N.O.R.F Posted February 4, 2007 Undercover Propaganda Sunday, 21 January 2007 The recent Documentary aired on Channel 4 is a prime example of the biased and slanted reporting used by the Western media against Islaam. While this site and Dr. Bilal himself do not necessarily agree with all the views expressed by the various speakers filmed in the documentary, we would however like to point out that the whole documentary seems composed out of bits and pieces of recordings taken out of context. It is also worth noting that throughout the documentary it is repeated that their reporter secretly filmed these talks, but most if not all of these were open lectures; definitely the one by Dr. Bilal was an open lecture. If they had wished they could have just obtained the official recordings of these lectures and made their documentary. Also although they did send an email outlining what they would project of Dr. Bilal’s speech and asked for his response, they have just given a 3 sentence edited version of his comments. So for the purpose of clarification we reproduce here their email and the complete written reply that Dr. Bilal sent them. Dear Dr Bilal Philips, Hardcash Productions has been filming an investigation for Channel 4 into the spreading of Wahhabi religious teachings by Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Arabian religious establishment through British mosques and Islamic organisations. This investigation includes evidence of the influence of a radical ideology which is opposed to the principles of tolerance, multiculturalism and equal rights for women and homosexuals and which some experts claims helps to foster extremism and to radicalise Muslims. The programme will be transmitted on Monday, 15 January 2007 , as part of Channel 4’s flagship current affairs series, Dispatches, and we are now in the final stages of editing. A key part of the investigation relies on secretly filmed evidence. The covert filming was sanctioned at a senior level at Channel 4 in accordance with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code which regulates broadcasting and its broadcast is subject to the same strictures and procedures. The covert filming was carried out strictly in accordance with the Ofcom Code and best practice. The identities of all worshippers will be concealed by editing techniques which will “blob” their faces. Part of the investigation concerns the Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith, which we have established is receiving guidance from Saudi Arabia and is promoting its version of Islam, known as Wahhabism, throughout the UK . This ideology includes hostility and intolerance for non-Muslims; the assertion that British Muslims should not be loyal to a non-Islamic state like Britain ; the promotion of the concept of an Islamic state with extreme shariah punishments like amputations and crucifixions; a denial of equal rights for women and homosexuals. Our reporter filmed undercover at Green Lane Mosque, covertly recording between 19 May 2006 and 29 September 2006 . His investigation includes the following: 1. In a talk given at Green Lane Mosque on 2 September 2006 , you stated that the practice of marrying girls before they reach puberty is permissible, on the grounds that the Prophet Mohammed made it permissible by his own practice of marrying a nine-year-old girl. You said: “The Prophet Mohammed practically outlined the rules regarding marriage prior to puberty, with his practice he clarified what is permissible and what is not permissible and that is why today as Muslims we don’t have or we shouldn’t have any issues about an older man marrying a younger woman, which is looked down upon by society today, they have given it a lot of nasty names but we know that Prophet practised it, it wasn’t abuse or exploitation it was marriage and the limits of marriage.” 2. Our investigation involves the spreading of Wahhabi views in the UK by preachers who have received training in Islam in Saudi Arabian universities. Our investigation has established that you were trained in Islam at the University of Medina in Saudi Arabia . As I have said, the programme is scheduled for broadcast on Monday 15 January 2007 . We are now approaching the final stages of editing. In order to ensure your views are fairly represented in response to the matters set out above, we would need to receive your written response on these points by close of business on Monday 8 January 2007 at the latest, which we will edit fairly in order to reflect your position in the programme. In accordance with standard industry practice it is our policy not to provide any footage filmed during our investigation to third parties prior to broadcast nor do we provide previews of programmes in these circumstances and we are not obliged by the Ofcom code to do so. We look forward to hearing from you. If you would like to discuss this matter please telephone me the programme’s producer, Andrew Smith on 0207 253 2782 Yours sincerely Andrew Smith Producer Cc Kevin Sutcliffe, Editor, Investigations, Channel 4 Jan Tomalin, Controller of Legal & Compliance, Channel 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted February 4, 2007 Dr. Bilal replied: Andrew Smith Producer, Dispatches Channel 4 Dear Mr Andrew Smith, My general advice is that the direction in which the program seems to be heading is one of stirring ill feelings and confrontation between parts of the Muslim community and the UK public. The program would better serve the interests of the public by explaining what is “Wahhabism” and allowing those accused of propagating it to explain and defend their ideas, rather than to make assumptions about the evil of “Wahhabism” and then attribute it to respectable organizations in the country. At any rate, in response to two allegations made by your crew the first of which is the following: 1. In a talk given at Green Lane Mosque on 2 September 2006, you stated that the practice of marrying girls before they reach puberty is permissible, on the grounds that the Prophet Mohammed made it permissible by his own practice of marrying a nine-year-old girl. You said: “The Prophet Mohammed practically outlined the rules regarding marriage prior to puberty, with his practice he clarified what is permissible and what is not permissible and that is why today as Muslims we don’t have or we shouldn’t have any issues about an older man marrying a younger woman, which is looked down upon by society today, they have given it a lot of nasty names but we know that Prophet practised it, it wasn’t abuse or exploitation it was marriage and the limits of marriage.” I would like to point out that the context in which this was said was in regards to attacks by some evangelists like Jerry Falwell, on Prophet Muhammad because of his marriage to one of his wives due to her age. I pointed out that the age of consensual sex (not marriage) varies in Europe from 12 in Holland, 14 in Italy, 15 in France, 16 in Germany, 17 in Ireland to 18 in the UK (16 for Hetrosexual), while in Islam - were sex outside of marriage is illegal - the age was outlined by Prophet Muhammad in his marriage to Aa’ishah. The marriage took place before puberty, however, it was not consummated until after puberty. Puberty being the natural dividing line between childhood and womanhood from the most ancient of times. Thus, from the perspective of Islamic law and thought, there is no problem in older men marrying younger women. However, I was not advocating that Muslims go against the laws of the UK, as I have always taught and explained that Muslims living in non-Muslim countries are obliged to abide by the laws of the country. If they are unwilling to do so, they should try to change the laws through due legal process, or as a last resort emigrate to a country in which they are free to practice their religion. The second point: 2. Our investigation involves the spreading of Wahhabi views in the UK by preachers who have received training in Islam in Saudi Arabian universities. Our investigation has established that you were trained in Islam at the University of Medina in Saudi Arabia. It is true that I studied, “was trained” has other implications, at the Islamic University of Madeenah from 1974-1980, and in the college of education at Riyadh University. But it should also be noted that I was “trained” for my PhD at the University of Wales, UK, with whatever that implies. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to express my views and concerns about your program, and I hope that my views will be aired along with your truncated quotes. If in future you wish to do a balanced program concerning “Wahhabism”, I would be only too happy to participate. Yours sincerely, Dr Bilal Philips Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted February 4, 2007 Watch his full response Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Intuition Posted February 4, 2007 So typical of the media to twist it in a manner that suites themselves and make us look bad. Lakiin Masha'Allah Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips response was elequently put. He's always been a one of my favorite speaker. JZK Northern wasalaam Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
