Thursday, 23 May 2013
The Muslim Council of Britain is receiving reports of hate attacks and abuse faced by mosques and individual Muslims following the inexcusable and criminal murder of a British soldier in South London. The MCB is grateful to the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) for preparing an important advisory note which is now being disseminated through its affiliate networks and other community links.
Advisory for Mosques and British Muslims
With tensions very high as a result of the murder that took place in Woolwich on Wednesday 22 May, the Muslim Council of Britain issues the following advice to mosques, associations and British Muslims. We hope these messages are imparted throughout the country:
Advice for mosques and associations
- You are not alone[clear]Reach out to police authorities for liaison, and to other faith communities and civil society organisations for solidarity. Open up your mosques, and invite neighbours and the wider community to your mosque and events. Show the true message of Islam.
- Do a risk assessment[clear]See what the risk is to your buildings, communities and neighbours. Invite the police and local authority to your mosque to see what can be done to enhance protection.
- Secure your buildings[clear]Make sure your mosques and buildings are equipped with alarms and camera systems, ideally connected to the local police and emergency services. In making your mosques welcoming, make sure the area outside is cleared of rubbish, which also enhances security.
- Report threats early[clear]Keep a record of and report threats straight away to the police. Do not be tempted to touch suspicious items or confront threatening behaviour. Keep a record of any threatening emails or calls, and encourage communities to report this.
For further information, see advice from National Association of Muslim Police.
Advice for Persons
- Does the law protect me?[clear]Anyone can use reasonable force to protect themselves or others, or to carry out an arrest or to prevent crime. You are not expected to make fine judgements over the level of force you use in the heat of the moment. So long as you only do what you honestly and instinctively believe is necessary in the heat of the moment that would be the strongest evidence of you acting lawfully and in self-defence. This is still the case if you use something to hand as a weapon.
As a general rule, the more extreme the circumstances and the fear felt, the more force you can lawfully use in self-defence.
Section 3 Criminal Law Act 1967
A person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of crime, or in effecting or assisting in the lawful arrest of offenders or suspected offenders.
- Do I have to wait to be attacked?[clear]No you do not have to wait to be attacked. If you are in your own home/business and in fear for yourself or others then the law does not require you to wait to be attacked before using defensive force yourself or others.[column type=”whole, one-half, one-third, two-thirds, one-fourth, three-fourths, one-fifth, two-fifths, three-fifths, four-fifths, one-sixth, five-sixths” last=”true” fade=”true” fade_animation=”in, in-from-top, in-from-left, in-from-right, in-from-bottom” fade_animation_offset=”45px”] Add in your content here. [/column]
- How do I contact the police?[clear]In an emergency where life or property is at risk always call 999, otherwise you can contact the police by:
- calling the local number to report a crime that has already happened, seek crime prevention advice or make us aware of any policing issues in your local area.
- via your local police station.
If you find that your Business has been damaged by disorder then you must ensure the police are called at the earliest opportunity.
Contact your Safer Neighbourhood Teams for further information.
Advice from NAMP: