Blears facing Muslim legal move

Apr 3 2009

A bitter dispute between the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and the Government escalated when the group's deputy secretary-general launched legal action against Communities Secretary Hazel Blears.

Dr Daud Abdullah is seeking damages for defamation after the Cabinet Minister severed official links with the MCB over his signature of a declaration she believes advocates attacks on British military personnel and Israel.

He firmly rejects the suggestion and has accused Ms Blears of "crude bullying".

The Department of Communities and Local Government said it had been trying to resolve the dispute privately but that Government solicitors were now involved.

"We have received correspondence from Dr Daud Abdullah's solicitors," a spokesman said.

"We have been in dialogue with the MCB since the 6 March seeking clarification of the actions taken by Dr Abdullah in relation to the serious issues raised by the articles in the Istanbul Declaration.

"We are concerned with those articles which appear to call for violence and Dr Abdullah's repeated unwillingness to distance himself from those articles specifically.

"The legal route that Dr Abdullah has chosen to take despite our offer of further private dialogue with the MCB to resolve the matter means this will now be taken forward by solicitors."

The declaration at the heart of the row reportedly said: "The obligation of the Islamic Nation (is) to regard the sending of foreign warships into Muslim waters, claiming to control the borders and prevent the smuggling of arms to Gaza, as a declaration of war, a new occupation, sinful aggression. This must be rejected and fought by all means and ways."

The document, which was signed by 90 Muslim leaders from around the world in the wake of the recent conflict in Gaza, was thought to indicate support for violence against Israel and to condone attacks on British troops.