Reception in honour of Sayyid Muhammad Khatami

Report by Mahmood Y Abdullah (3^rd November 2006).

The Muslim Council of Britain held a reception at the London Muslim Centre in honour of His Excellency Sayyid Muhammad Khatami, President of the International Foundation for Dialogue among Civilizations and the former President of the Islamic Republic of Iran for eight years.

The inaugural speech was given by Dr. Muhammad Abdul Bari, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain and the concluding speech was delivered by Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the past Secretary-General of the MCB.

In the BBC report (BBC News in video and audio) dated 2nd November 2006, it is reported: "During the speech he (Mr. Khatami) also urged British Muslims to obey UK law, saying they are "British first" and had  no religious obligation to wear scarf or veil."

As this report will show, he said nothing of the sort. This was an incorrect reporting by the BBC reporter.

In his inspiring lecture, Sayyid Khatami said that violence and terrorism has no place in Islam. On the contrary, Muslims are the victims of violence and terrorism which is carried out by the powers that claim that they are fighting violence and terrorism. He said that the Qur"an invites people of the Book (Jews and Christians) towards dialogue and asks the Muslims to argue with them in the best way possible. He said that there are some hands that are working to increase misunderstanding against Islam. He stressed that Muslims should be accepted as full citizens of the Western countries, with rights and obligations accorded to the non-Muslim citizens, especially as the Western countries claim that they are free and secular. Yet they have restrictions and prejudices against Hijab, he said.

Sayyid Khatami emphasised that Hijab is the rule of Islam and there is no difference on this issue between different Schools of Islam. He continued: "I have stated this time and again to the friends in the Western countries that if they impose restrictions on Hijab, they might get violent reactions". He further said that rights and responsibilities go hand in hand. It is mutual respect that will resolve any misunderstanding. If Muslims in the West are treated with justice on fundamental issues, it will compensate for injustice faced by them overseas, he said.

On the issue of dialogue, Sayyid Khatami said that if there is an unbiased interpretation of Islam, it can work out in a better understanding between the West and the Islamic communities. When dialogue between civilizations was welcomed by the nations, it shows that countries are aware that common solutions to common problems must be found, he said.

On the matter of global security, Sayyid Khatami said that if there is insecurity in the African and Middle Eastern countries, the security of the West too will be affected. He concluded by saying that the paradigms of force and double-standards in seeking dominance over others is not the solution. Therefore, mutual respect and justice has to replace hatred. "Security should be for everyone or we would not be able to find it anywhere" he said. He prayed that may God help us in framing the world where humans are saved from peril and threat, with a better future for generations to come.