In The Times,  Sean O’ Neill  refers to Tabligh as a secretive sect that has begun a charm offensive to woo the gullible people of the United Kingdom into accepting the groups evil masterplan, in order to gain absolute worldwide domination.

As a novice journalist it really gets up my goatee when I see, hear or read respectable journalists conjuring up such despicable monstrosities and serving them up as the findings of investigative journalism.

The Tablighi methodology is an effort that is close to my heart. The question that baffles me the most and thus led me to pen this column, is why Tabligh is the target of such vitriol?

Tablighi Jamaat is very much a mainstream and predominately apolitical organisation seeking to proselytise faith in a peaceful manner. The Jamaat boasts of millions of peaceful adherents the world over.  The beauty of the Jamaat effort is that everybody sings from the same hymn sheet, be they in London or Brisbane, Antarctica or the forests of Brazil.

This brings us to the question of the size of this so called mega Mosque. To entertain arguments and accusations with carefully planned suggestions that the planned Mosque will accommodate a capacity of 70,000 worshippers is ridiculous, to say the least. We are not talking about Wembley Stadium or the theatre of dreams here. This is a place of worship, not Camp Nou. Twelve to twenty thousand is probably the maximum number of attendees the Mosque is ever likely to have on very special and one off occasions, like a major European or world gathering of Tablighis.

Another misconception is based on the project being funded by the Saudi Royal family. The Saudis, the best friends of our respected Governments in the West, also seem to be the only group accused of funding evil, when charitable donations are made. I’m no great fan but there is plenty of evidence of Saudi funding of a variety of humanitarian causes that are not just restricted to Muslims. Will all due respect, nothing could be further from the truth. The Royal family have no influence over the teachings and activities of Tabligh. The project since it’s inception has been funded by small donations from Tablighis and there has been absolutely no contact with the Saudi Royal family regarding funding.

O’ Neill’s short article also referred to the group as one that ‘intelligence agencies fear is a gateway to extremism.’ John Walker Lindh is one example of an individual that left the Tablighi Jamaat after finding the activities to be too mellow and not conducive to his more militant views. Also mentioned is the strong local opposition that has generated bad publicity and of government ministers seeking to block planning permission.’ The second part may very well be true and planning permission is by no means a certaintly, as innacurate and sensational media coverage and distortion of the groups efforts may very well be a bold influence over decisions taken. I think if we studied the matter closely enough we’d notice that lurking somewhere in a dark hole is the main detractor, Councillor Allan Craig of the Christian Peoples Alliance. Craig, who is widely accused of being an Islamophobe, is a real extremist who is hiding is innate hatred for Islam behind a cloak of so called debate. As a Newham Councillor, I don’t believe Craig has ever visited the Mosque, nor has he ever sat down to discuss matters face to face. Instead he has relied upon his vivid imagination and preconceived ideas, backed up by so called academics and experts on Islam, to offer up his own version of this so called threat.

For years Tablighis, despite being advocates of peace have had to put up with their dedication being ridiculed, and this leads me to make a 3 point suggestion; Take your spy camera and recording equipment and please visit the Thursday gathering at a Markaz near you. Grab a Tablighi, by which I mean someone who has spent time within the effort and question them till the cows come home. Spend three days with a Jamaat travelling on a Tablighi mission.

What goes round comes round and as a supporter of the benevolent efforts of the Jamaat I can’t help but wonder that all the negative publicity will actuallly push people into seeking the truth out for themselves. Despite the contract with Indigo PR this kind of publicity could never be purchased.