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HSBC Closes More Muslims' Accounts
8-13-2014
In a systematic anti-Muslim campaign, HSBC British Bank has closed the account of a renowned British Muslim activist and his wife, amid reports of an imminent closure of more accounts held by Muslims organizations.
“Just back in London from a holiday in Jordan to find that @HSBC has closed my & my wife’s bank accounts. @anasaltikriti says join the club," the Muslim activist Azzam tamimi, who is the founder of the Arabic language Al Hiwar TV channel, wrote in a tweet obtained by OnIslam.net on Sunday, August 10.
"I wish @HSBC_UK_Press can explain whether they closed my account because of my support for #Gaza or my support for the #ArabSpring.
"The way @HSBC management behaves is unlike what we’ve been used to in the UK. It feels more like Arab despotic style.”
Last month, HSBC closed several accounts held by key Islamic organizations across UK, sparking anger among UK Muslims and the organizations' leaders who said they were being unfairly targeted in an “Islamophobic campaign”.
The Cordoba Foundation think-tank, Finsbury Park Mosque in north London and Bolton-based charity the Ummah Welfare Trust were among Muslims NGOs that faced accounts closure by HSBC that claimed they were "too risky".
A similar action is expected to be faced by more UK Muslim NGOs, according to the Guardian.
“Do you bother to look at these organizations in detail to see if they are credible? Do you spend time doing your research? Or do you say: ‘Time’s too short and the returns are too small so we will exercise our right to close the account’,” Tom Keatinge, associate fellow of the Royal United Services Institute, told the Guardian.
“It’s just not worth it, it boils down to a risk/reward decision."
Targeting Gaza
According to Muslim activists, the main reason behind the closure of Tamimi's account is because of his support for Gaza and Syria.
“The decision to close down accounts of @AzzamTamimi reinforces my claim that @HSBC_UK_Press are targeting #Gaza and #Palestine activists," Anas Altikriti, chief executive of the Cordoba Foundation, tweeted on Sunday.
“@HSBC_UK_Press can claim all they want that their decisions aren’t based on religion or race. All their targets are Muslims.”
HSBC's anti-Muslims actions were face by several calls for boycott that have already applied by several Muslims around the world after the bank's failure to calm down Muslims' anger.
Slamming closing the account of Tamimi, Sahar Al-Faifi, a Tweeter user wrote: "@AzzamTamimi @anasaltikriti disgraceful and yet @HSPC says it's not targeting any faith group or an individual!"
Britain is home to a sizable Muslim minority of nearly 2.7 million.
Hundreds of anti-Muslim hate offences have been carried out across the country in 2013, with Britain's biggest force, the Metropolitan police, recording an increase of 49% than 2012.
A Financial Times opinion poll showed that Britain is the most suspicious nation about Muslims.
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