 September 2009
The Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC) urges the police to take action against the UK wing of neo-Nazi group Blood & Honour (B&H). The group is currently distributing music CDs which encourage hatred and acts of terror against ethnic minorities, contrary to both the Public Order Act 1986 and the Terrorism Act 2000.
August Update
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Centre for Social Cohesion reveals BNP's online fascist network
Centre for Social Cohesion Press Briefing 13 July 2009
"On the day before two leading British National Party (BNP) members take their seats in the European Parliament, a new Centre for Social Cohesion report reveals that members and supporters of the BNP and its online activists display significant ideological affinity with key tenets of the neo-Nazi ideology. This includes: support for violence; antisemitism and an admiration of the Third Reich; extreme racist views; and Holocaust denial..."
July Update
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UK Government Engaged in Promoting Sharia
Centre for Social Cohesion Press Briefing: 29 June 2009
"In an article for the new issue of Standpoint magazine, Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC) Research Fellow Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens reveals how the government is actively promoting a crucial aspect of the sharia programme..."
June Update
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Al-Muhajiroun Hijack Sharia Law Debate
Centre for Social Cohesion Press Briefing 17 June 2009
"The Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC) tonight urges the Government to ban the radical Islamist group al-Muhajiroun after police were called to a sharia law debate between CSC Director Douglas Murray and the newly appointed British al-Muhajiroun leader Anjem Choudary..."
May Update
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One in Seven UK Terror-related Convictions Linked to Islamist Group Now Threatening to Relaunch
Centre for Social Cohesion Press Briefing: 01 June 2009
"As radical organisation al-Muhajiroun says it is going to regroup, the Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC) can reveal that one in seven Islamist-related convictions in the last decade have had links with the extremist group..."
Hate preacher Abu Izzadeen granted early release from prison
Centre for Social Cohesion Press Briefing 06 May 2009
The Centre for Social Cohesion has revealed through the Daily Mail that radical preacher Abu Izzadeen has been released from prison only one year after he was convicted of terrorism related offences:
"Abu Izzadeen (aka Omar Brooks) and Sulayman Keeler (aka Simon Keeler) were among six men arrested in 2007 and convicted on 17th April 2008 for inciting terrorism overseas and terrorist fundraising. The jury found them guilty of inciting people to fight British and American forces in Iraq and encouraging donations to fund terrorism during speeches given at London's Regents Park Mosque in November 2004..."
Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain (HT) promotes violent jihad
Centre for Social Cohesion Press Briefing 18 April 2009
"Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain (HT), the Islamist revolutionary group, has always claimed that it is a non-violent political party which seeks to overthrow secular regimes peacefully. In today's Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph, the Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC) has revealed that they support violence around the world. Two recent events highlight HT's support for violent jihad, including HT's role in the recent visit to the UK of a Sheikh who is banned from Indonesia..."
Support for Jihad continues at former Abu Hamza Mosque
Centre for Social Cohesion Press Release 14 April 2009
"One of the trustees of the North London Central Mosque (aka Finsbury Park Mosque), Mohammed Sawalha, supports jihad in Israel and attacks against her allies. It has been reported that Mr. Sawalha was a signatory along with Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) deputy director-general, Dr. Daud Abdullah, to a statement which supports jihad. However, his connections with the North London Central Mosque were not revealed..."
Pro-jihadist to speak at City University Islamic Society
Centre for Social Cohesion Press Briefing 07 April 2009
"Al-Qaeda sympathiser Anwar al-Awlaki is due to address students at City University Islamic Society’s annual dinner via video-link on Wednesday 8th April 2009. Also speaking at the event are UK-based speakers Murtadha Khan and Haitham al-Haddad, both of whom encourage intolerance and separatism within Britain’s Muslim communities..."
April Update
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Home Office Ban Hezbollah Spokesperson from UK
Centre for Social Cohesion Press Release 13 March 2009
"The Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC) has learned that the UK Home Office has barred Hezbollah spokesperson Ibrahim el Moussawi from entering the UK. The announcement follows the CSC’s pledge to seek an arrest warrant should el Moussawi enter the country. The CSC had previously revealed that el Moussawi had been due to address a conference of police and government officials at the School of Oriental and Africa Studies (SOAS) at the University of London..."
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) to Pay Ibrahim el-Moussaoui to Train Government and Police
Centre for Social Cohesion Press Briefing 25 February 2009
"The Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC) can reveal that SOAS, which is part of the University of London, is planning to pay Islamist extremists to teach a course on political Islam between 23 and 27 March 2009. The CSC has been informed by SOAS that the course is aimed at educating Government officials and the Police..."
New Government counter-radicalisation strategy undermined on UK campuses
Centre for Social Cohesion Press Briefing 19 February 2009
"New government plans to isolate those who encourage intolerance and separatism within Britain’s Muslim communities will prove ineffective unless the government, universities and student societies address the issue of extreme speakers on UK campuses..."
February Update
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January update
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Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK Spokesman Glorifies Terror, Centre for Social Cohesion Reveals
Centre For Social Cohesion Press Briefing 19 December 2008
"Asghar Bukhari, co-founder and spokesperson for the Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK (MPAC UK), has made comments which glorify terrorism, the Centre for Social Cohesion can reveal..."
Government should ignore flawed "campus radicalism exaggerated" report
Centre For Social Cohesion Press Briefing 04 December 2008
"A Cambridge University study of young Muslim attitudes, published yesterday, says that government fears of Islamic radicalism on UK campuses are exaggerated. However, the report - based on interviews with only 26 students - is inaccurate and unrepresentative. Instead, the government needs to continue to strengthen its counter-radicalisation efforts..."
December update
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The Mumbai Attacks: Previous Involvement by UK Citizens in Jihadist Terrorism Abroad
Centre For Social Cohesion Press Briefing 28 November 2008
"Latest news reports suggest that a number of British passport-holders were among those who carried out the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. If so, it would not be the first time that British men had perpetrated acts of jihadist terrorism abroad..."
Banned Terrorist Group Plans Event Honouring Suicide Missions at the London ExCeL Centre
Centre For Social Cohesion Press Briefing 24 November 2008
"Heroes’ Day, an event glorifying Tamil Tiger terrorist tactics, is due to take place later this month at the London ExCeL Centre in defiance of UK laws prohibiting the glorification of and support for terrorism..."
November update
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The UK government and Muslim students
Centre For Social Cohesion Press Briefing 27 October 2008
“From November the UK government will begin working with the Federation of Student Islamic Societies in the UK and Ireland (FOSIS) to try to better understand Muslim students. This policy is likely to backfire given that FOSIS are unrepresentative of Muslim students and regularly give a platform to extremist speakers.”
October update
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Abu Qatada meets with convicted Egyptian extremist while on bail
Centre For Social Cohesion Press Briefing 01 September 2008
“On Saturday, the Daily Mail published a photograph of Abu Qatada and another man who it described as a "friend". The Centre for Social Cohesion has identified the man as Yasser al-Sirri, a former member of Egypt's Islamic Jihad group who has been convicted in Egypt and sentenced to death in absentia for his part in a 1993 car bomb attack.”
September update
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Scottish Islamic Foundation to launch on Thursday: A new front for the Muslim Brotherhood?
Centre For Social Cohesion Press Briefing 25 June 2008
“On Thursday 26 June 2008, a new Muslim group called the Scottish Islamic Foundation will be launched in Edinburgh in the presence of Alex Salmond, Scotland's First Minister. The leading members of the group, together with many of those who lead its events are closely linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.”
August update
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July update
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The Centre reveals Abu Qatada's talks on Jihad
Centre For Social Cohesion Press Briefing 18th June 2008
“The Centre for Social Cohesion has obtained and translated several Arabic-language recordings of talks given by Abu Qatada in the UK which demonstrate how he has repeatedly called for jihadist attacks on non-Muslims. Other preachers such as Abu Hamza and Abdullah Faisal have been convicted and jailed by British courts for giving similar talks.”
Muslims and the Mayor: Who are Ken's Muslim backers?
Centre For Social Cohesion Press Briefing 04 January 2008
“On 3 January 2008, 63 supposedly separate individuals and Muslim organisations urged Muslim Londoners to vote for Ken Livingstone in his re-election campaign later this year. The BBC described these groups as representing 'the overwhelming majority of Muslims in London'. In fact just under half of the signatories failed to disclose their affiliation to one of two Muslim groups - the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) - both of which have links to fundamentalist organisations.”
The Centre uncovers evidence of ties between the Islam-is-Peace media campaign and the Muslim Association of Britain
Centre For Social Cohesion Press Briefing 18 October 2007
“On 24 September, posters stating "Islam is Peace" and "Proud to be a British Muslim" appeared on London buses, London Underground trains and in airports around Britain - the latest phase in a campaign by the group Islam-is-Peace to "address the negative perceptions and stereotypes of Islam and British Muslims," according to the group's website.”