Bristol Muslim Cultural Society (BMCS) was established in 1986 and is one of the oldest voluntary sector non-profit making organisations in the City. We are based in Easton, at the heart of a culturally diverse inner city area of Bristol.
Our aim is to empower the Muslim community in Bristol and the surrounding area to further the economic (employment, enterprise, training) educational, recreational, cultural and social needs of the Muslim community, while encouraging their active participation in mainstream society, and provide support to interested stakeholders.
An Open Letter To Osama Bin-Ladin
Why send a letter to Osama Bin-Laden?
Since 9/11 Muslim community leaders and Religious scholars have repeatedly and categorically condemned the actions and consequences of the actions of Osama Bin laden. Those condemnations rarely receive any media coverage. This creates an impression amongst the general public that the Muslim community is silent on the issue - the community is then condemned for that silence!
For many years now BMCS has been at the sharp end of countering serious misconceptions about Islam and Muslims. These misconceptions have become an excuse for discriminating against the Muslim community or at the very least cause people to harbour suspicions against them
The "Open Letter to Osama Bin Laden" included in this email is written by a highly respected Islamic scholar and was broadcast live on NBC television in the US earlier this month. The letter serves to dispel and directly challenge the myths about Islam in the general public and the ideology that leads to radicalisation within some spheres of the Muslim world.
What difference will it make?
Perhaps none whatsoever.
But perhaps, Inshallah (God Willing), the sincere words of advice contained within it will have an affect on just 1 individual. We do not know. But there is nothing negative in the letter. There is nothing that will bring harm to our community or to our Faith. On the contrary, we hope it will increase our knowledge and will allow us to hear another considered view - words that we can share with our non-Muslim work colleagues and neighbours and our families and our children.
And that is all we hope to achieve.
We very much invite and value your feedback once you have read the text.
