Islamic Forum Europe

Islamic Forum Europe is an Islamist organisation based in London with at least two branches in the United Kingdom. Its website states it has branches in "most of the European countries including: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland". [http://www.islamicforumeurope.com/live/ife.php?doc=intro RESPONDING TO THE CALL ] ] Its youth wing is called Young Muslim Organisation, "an organisation based in Tower Hamlets" in London, "with several branches across Britain," and is very active among the Bangladeshi community. [http://www.surrey.ac.uk/Arts/CRONEM/SOASBangladeshi%20diaspora%20PaperDRAFT-7June2005.pdf Bangladeshi Disapora in the UK SOAS Conference on Human Rights and Bangladesh] ] Its women's wing is Muslimaat UK. Its "regular activities" include

Individual and group Da'wah, Study Circles, courses in Tafsir, Hadith, Seerah and History Seminars, Conventions and Camps Islamic cultural exhibitions for non-Muslims and the annual Discover Islam Month, Arabic Language & Shariah courses, Insight and Discover Islam magazines, Local Radio stations (particularly in Ramadan), Developing Mosques, Schools and Islamic Centres, Raising funds for humanitarian relief, participating in local, national and global issues affecting the Ummah and humanity at large.

The group has close links with the East London Mosque, which is located close to its offices, and with Jamaat-e-Islami, the largest Islamist political party of Bangladesh. According to author Ed Husain the group found itself in conflict with a rival Jamaat-e-Islami-affliated group - Dawatul Islam (affliated with the UK Islamic Mission) - at the East London Mosque "throughout the late 1980s" to the point where the London Metropolitan Police were called in to break up fights. [Husain, Ed, "The Islamist", Penguin, 2007, p.24-5] Dawat'ul Islam is now based at another mosque Jamiatul Ummah Bigland Street. The group has been described as part of a movement of Bangladeshi immigrants in East London away from secular left politics towards Islamist politics. [http://www.opendemocracy.net/content/articles/PDF/3715.pdf Open Democracy. Bangladeshis in East London: from secular politics to Islam. Delwar Hussain] ]

The group is said to have a more limited following in Birmingham where it has around 80 members. Its London and Sunderland branches are affiliates of the Muslim Council of Britain.

ee also

* [http://www.islamicforumeurope.com/live/ife.php Islamic Forum Europe website ]
* [http://www.opendemocracy.net/content/articles/PDF/3715.pdf Open Democracy. Bangladeshis in East London, from secular politics to Islam]

Reference