British Muslim Leader Calls for Defiance : Religion: Faithful told to resist laws that go against their faith.

A British Muslim leader on Saturday urged those professing the faith of Islam to defy British laws if they perceive them to be against their religious interests.

Kalim Siddiqui, director of London’s Muslim Institute, told an inaugural meeting of the appointed 155-member “Muslim Parliament” here that Muslims should resist “any public policy or legislation” that conflicts with the interests of the 2 million Muslims living in Britain.

Siddiqui was quickly challenged by Home Office Minister John Patten, who declared that all British citizens--as well as anyone else living here--”must obey the law of the land.”

Patten added that “neither the interests of law and order nor good race relations are served by this nonsense.”

Ivor Stanbrook, a Conservative member of Parliament, said the new “parliament” represents an “incitement to racial hatred” and is “inflammatory.”

Another Conservative member, Nicholas Fairbairn, added, “If these people do not want to integrate, they can emigrate.”

The row was a continuation of a conflict between the government and Muslim militants who have challenged Western standards and cultural norms here.

Several Muslim leaders in England have supported the Iranian government’s call for the assassination of author Salman Rushdie and have been severely criticized for their stand.

In his speech, Siddiqui, 60, said the new Muslim body would take its place among the “primary institutions” of Britain and would “define and defend and promote” Muslim interests in the country.

“The dictatorship of the majority, dressed up as democracy, is unacceptable,” he declared. “The inauguration of the parliament transforms the disparaged Muslim minority in Britain into a political community with a will and a purpose of its own.”

He said Islam occupies the moral high ground and is challenging the liberalism of the West and that Western civilization is the “sick man of the modern world.”

“It is destined for oblivion,” he added, “and will eventually take its place in the same dustbin of history that has already swallowed up Marxism. Islam alone is the antidote to a morally bankrupt and sick world.”

The new organization, said Siddiqui, will make policies to help improve the education, business success, welfare and professional representation of Britain’s Muslims.

However, other Muslims questioned Siddiqui’s self-styled parliament, and one Muslim group, the Bradford Council for Mosques, said in a statement that Siddiqui’s group is “undemocratic and therefore won’t be successful.”