WALTHAM FOREST: 'Books of hate' in our libraries

12:22pm Thursday 20th September 2007

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BOOKS by radical Muslim authors who advocate violent jihad are available in Waltham Forest's public libraries, it has been claimed.

Research by think-tank the Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC) found works by fundamentalist scholars who call for violence against anyone who does not follow their interpretation of Islam.

The report, Hate on the State, claims the borough's libraries stock 70 books by Abu Ala Maududi, the founder of Jamaat-e-Islami, which it describes as the main Islamist group in Pakistan.

The CSC also found 20 books by Dilwar Hussain Sayeedi, one of the leaders of the Bangladeshi branch of Jamaat-e-Islami. The report claims he has compared Hindus to excrement and defended attacks on the minority Ahmadi community by his supporters.

The Foreign Office advised against allowing Mr Sayeedi into the UK in 2006.

The think-tank says it found multiple copies of works by members of the Muslim Brotherhood and prominent Wahhabi clerics who, it is claimed, encourage Muslims to see themselves as separate from and opposed to mainstream British society.

CSC says it found four copies of Islamic Guidelines for Social and Individual Reform by Muhammad bin Jamil Zino, who is described as one of the most virulent Wahhabi clerics.

The research found three copies of Selected Writings by Shaheed Hassan al-Banna, the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood.

A SPOKESMAN for Waltham Forest Council said: "Two of the authors listed have work stocked by Waltham Forest libraries.

"The works by the other seven authors that appear on our catalogue are in fact stocked by the five other library authorities that are part of the London Libraries Consortium and each has its own stock policies."

"Library stock is chosen by library staff in line with our annually revised stock policy and the over-riding aim is to select a balanced selection of books that is not biased towards any one political or religious point of view."

Cabinet member for leisure, arts and culture, Cllr Geraldine Reardon, said: "We do not seek to censor literature nor do we seek to promote any particular point of view.

"We are currently reviewing our stock policy to ensure that the stock is well balanced and meets the needs of the users of Waltham Forest Libraries.

"The council is continuing to work with our community and national experts in taking strong and pioneering steps to tackle and prevent extremism of all kinds."