7/7 bombing: British Pakistanis’ lurch to radicalism: By Jan Assakzai

  (The Frontier Post July 13)

Britain marked the fifth death anniversary of 52 innocent people who lost their lives in the 7th July 2005 London bombings, also known as 7/7. A series of coordinated suicide attacks on London’s public transport system during the morning rush hour led to mayhem. The bombings were carried out by four Muslim men. Three were of British Pakistani origin and one of British Jamaican descent. At 08:50, three bombs exploded within fifty seconds of each other on three London Underground trains, a fourth exploding an hour later at 09:47 on a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square. The 7/7 incident put the Muslim community particularly the British Pakistanis on the spot. Since then the British Pakistani community has been grappled with many questions. They discovered that not only, many suspected, there is “an enemy within” - but that its nature is highly complex. Mohammed Sidique Khan (the ring leader of the bombers) exemplifies that complexity. Apparently these bombers were motivated by Britain’s involvement in the Iraq War. However, the underlying reasons for their callous act are more deeper. That’s not to say that since July 7 British Pakistanis have not been asking some important questions. Here was a British Pakistani who was publicly respected and admired. He was neither socially isolated nor economically disadvantaged. If he, with all his trappings of Western culture, is capable of this, how can the community prevent it happening again? And, most uncomfortably for those of Pakistani origin like myself, does it encourage our non-Muslim neighbours to look on us all with suspicion? The occasion of fifth anniversary of 7/7 London bombing is particularly an opportunity for British Pakistanis to ask as to how amongst them some one like Sadique Khan turns on his fellow country men and bomb innocent passengers in underground train. Though these extremists belong to fringe cells, they get inspiration from al-Qaeda, and borrow its methodology (suicide bombing) and its adherents have got more appeal in the British Pakistani youth. The diaspora Pakistani community keep a close eye on what is happening in Pakistan. Curious connections of 7/7 bombers do not prove, however, that the whole community is prone to the influence of al-Qaeda but it is important to keep in mind the context of the various investigations that al-Qaeda very much values western youth residents of Pakistani origin to use them as lone wolf terrorists thus making them susceptible to the al-Qaeda spell. Complicating the picture is the fact that Pakistan has become a battle ground for the fringe extremist militants of local and foreign origin with al-Qaeda on the top. It is no denying that Pakistan after Somalia and Yemen has become a base for the al-Qaeda movement. Afghanistan though far weaker politically, economically and militarily seems to have ceased its status as the epicentre of transnational terrorism. There are Muslims of Indian, Bangladeshi and Afghan, and Middle Eastern origin in the UK. How come some one from Pakistani origin more likely tends to swell the ranks of these extremist fringe groups. Though the main stream Muslim community including the British Pakistanis do not support these groups and are peace loving and law abiding citizens, the elements of British Pakistani youth are more inspired from what is going on in Pakistan and are prone to fiery brand of al-Qaeda jehadi rhetorics. But UK is a different country. All those who claim that Muslims are discriminated against should remember that the country did not see any rise in Islamophobia following the 7/7 bombings. Even on its fifth anniversary of the bombing, some media talk shows were debating whether the perpetrators could be pardoned. The division between Muslims and the indigenous population could not be created as the al-Qaeda-affiliated bombers wished for. UK is a country which has always served as a second home to vulnerable and persecuted political and social sections from all over the world. Its large heartedness for the asylum seekers is famous. This is why all those prosecuted choose Britain as a first destination to go to. This fact has not been acknowledged widely and due credit has not been given to Britain. UK’s justice system and its tolerance is an example for the rest of the world. To see how tolerant is the country towards its ethnic and religious minorities, just visit an area in East London you will find a mosque, a Hindu temple, a Sikh gurdhwara and a church on a single street. One is famous Romford Road where a church has been allowed to use as madrassa to teach Holy Quran to Muslims kids. The Europe’s biggest Tableeghi Markaz (centre) is being constructed close to the site of 2012 Olympics in Stratford. Despite the opposition of some groups, the local authorities granted the permission for the Markaz. Religious processions including of Shias are allowed on the main streets with full protection from the local police. Every now and then religious scholars, including Prof Al Qadri, preachers, spiritual healers (Peer babas) visit their followers in UK and deliver sermons without any fear and raise donations. It is London that boasts the presence of more than 400 mosques. Go to the House of Lords, there is a separate place for prayers for Muslim MPs. In a visit to Bush House—-a home of the multi-ethnic staff of the BBC World Service- one would find prayer rooms for Muslim men and women. Such is the level of coexistence that you can find people of over three hundred spoken languages living side by side in peace. It is UK that will teach you that you are citizen equal before the law and entitled to equal rights. It is very strange that living in UK embolden the diaspora communities and try to bring new ideas and quest for making things better when they get back to their home countries. This is why when many British Pakistanis go on holidays to Pakistan they feel more Englicised than Pakistanis because from the traffic mess to male administration, they experience a different world. So 7/7 anniversary provides an opportunity to British citizens of Pakistani origin to ask themselves as to why amongst their midst some of the youth lurched to radicalism and got inspiration from the al-Qaeda terrorist organisation. This is a time for soul searching and and honest reflection: the need to get over the barrier of preferring conspiracy theories. No ideological rational can justify blowing up innocent civilians including pregnant women and children on the name of Islam and Muslims. janassakzai200@gamil.com