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Muslims warned to stay indoors

This is London, UK
July 7, 2005
www.thisislondon.co.uk

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Thursday July 7, 2005

British Muslims were issued with a stark warning to stay indoors today, amid fears of reprisals following the London bombings.

Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, appealed for calm and condemned the bombings.

He said: “The Islamic Human Rights Commission utterly condemns this attack, but now we appeal that there should be no further victims as a result of reprisals.”

There was no immediate confirmation of who was responsible for the attacks, but a claim was made on the Al-Qal’ah – Fortress – internet site, by a group calling themselves the Secret Organisation Group of Al-Qa’ida of Jihad Organisation in Europe.

Mr Shadjareh said some members of the Muslim community suffered a backlash following the September 11 2001 terror attacks in the United States, and the Madrid train bombing in March 2004.

He said he was “very concerned about a backlash” and called on British Muslims to “remain vigilant and calm and stay indoors”.

He said: “IHRC is advising Muslims not to travel or go out unless necessary, and is particularly concerned that women should not go out alone in this climate.

“In the event of being attacked, IHRC urges victims not to retaliate and to report the matter to the police and appropriate authorities.”