Hat’s off to the makers of Dispatches for exposing the Islamic Forum of Europe’s take over of the East London Mosque, Tower Hamlets Council and the Respect/Labour Parties. We recommend watching the programme still up on 4OnDemand and also checking out anarchist writer Paul Stott’s blog who has maintained a voice of clarity on these issues over the past few years against a bombardment of mud slinging from “The Left”.
The programme exposed the extent of entryism achieved by the IFE and the corrupt nature of Tower Hamlets council. The inherent folly of the left, particulary the SWP and Respect, who jumped into bed with these insidious bullies is no surprise, being played like puppets along with the Labour Party. For once the SWP got taught a lesson on entryism! Haha. No doubt “The Right” will be hailing the programme as an example of Muslims taking over Blighty and replacing the Sunday Roast with the blood of British soldiers. But both Left and Right, as always, remain out of the paradigm most of us know as reality and common sense.
The IFE is a group which draws it’s ideological lineage from Jamaat-e-Islami, an anti-liberation front opposed to Bangladeshi independence who joined with the Bangladeshi National Party (BNP – Not them again!!), and these kill joys are also against the brilliant Baishakhi Mela which happens once a year in Whitechapel. As locals we are delighted that the fight back against the hegemonic take over of the Mosque and Tower Hamlets Council by the IFE is being exposed by muslim and bangladeshi residents.
Many people (aka smart arses) might say: “But you’re anarchists, you’re against religion”. Yes, as anarchists we are against all forms of oppression – no gods no masters as the famous mantra goes – but we are also realists who don’t want to remain in “our ghetto”. For a revolution to successfully level the class system where an egalitarian and fair society can be maintained, we don’t want everyone to “convert” and call themselves “anarchists”, if you met half the people that do you wouldn’t want to either! Trust us. But for Anarchism to work as a social system devoid of a centralised State power where control is back in the hands of neighbourhoods and communities own direct control, then we must overcome our differences and be realistic that people will want to worship whatever god or gods they so choose, it is up to the individual. But we must always stand up against organised religion imposing on an individuals liberty. The IFE has targeted and tried to manipulate the working class locals, from a diversity of backgrounds who use the Mosque as a place of worship, using fear, intimidation and corruption to attempt a takeover. As Anarchists we stand shoulder to shoulder with our muslim neighbours who are standing up for their mosque and not tolerating this infringement of their liberties.
As east enders we must also stand up against the corrupt nature of Tower Hamlets Council which has continued to wage class war upon us. Our diverse and colourful community must remain as a strong cohesive force against religious and political oppression, we must say NO to all those groups that attempt to divide us whether it be the BNP, EDL, Islam4UK, Al-Muhajiroun, IFE, Respect, SWP, Labour, Tories etc etc, because all of them are out for their own gains!
Beneath our differences we have far more in common and everything to gain by ending this current political charade.
United we stand. Divided we fall.
Whitechapel Anarchist Group 