One of the few active student "truth" societies has been at the University of East London. After a particularly over the top article by UEL Truth activist Zubair Islam, 9/11 Cultwatch's Paul Stott penned this article to the Student Union magazine Re:Fuel.
I was disappointed but not surprised to read the article by Zubair Islam on the 9/11 and 7/7 "truth" campaigns. Mr Islam is of course free to set up whatever societies he wishes to, but his article fails to cover any of the weaknesses, or indeed the dangers of the movement he is a part of. As an example - to say he has "the support of the families of the deceased" is a big claim that I very much doubt he can back up.
It is easy to mock some of the dafter conspiracy theories that are to be found in his scene - the theory that no planes hit the twin towers at all on 9/11 is actually widely accepted, but Zubair does not mention that. Perhaps the presence of not one but two self declared former MI5 officers at the top table of the UK "Truth" movement explains some of the digs at groups like Respect or Stop The War Coalition - this is old fashioned red-baiting, from people used to working against "reds under the beds". A 9/11 Truth meeting at the 2005 Anarchist Bookfair was typified by a bullying and threatening approach to anyone who dared to criticise those who know the "truth". Given this cult like behaviour, is it any wonder activists from the groups listed above do not rally behind the 9/11 "cause"?
Another issue is racism. I have no problem with criticising the state of Israel for its treatment of the Palestinians, or its murderous conduct in Lebanon last year. However ten minutes spent on the discussion forum of the UK 9/11 Truth movement will expose the casual reader to routine anti-semitism, that seeks to
finger "the Jews" and "Zionists" for all manner of crimes. Zubair does not mention that his society is one in which one racial group in our society (at least) would soon feel very uncomfortable.
Finally it is worth considering exactly where the 7/7 "truth" movement is coming from. Such theorists want
us to believe that none of the four July 7 suicide bombers played any role in the mass murder of Londoners that day (even those who made suicide videos of themselves before the attacks!) Instead we are supposed to believe any one of a series of shifting conspiracy theories that usually blame Israel, the UK or American governments - or sometimes a combination of all three.
There are sadly a very small minority of British Muslims who do hold extreme views, and who support terrorist attacks on civilians in the name of religion. 7/7 conspiracy theories make the recognition of this fact harder, and indeed weaken the cause of all those who want to see a progressive, multi-cultural society. That is why they are not just wrong, but dangerous.
If you wish to find out more about the real nature of the 9/11 "Truth" movements, you can visit these
websites.
http://www.911cultwatch.org.uk/
or
http://paulstott.typepad.com/911cultwatch/
Paul Stott
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