Posted on 10/06/2001 4:33:38 AM PDT by Movemout
London (CNSNews.com) - Former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher drew rebukes from religious leaders and current Tory party officials Thursday after she told a British newspaper that Muslims have not adequately condemned the September 11 attacks on the United States.
In an interview published Thursday in The Times of London, Thatcher said: "The people who brought down those towers were Muslims, and Muslims must stand up and say that that is not the way of Islam ... I have not heard enough condemnation from Muslim priests."
It was Thatcher's first public comments since the attacks.
The Conservative Party released a statement Thursday that said, in part: "Earlier this week, the Conservative leadership met with senior leaders of the Muslim community to discuss the terrorist atrocities and the recent spate of anti-Islamic attacks in this country. We agreed to publicly condemn both international terrorism and any attempt to restrict freedom of religious expression ... We simply do not agree with Lady Thatcher."
Party leaders also condemned Thatcher's statements. Michael Heseltine, who served as Thatcher's deputy prime minister, said during an interview with the BBC: "I find it difficult to find words to describe my horror" at her remarks.
The Church of England also expressed surprise, saying that there was indeed a "rapid and vocal" condemnation by Muslim leaders.
In a letter to The Times obtained by CNSNews.com, The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) slammed both Thatcher and the newspaper, which printed the interview on its front page.
"We at the MCB find it rather ironic that whilst preaching restraint, tolerance and understanding you appear to practice none of these in giving Baroness Thatcher's inflammatory and ill-informed remarks such high profile in your newspaper," the letter read. "We hope that you will exercise better judgement in the way that you act in the future."
MCB Secretary General Yousuf Bhailok called Thatcher's remarks "insensitive."
"Her comments were hurtful to the Muslim community," Bhailok said. "What would she say, for example, if we demanded that all of Christendom apologize for Timothy McVeigh?"
On September 11, the Muslim Council issued a "total condemnation" of the attacks, stating, "no cause can justify this carnage."
Zaki Badawi, principal of the Muslim College, told The Times that every mosque in Britain, with the exception of two radical sects, had condemned the attacks and made them the subject of sermons.
"We have also written numerous articles, letters and given comments to that effect," Badawi said.
After a lackluster showing at the general election in June and a change of leadership, the Tories have tried to appeal to a broader range of the British public, including ethnic minorities. Party leaders declined to speculate Thursday on how Thatcher's remarks would affect the Conservatives' image.
Thatcher served as Prime Minister from 1979 until her ouster as Conservative Party leader in 1990.
Party leaders also condemned Thatcher's statements. Michael Heseltine, who served as Thatcher's deputy prime minister, said during an interview with the BBC: "I find it difficult to find words to describe my horror" at her remarks.
I agree with Lady Thatcher. I didn't hear an outcry of condemnation, it seemed more of a whisper.
Oh, please.........just spare me. Who the hell is this limp-wristed pantywaist, anyway???? Cripes..........
This is such a stupid analogy. 1)McVeigh was an agnostic 2)he did it for non-religious reasons 3)Christians around the world weren't cheering him on.
The Politically Correct Speech Police are the Taliban of the West.
Hurrah for Thatcher (who's opinions I want always to know), Berlusconi (a MAN with hair on his chest) and Tony Blair.
Agreeing to publicly condemn and doing so are not the same. Was this supposed to be a secret agreement? Where are the public condemnations from Muslim organizations? All of them, not just a few.
Does anybody believe that Arafat would be a better ally?
[Hillary's vote doesn't count]
There aren't any and there won't be any. These people hate us. We may be able to build coalitions with their rulers but we will never get the backing of the muslim vox populus.
Sadly, it will probably take another one or two major terrorist attacks before we can finally put the "but muslims are our friends" delusion to rest.
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