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Blair's plans draw fire

Hasan Suroor

LONDON: There has been an unexpectedly strong reaction from Muslim and human rights groups to the raft of anti-terror measures announced by Prime Minister Tony Blair on Friday.

Even moderate and "establishment'' Muslim figures have attacked plans to close down mosques, bookshops and community centres suspected of preaching extremism.

They have also opposed the proposed ban on Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) saying that the organisation has unequivocally condemned terrorism and is "committed'' to non-violence.

Though Mr. Blair repeatedly explained that the measures were not aimed at any particular community or group, Muslim organisations said they would heighten "anxiety'' among Muslims and alienate them at a time when the Government needed to carry them with it.

There were also fears, dismissed by the Government, that even support to legitimate movements such as the Palestinian struggle could be construed as an offence under plans to ban incitement to violence.

"We would reject any measures towards prohibition of movements that support oppressed people elsewhere,'' said Inayat Bunglawala of the moderate Muslim Council of Britain.

Iqbal Sacraine, who is close to Downing Street and was given knighthood recently, criticised the move to ban Hizb-ut-Tahrir describing it as an "avowedly non-violent'' group.

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