But, what I mean by this question is, do people change after they listen to us?

All of us would have different experiences with regards to this question and I would like to share some of mine with you.

As many Muslims might have experienced in recent months, the new anti ““ terror laws, were not welcomed and were creating and sustaining a climate of fear for Muslims in this country. It was comforting to know that some Non ““ Muslim organisations and famous personalities spoke against it exposing the fallacy of such laws. Muslim organisations also spoke against it in unison, but do ministers take notice of it?

From the recent encounter of the Public saying “NO” to Iraq war to the government, yet the government still went to war, might indicate that the ministers don’t listen. Nevertheless the bitter taste that remains for the labour government is strong and unforgiving. The sheer public opinion generated against the war has left Mr. Blair very nauseated in announcing another war against another “Terrorist” country.

From this I observed that public opinion is a very powerful tool that can be utilised to even make the most powerful people in the world, to think twice (except George W. Bush who yet needs to prove to the world he can think!) Bearing this in mind, I thought, how in my capacity I can create a strong public opinion against these anti ““ terror laws. My father says to me all the time that, “Necessity is the mother of all inventions”, thus a couple of friends and I came up with the idea of proposing a motion to my university student union, to denounce the new anti ““ terror laws and to protect the right of debate and discussion on campus.

Needless to say this required canvassing on our behalf to the general student populace, which again helped with creating public opinion against it.

Al ““ Hamdullillah, after much interesting debate and discussion at the Union General Meeting the motion was passed and the Muslims on campus had a sigh of relief. It was policy now that the Union had taken the stance against the new anti ““ terror laws proposed by Tony Blair that could affect students, especially the Muslim youth.

Recently, I heard the Home secretary Charles Clarke had to make a U ““ turn on the policy of “glorifying” terrorism bill.

I guess as an Ummah if we put our efforts together in proclaiming what we want and what we are… I am sure people will listen (change).