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March 18, 2005
Criminal gangs use Islam to intimidate victims
The Guardian Monday March 7, 2005 http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,2763,1431813,00.html
Teenage criminal gangs in south London are calling themselves the Muslim Boys and claiming to espouse Islam in an attempt to gain street credibility and trade on false perceptions about links to terrorists. The gangs, who specialise in robbing local drug dealers, are alleged to have forced some members to convert at gunpoint and to pray before going out to commit crimes. [...] But Metropolitan police chiefs and Muslim leaders say the youths have no genuine Islamic affiliations, nor any associations with al-Qaida linked groups. Police chiefs say most belong to existing gangs inspired by black American ghetto culture and are using the Muslim tag because they think it is a new way to strike fear in the community. They also believe it will get them better treatment and nicer food in prison.[...] Tarique Ghaffur, the assistant commissioner in charge of the Met's serious crime division, said the issue was causing community tension and Muslims were concerned about intimidation if it was not tackled swiftly.
Posted by Emma at March 18, 2005 11:23 PM
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