Generosity at gala for Gaza
Last week, the BBC and Sky refused to show the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal for Gaza. On Sunday night though, the Muslim communities of Bristol gathered to give the equivalent of a two-finger salute to that decision.
About 300 people paid £20 each to attend a charity dinner for Gaza. By the end of the evening, through donations and an auction, a staggering £103,000 had been raised. It was the highest single total ever raised by the Muslim communities of Bristol. All of the proceeds were donated directly to Islamic Relief, one of the 13 British charities that make up the DEC.
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True, it was remarkable for the fact that so much money had been raised despite Gaza having virtually disappeared from the attention of the world's media. But it was also remarkable for an entirely different reason – most of the attendees were not the elite of Bristol Muslim society or wealthy business people, they were ordinary young people, men and women, who did not necessarily have that much money. Their generosity was truly amazing, because it was so selfless.
I have spoken for a few weeks now about how deeply the Gaza conflict has affected Muslims here. I have not been at all exaggerating that point. It's unlike anything that has happened before. The invasion of Iraq, Bosnia, the bombing of Afghanistan, none of those compare.
On this occasion, what the people of Gaza have suffered is just so blatantly obvious to anyone with any reason – to anyone who does not loathe everything Islamic – that no matter what excuse is conjured up to justify that suffering, it simply smacks of inhumanity.
The BBC and Sky refusing to broadcast the DEC appeal, with so feeble an excuse, has only served to further underscore a perceived double standard of justice; one for those who have, and another for those who have not.
It seems that the world has become so used to turning a blind eye to the Palestinians' suffering that it has become habitual.
Not all sections of the Bristol Muslim communities were happy with organising the charity dinner for Gaza. And this perhaps best indicates the depth of feeling about the situation.
Some expressed their genuine hurt and disgust at the BMCS for organising the event. They could not believe that people would contemplate wasting their money on paying for a meal in Bristol while people were dying in Gaza. Why could BMCS not just directly collect money for Gaza instead? It was a classic example of emotion over common sense. But it clearly showed how high feelings were running.
And the Gaza anger shows no signs of faltering. This Saturday, the Muslim communities are planning to organise one of the biggest public demonstrations the city of Bristol has ever seen. There is even talk of organising a Bristol-to-Gaza aid convoy by land.
In my opinion, the Israeli bombing of Gaza has been so loud and merciless that it appears the Muslim communities are beginning to awake from their long slumber of apathy.
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by Anon, Bristol
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 5:46PM
“George, what did u mean hams will hijack all the aid. Hamas are a small group they wont need that. They wont take it, they'll give it to their familiers. PLease dont belive israeli lies.”
by george, Briz.
Saturday, February 07 2009, 1:28PM
“Perhaps a lot of people won't contribute to this appeal and glad that the BBC don't get involved is because Hamas will hijack the aid and supplies for themselves.”
by Dhimmi, Bristol
Thursday, February 05 2009, 8:11AM
“Miriam, of course I join you in condemning acts of violence ANYWHERE. But I can't help but feel that the passion roused in the U.K. amongst some groups of citizens is more to due extreme dislike of each others religions.
I haven't seen, for example, demonstrations of the same scale by Muslims to get the Zimbabwean problem (a still worse situation) sorted out -
Is this because Zimbabweans are generally not Muslim?
If they were Muslim, I'm sure they'd greatly benefit from the passion & energy you would bring to any demonstration.
All th best”
by Miriam, Bristol
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 9:10PM
“Dhimmi ¿ any upsurge in attacks on Jews and Jewish owned businesses is not acceptable at all - it¿s appalling. I¿m sure you think it¿s unacceptable too ¿ and likewise I am sure you will join me in condemning Israel for attacking & butchering the INNOCENT civilians of Gaza, over a 1400, of them. Wont you?
To a bystander such as myself- in great horror- today I see the Palestinian people being treated the same way by the Jews, as the Jews were treated by the Nazis.
I choose to speak up against these atrocities ¿ do you?
I choose to attend the peaceful demonstrations like the one planned for Saturday, and I choose to boycott Israeli products
I protest against Israel¿s illegal occupation of Palestine, and demand they withdraw, and when the Palestinians are no longer living under occupation, when they have freedom, then you will see ¿ we will have peace.”
by Martin, Knowle,Bristol
Tuesday, February 03 2009, 2:50PM
“Miriam.Nothing wrong with peaceful demonstrations. Lets have no more Israeli tanks and bombs, and no more rockets and suicide bombers from Gaza. Is that what the banners will say Miriam? Is this not only a peaceful demonstration but a demonstration for peace? If so lets hope it works, because the rockets are still falling. Do you think an immediate priority is to stop those rockets before anybody else gets hurt?”
by Dhimmi, Bristol
Tuesday, February 03 2009, 1:21PM
“Mariam, what are you feelings about the upsurge of attacks on Jews & Jewish owned businesses in the UK, and not those in Israel. To a bystander such as myself, it feels as if we seeing them treated as they were by Nazis in the 1930's
I'd appreciate your thoughts.”
by Mariam, Bristol
Tuesday, February 03 2009, 1:05PM
“Leakes - people who fail to see the human suffering caused in Gaza, smack of inhumanity. Please dont use your own interpretations to try and distort what is written by the columnist. It is pretty self explanatory.”
by Joan, Bristol
Tuesday, February 03 2009, 1:01PM
“Why isn't the Muslim world stopping terrorists from rocketing Israel this morning?
The fighting has stopped and yet a few loose trouble makers are still attacking the peace process.”
by Miriam, Bristol
Tuesday, February 03 2009, 12:43PM
“The columnist is absolutely right ¿ this is the best two fingered salute to the BBC and Sky. Well done to everyone. We also need the world to wake up from its slumber of apathy towards the daily atrocities committed by Israel
Paul , I think this "Man" is "rousing" the Muslim community and any member of the community in general to simply raise awareness of the plight of the suffering of the Palestinian people through a peaceful march - as all such marches have been in Bristol, so please don¿t feel threatened at the prospect of little prod at our conscious through a peaceful demonstration.”
by Leaks, Easton
Tuesday, February 03 2009, 11:13AM
“"On this occasion, what the people of Gaza have suffered is just so blatantly obvious to anyone with any reason ¿ to anyone who does not loathe everything Islamic ¿ that no matter what excuse is conjured up to justify that suffering, it simply smacks of inhumanity."
So anyone who disagrees with Mr Siddique is an anti-human racist?
Who says Islam is intolerant?”