Ahli Parlimen British Pertahankan Masyarakat Islam

(MP defends Muslims after Thatcher attack)

Keith Vaz telah mempertahankan masyarakat Islam setelah diserang oleh Baroness Thatcher yang berkata beliau tidak mendengar kutukan secukupnya terhadap serangan ganas mengenai Amerika daripada pemimpin agama Islam.

Ketika membentangkan sidang tergempar mengenai keganasan di Dewan Rakyat Britain (House of Commons), bekas meneri luar Britain itu bercakap akan sumbangan besar masyarakat Islam Britain kepada negaranya.

Thatcher telah memberikan kenyataan celuparnya itu kepada 'The Times'.

Kata Mr.Vaz: 'Saya tidak tahu apakah bahan bacaan beliau ataupun apakah program yang telah dipantaunya. Tetapi apa juga kenyataan yang saya dengar daripada masyarakat Islam Britain dan masyarakat Asian di Britain adalah kata-kata kutukan terhadap kejadian di New York dan memberikan sokongan yang padu dan bersungguh-sungguh terhadap tindakan yang dilaksanakan oleh Perdana Menteri.'

Mr.Vaz menceritakan bagaimana dia berhijrah ke Britain pada usia sembilan tahun.

'Saya tidak fikir kita mampu membayangkan ketika itu, 31 tahun yang lalu, betapa seseorang yang bernama Hussein boleh dilantik menjadi kapten pasukan Kriket England. Mungkin juga dalam masa 31 tahun lagi seseorang bernama Patel menjadi editor Daily Telegraph.'

Ketika menyokong perundangan untuk membanteras kebencian beragama, Mr.Vaz bekata adalah penting untuk berkelakuan yang melepasi setakat gelagat 'melawat masjid' ketika dilanda krisis.

'Dialog, yang dilakukan setiap hari oleh Ahli Parlimen dengan masyarakat kawasannya (kawasan pilihanraya) yang berasal daripada Asia, merupakan satu dialog yang sungguh penting agar mereka menyedari peranan mereka dalam arus perdana yang menyokong Kerajaan British.'

Tamat.

Terjemahan: SPAR

Asal:

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_415391.html

Ananova :

MP defends Muslims after Thatcher attack

Keith Vaz has defended British Muslims after Baroness Thatcher said she had not heard enough condemnation of the US terror attacks from Islamic priests.

In the emergency Commons debate on terrorism, the former Foreign Office minister spoke of the enormous contribution British Muslims had made to the country.

Lady Thatcher made her remarks in an interview with The Times.

Mr Vaz said: "I don't know what she has been reading or what programmes she has been listening to but the only representations and comments that I have heard from the British Muslim community and the Asian community in Britain are words of condemnation for what has happened in New York and strong and total support for the actions being taken by the Prime Minister."

Mr Vaz said he emigrated to Britain at the aged of nine.

"I don't think we would have imagined then, 31 years ago, that someday someone called Hussein would be captain of the England cricket team. Maybe even in 31 years time someone called Patel may edit the Daily Telegraph."

Giving his support to legislation to tackle religious hatred, Mr Vaz said it was important not to just "visit mosques" at a time of crisis.

He said: "This dialogue, which Members of this House have every single day with members of their constituency who happen to be of Asian origin, is an extremely important dialogue and they feel themselves to be part of the mainstream in supporting the British Government."

Story filed: 14:36 Thursday 4th October 2001