On Sunday 16th January 2011, the Islamic Education and Research Academy (iERA) held its ground breaking conference entitled ‘Changing the World Through Dawah’. This event proved to be an outstanding success, and was attended by over 1000 Muslims and non-Muslims. What many people don't know, however, is that this event came very close to being cancelled.
On Friday 14th January, iERA were notified late in the afternoon that Pink News were planning on writing an article about the event because of the speakers’ line-up whom they saw to be “speakers who promote homophobic discrimination and violence”. Later in the evening, iERA were notified of another article published on Pink Paper, which made false and misleading comments against iERA, its people and the Muslim community; with a call for the event to be stopped at the Ibis, as Peter Tatchell, a prominent Gay Rights campaigner commented;
"Lesbian and gay people - and straight people of conscience - should not use Ibis Hotels while they continue to host extremist anti-gay preachers. A boycott campaign might be necessary if Ibis does not change its policy.”
Pink News launched a campaign to get the event stopped by instructing its readers to bombard with emails the parent company of Ibis, Accor and also Ibis Earls Court directly. iERA were notified of the results of this campaign on Saturday 15th January, by which time the hotel had received over 400 emails calling for the event to be cancelled.
Despite being subjected to this incredible pressure by Gay Rights activists, Ibis Earls Court was very supportive of iERA and the event went ahead as scheduled.
iERA issued a press release on Saturday 15th January, clarifying its position and challenging the comments made in the article. On Monday 17th another article was written, which criticised the Ibis for allowing the event to take place. We have been informed since by Ibis that they are continuing to receive complaints and to date have received over 1000 emails regarding this issue. Since this campaign they have had many cancellations, which is causing them great concern, and the indications are that they may not do business with iERA, or any of its associated speakers in the future.
This potentially sets a dangerous precedent, where Islamic events get cancelled or venues refuse to host them due to pressure from extreme activists. This has happened already last year, due to the activities of the EDL, this is however a new and dangerous twist. This is not about iERA, but how truth is being trampled upon by some members of minority groups who are showing ignorance of the facts and are stereotyping key members of the international Islamic community.
As a result, iERA is now starting an Action Alert, asking its supporters and members of the Muslim community to write in to the Ibis Earls Court and their parent company Accor in support of them for not bowing to the extreme pressure from Gay rights activists. If we can get a greater number of people to email then those who complained, we can as a community can lead the stand for truth and justice.
On Friday 14th January, iERA were notified late in the afternoon that Pink News were planning on writing an article about the event because of the speakers’ line-up whom they saw to be “speakers who promote homophobic discrimination and violence”. Later in the evening, iERA were notified of another article published on Pink Paper, which made false and misleading comments against iERA, its people and the Muslim community; with a call for the event to be stopped at the Ibis, as Peter Tatchell, a prominent Gay Rights campaigner commented;
"Lesbian and gay people - and straight people of conscience - should not use Ibis Hotels while they continue to host extremist anti-gay preachers. A boycott campaign might be necessary if Ibis does not change its policy.”
Pink News launched a campaign to get the event stopped by instructing its readers to bombard with emails the parent company of Ibis, Accor and also Ibis Earls Court directly. iERA were notified of the results of this campaign on Saturday 15th January, by which time the hotel had received over 400 emails calling for the event to be cancelled.
Despite being subjected to this incredible pressure by Gay Rights activists, Ibis Earls Court was very supportive of iERA and the event went ahead as scheduled.
iERA issued a press release on Saturday 15th January, clarifying its position and challenging the comments made in the article. On Monday 17th another article was written, which criticised the Ibis for allowing the event to take place. We have been informed since by Ibis that they are continuing to receive complaints and to date have received over 1000 emails regarding this issue. Since this campaign they have had many cancellations, which is causing them great concern, and the indications are that they may not do business with iERA, or any of its associated speakers in the future.
This potentially sets a dangerous precedent, where Islamic events get cancelled or venues refuse to host them due to pressure from extreme activists. This has happened already last year, due to the activities of the EDL, this is however a new and dangerous twist. This is not about iERA, but how truth is being trampled upon by some members of minority groups who are showing ignorance of the facts and are stereotyping key members of the international Islamic community.
As a result, iERA is now starting an Action Alert, asking its supporters and members of the Muslim community to write in to the Ibis Earls Court and their parent company Accor in support of them for not bowing to the extreme pressure from Gay rights activists. If we can get a greater number of people to email then those who complained, we can as a community can lead the stand for truth and justice.
But it needs a collective effort, we are a large community alhamdulillah, much larger then Gay Rights activists, we contribute so much to British society, our voices cannot be drowned out and the truth will not be sacrificed with the permission of Allah.
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