Copyright 1996 The Press Association Limited  
Press Association

November 4, 1996, Monday

SECTION: HOME NEWS

LENGTH: 353 words

HEADLINE: 'BRITISH MUSLIMS FEAR BACKLASH OVER TALEBAN'

BYLINE: Linda Jackson, Social Affairs Correspondent, PA News

BODY:
Britain's 1.5 million Muslims fear they are being "further demonised" following the virtual takeover of Afghanistan by the Islamic fundamentalist Taleban, it was claimed today. According to their spokesmen, many also fear a vicious backlash in Britain following the return of old-Testament style justice and the imposition of a medieval society in Afghanistan. The regime there has suppressed and marginalised women with girls banned from attending school and females prohibited from working. Men and women are beaten if they fail to go to prayers, adulterers are stoned to death and modern inventions such as television are banned. Up to 6,000 Afghans live in Britain and most were said to be dismayed at what was happening in their homeland, although a "very small minority" supported the Taleban. Other Muslims were "horrified", but felt powerless to do anything. The Taleban takeover meant Muslims in Britain had gone down in people's estimation, said a spokesman for the Muslim Parliament. "The Western world loves to hate Muslims and Islam. We are being increasingly demonised. Eggs are being thrown at mosques. It is this kind of demonisation that leads to genocide and ethnic cleansing," he said. Arzu Merali, a member of the Muslim Parliament's Human Rights Committee who works for the Islamic Cultural and Information Bureau, said what was happening in Afghanistan was "totally unacceptable". "It is very hard to find any Islamic ideology in what they are doing. They are abusing the texts. "An example is adultery. This is punishable by death - but only if four people have witnessed penetration. This would never happen. "The edicts on how to dress also have no basis in religion. It is up to women how they dress as long as certain parts of their body are covered. This is meant to enhance their role in society." The Taleban had confirmed the West's worst stereotypes of Islam, she said. Dr Zaki Badawi, a lecturer at the Muslim College in London, said: "The Muslim community is dismayed at events particularly the treatment of women. There is a general abhorrence of events."