Muslim column censored by Evening Post days b4 Gaza bombing

bristol | media and culture | news report Friday January 09, 2009 13:41 by Tony Gosling

This article, written by Farroq Siddique of Bristol Muslim Cultural Society on 19th December 2008, was then re-written at the editor's request, for Christmas week Bristol Muslim column. Both versions have been censored by the editors, lawyer and management at the Bristol Evening Post citing material as being POTENTIALLY libellous. No column appeared that week. Lloyds TSB, one of the most dubious and highly secretive financial institutions responsible for the present and increasing economic catastrophe are being protected, and a demonised minority faith group censored. Utterly shameful IMO particularly in the light of today's announcement on Radio 4 10 o'clock news that Israeli forces have been herding Palestinians into 'safe buildings' then shelling them there.

Dear all,
This article, written by Farroq Siddique of Bristol Muslim Cultural Society on 19th December 2008, was then re-written at the editor's request, for Christmas week Bristol Muslim column.
Both versions have been censored by the editors, lawyer and management at the Bristol Evening Post citing material as being POTENTIALLY libellous.
No column appeared that week.
Utterly shameful IMO particularly in the light of today's announcement on Radio 4 10 o'clock news that Israeli forces have been herding Palestinians into 'safe buildings' then shelling them there.
Tony Gosling
www.public-interest.co.uk

As 2008 draws to a close, dangerous precedents are being set across the globe; We continue to let a tyrant starve his people to death in Zimbabwe; Governments - previously exponents of the free market - are rewarding failure of major commercial companies (banks and car makers) by subsidising them with taxpayers money; and most worryingly of all, a mere allegation against anyone of any kind is now assumed to be evidence of guilt.

In a story very few people will have heard of, Lloyds TSB recently ordered the Islamic Bank of Britain which it owns, to close the accounts of Interpal, a highly respected international humanitarian relief charity – working in Occupied Palestine.

Why would the bank take such action? Remarkably, no official reason has been given. Many human rights groups and concerned British citizens have since contacted Lloyds TSB to ascertain why a charity, supported by the UK government and it’s main opposition parties, the United Nations and the UK Charities commission was under threat. Whilst Lloyds TSB denies ordering the closure of the Interpal account, stating in standard letter;

“Lloyds TSB does not hold or never has held accounts for Interpal. Furthermore, Lloyds TSB would not direct nor would it be appropriate for us to direct another institution on how to deal with its own customers.”

Not entirely true; Lloyds TSB (acting as a clearing bank) to Islamic Bank of Britain (with whom Interpal bank), wrote to the IBB on 8th October 2008 stating:

“We are writing to you to give you notice that…we do not wish you to transfer, receive, process or in any way deal with any funds, or in any way whatsoever (acting either as banker or agent on behalf of the Customer) be involved with any type of banking arrangements for Interpal…”

Even for a Goliath like Lloyds TSB, which has itself recently received billions of pounds in bailout funds from the British taxpayer, this is indeed uncharacteristic behaviour.

The truth is probably closer to the fact that Interpal is currently being investigated by the Charities Commission for any possible links to Hamas – the democratically elected Government of Palestine for the Palestinians on the one hand and a banned terrorist organisation for the West on the other.

However, such allegations against Interpal are not new. Repeated, unsupported and damaging allegations against Interpal have been made before. On each occasion, the UK Government and Charities Commission have fully investigated those allegations and found them to be untrue.

For Lloyds TSB, this may simply be a commercial decision, not wanting to wait for the findings by the Charities Commission. But do commercial companies also not have a social responsibility?

As most are aware, the beleaguered Palestinians have been the victims of sixty years of human rights violations at the hands of the Israeli Government - condemned by 69 United Nations resolutions and almost every country in the world. This suffering has been described by former US President Jimmy Carter as “one the greatest human rights crimes on earth” and the great Nelson Mandela as “apartheid”.

Interpal is amongst only a handful of charities able and daring to work in such a politically sensitive area. By denying them banking facilities, have Lloyds TSB not played a part - albeit unwittingly – in what a parliamentary committee in 2004 concluded was “a deliberate Israeli strategy of putting the lives of ordinary Palestinians under stress as part of a strategy to bring the population to heel.”?

Re-written version
by Farooq

Lloyds TSB has recently ordered the Islamic Bank of Britain which it owns, to close the accounts of Interpal, a highly respected international humanitarian relief charity – working in Occupied Palestine.

By doing so, Lloyds TSB is on the verge of ending humanitarian aid for up to five million Palestinian refugees in desperate need; by cutting off the charity Interpal’s banking facilities. It will only serve to escalate the horrific suffering of innocent children.

Why would the bank take such a callous action? Remarkably, no official reason has been given. Many human rights groups and concerned British citizens have since contacted Lloyds TSB to ascertain why a charity, supported by the UK government and it’s main opposition parties, the United Nations and the UK Charities commission was under threat. Lloyds wrote back and said:

“Lloyds TSB does not hold or never has held accounts for Interpal. Furthermore, Lloyds TSB would not direct nor would it be appropriate for us to direct another institution on how to deal with its own customers.”

But this has proven to be a lie. The letter from Lloyds TSB (acting as a clearing bank) to Islamic Bank of Britain (with whom Interpal bank), dated 8th October 2008 clearly states:

“We are writing to you to give you notice that…we do not wish you to transfer, receive, process or in any way deal with any funds, or in any way whatsoever (acting either as banker or agent on behalf of the Customer) be involved with any type of banking arrangements for Interpal…”

For the Goliath Lloyds TSB, which has itself recently received billions of pounds in bailout funds from the British taxpayer, to behave in such a deceitful manner is shocking.

As most are aware, the beleaguered Palestinians have been the victims of ethnic cleansing and sixty years of human rights violations - condemned by 69 United Nations resolutions and almost every country in the world, resulting in a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions. This slow genocide, described by former US President Jimmy Carter as “one the greatest human rights crimes on earth” and the great Nelson Mandela as “apartheid” is solely because they were born Palestinian.

However, the success of Interpal’s humanitarian efforts is at odds with the racially motivated aspirations of those behind the suffering.

This is not new. Those same people have made repeated, unsupported and damaging allegations against Interpal before. On each occasion, the UK Government and Charities commission have investigated those allegations and found them to be without merit. Following a two year legal challenge, the Board of Deputies was forced into a substantial out of court settlement and a humiliating apology after having repeated such allegations.

Despite this, in acting as it has – effectively forcing the Islamic Bank of Britain to close Interpal’s bank account – Lloyds TSB has played a significant part - perhaps unwittingly - in what a parliamentary committee in 2004 concluded was “a deliberate Israeli strategy of putting the lives of ordinary Palestinians under stress as part of a strategy to bring the population to heel.” - By preventing humanitarian aid reaching people in the grip of a catastrophe.