Muslims protest outside Downing Street

Published: Saturday, 16 February 2008, 10:00AM

Muslim groups are preparing to stage a demonstration outside Downing Street after what they describe as a week of "bias, prejudice, xenophobia and even borderline racism".

It has been organised by the British Muslim Initiative (BMI) and supported by 20 other Muslim groups including the Muslim Council of Britain and British Muslim Forum.

They are calling for equal rights under the slogan: Yes to equal citizenship, No to double standards.

The BMI have said the demonstration is a response to the past week's events including the controversy provoked by the Archbishop of Canterbury's comments that adoption of some aspects of Islamic sharia law in the UK seem "unavoidable".

It is also protesting over the Home Office's rejection of Egyptian-born, controversial scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi's visa application to enter the UK.

The revelation that counter-terrorism officers had secretly recorded discussions between MP Sadiq Khan and a jailed constituent has also led to angry reactions from Muslims.

A BMI statement said the three events "provide further evidence of bias, prejudice, xenophobia and even borderline racism rampant in wide corners of the media as well as in the corridors of government."

BMI spokesman Anas Altikriti said: "It all gives out a message that Muslims can never be trusted and any discourse must be banned and no-one, not even the esteemed Archbishop of Canterbury, can say anything about Muslims.

"This vigil is about all Muslims coming together and asking to be treated as equal citizen with rights. And at the same time we are calling for issues to do with Muslims to be dealt with fairness and balance."

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.