Daud Abdullah
Daud A. Abdullah | |
|---|---|
| Born | St. David's, Grenada |
| Occupation(s) | Academic, activist, editor, translator |
| Years active | mid-1990s–present |
| Known for | Deputy Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain; Director of Middle East Monitor; founder of the British Muslim Initiative |
Daud A. Abdullah previously held the position of Deputy Secretary General at the Muslim Council of Britain.
Life and career
Born in St. David's, Grenada, Daud Abdullah completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Guyana in 1981. He was awarded a scholarship to study Arabic language at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia. In 1984, he undertook postgraduate education at the University of Khartoum in Sudan, where he earned his PhD in 1989. His final professional role in Saudi Arabia was as an editor and translator for Abul Qasim Publishing House located in Jeddah.
Abdullah has experience teaching history at the University of Maiduguri in Nigeria. After moving to the United Kingdom during the mid-1990s, he took on the role of senior researcher at the Palestinian Return Centre in London and served as editor for the Return Review, which was subsequently succeeded by the Journal of Palestinian Refugees Studies. His written contributions have appeared in Impact International and the Palestine Times, and he authored The Israeli Law of Return & its Impact on the Struggle in Palestine.
He has frequently provided commentary on Palestinian matters across both British and Arab media platforms. Between 2003 and 2006, Abdullah acted as Assistant Secretary General for the Muslim Council of Britain, chaired its European and International Affairs Committee from 2004 to 2006, and represented the organisation on an international level. His roles included Deputy Secretary General and Chair of the Europe & International Affairs Committee.
Abdullah also taught an 'Introduction to Islam' course as part of the Islamic Studies CertHE programme at Birkbeck Stratford. He holds the positions of chairman and khateeb at Masjid Annoor in Acton, west London, and has delivered guest lectures on Islamic and Palestinian topics at various UK universities, including Queen's University Belfast.
He serves as a trustee for the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and is director of Middle East Monitor, a news website. Additionally, he is the founder of the British Muslim Initiative.
Views
During his tenure as deputy secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, Abdullah signed a declaration that was interpreted by the British government as endorsing violence against British military personnel.
Books
- How the Zionist Colonization of Palestine Radicalized British Muslims in T. Abbas (ed.)
- Islamic Political Radicalization – A European Perspective, Edinburgh University Press, 2007
- A History of Palestinian Resistance, Al Aqsa Publishers, Leicester, 2005
- The Israeli Law of Return & its Impact on the Struggle in Palestine, Palestinian Return Centre, London, 2004
Istanbul Declaration controversy
In March 2009, it was reported by the Observer that Abdullah had endorsed the Istanbul Declaration opposing Israel's Operation Cast Lead military campaign in Gaza. The BBC characterized this event as a meeting between clerics and senior Hamas officials aimed at planning a new jihad focused on Gaza.
Hazel Blears, who was then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, wrote to the MCB requesting Abdullah’s resignation due to his support for Hamas and his celebration of what she described as its "victory" over Gaza. In her letter dated 13 March, Blears stated that Abdullah’s conduct was incompatible with his position. Despite this, MCB leadership decided to retain him.
In response published in The Guardian, Abdullah criticized Blears’ comments as a "misguided and ill-advised attempt to exercise control" and affirmed his intention to remain in office. He later announced his intention to pursue legal action against Blears unless she withdrew her letter and issued an apology by 15 April 2009.
Represented by Treasury Solicitors on behalf of Blears and HM Government, the offer from Abdullah was declined and their position upheld. No further information about legal proceedings involving Abdullah or the MCB has surfaced since then.
External links
- Staff and Trustees Centre for the Study of Terrorism
- Office Bearers Muslim Council of Britain
- MCB Office Bearers 2006-2008 Muslim Council of Britain
- Palestinian Return Centre