Hi, Jabou, this is very interesting. Good to see that Mr. Blare is recognizing and not denouncing Islam, as so many in the West, it seems, are prone to do... Ginny ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jabou Joh" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2000 9:28 PM Subject: Fwd: Tony Blair Praises Islam > In a message dated 4/5/00 6:36:47 PM Central Daylight Time, > [log in to unmask] writes: > > << Subj: AMC-NET: Tony Blair Praises Islam > Date: 4/5/00 6:36:47 PM Central Daylight Time > From: [log in to unmask] (AMC Media and Communications) > Sender: [log in to unmask] > Reply-to: [log in to unmask] > To: [log in to unmask] > CC: [log in to unmask] > > With the Name of God, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful > > > Tony Blair Calls on Britain to Reach Out for More Understanding of Islam > > "There is a lot of misunderstanding about Islam. It is a deeply reflective, > peaceful, a very beautiful religious faith," stated British Prime Minister > Tony Blair, in an interview with The Muslim News, a United Kingdom based > newspaper. > > The Prime Minister stated that he "owns two copies of the Qu'ran and carries > one with him whenever he can," a habit he picked up from Chelsea Clinton. He > also expressed his respect for Islam by saying that he ".draws inspiration > from it. If you read the Qu'ran.it is so clear, the concept of love and > fellowship as the guiding spirits of humanity." > > The public statements made by the Prime Minister illustrating his > appreciation of Islam, and his call for the necessity of Britain to ".reach > out and build greater understanding of what Islam is and means and the > values that underpin it," are an illustration of the growing recognition of > Islam. > > Mr. Blair also predicted that there would be more Muslim Members of > Parliament in the next election. In fact he said that he would be, "very > surprised if the Labour Party didn't have any Muslim candidates standing in > winnable seats in the next election." > > This interview with The Muslim News and Mr. Blair's words of praise, come > after Britain sent the first ever official, British Hajj Delegation to offer > consular assistance to British pilgrims. Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, who was > nominated by Blair and became the first ever Muslim in the House of Lords, > headed the Hajj Delegation. > > "The acknowledgment by the British government of its Muslim citizens is > greatly appreciated and respected by the American Muslim community. We look > for the increased inclusion of Muslims in public affairs and a more > proactive role in their society," states Aly Abuzaakouk, Executive Director > of the American Muslim Council. > > The full text of the interview can be read at The Muslim News website. > http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/131/131-1-1.html > > /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV > THE AMERICAN MUSLIM COUNCIL > 1212 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW, SUITE 400 > WASHINGTON, DC 20005 > PHONE : (202) 789-2262 > FAX : (202) 789-2550 > E-MAIL : [log in to unmask] >> > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- > > To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L > Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------