Lewisham Islamic Centre Calls for a Boycott of the UAE Over its Support for Atrocities in Sudan

Lewisham Islamic Centre expresses its profound sorrow and outrage at the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Sudan, a tragedy marked by murder, rape, famine, and the mass displacement of innocent civilians.

The paucity of media reporting on the Sudan civil war belies the fact that the brutal conflict has been ongoing since April 2023. Reports and eyewitness accounts have since indicated that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have unleashed campaigns of terror, particularly in Darfur, where countless lives have been lost and communities destroyed. It is with deep concern that we note growing evidence and international reporting suggesting that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has provided support and funding to the RSF, thereby fuelling conflict and prolonging the suffering of the Sudanese people.

Many observers believe this involvement is motivated by the UAE’s desire to extend its influence across Africa and gain control over Sudan’s vast natural wealth, particularly its rich gold reserves. Such actions represent a clear exploitation of Sudan’s instability for economic and political gain, at the direct expense of its people.

Sudan is not merely another land in crisis; it is a nation that has given much to the Muslim Ummah. From its heart came some of the finest Qur’an reciters, and throughout history, Sudanese leaders and scholars have stood firm in service to Islam. Among them was Sultan Ali Dinar of Al-Fashir in Darfur, who built wells in Madinah for pilgrims, supported Makkah and Madinah, and for many years funded the Kiswah (covering) of the Ka‘bah itself. This was an act of religious devotion and a testament to the kingdom’s wealth at the time. This practice also demonstrated a deep connection to Islamic tradition.

Today, that very region, Darfur is witnessing devastation and despair. In this time of trial, when our brothers and sisters are being slaughtered, starved, and violated, we cannot remain silent or idle.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

Beware of injustice, for oppression will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection.” 

(Sahih Muslim)

He (ﷺ) also said:

Beware of the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and Allah.

(Bukhari & Muslim)

With these timeless words in our hearts, Lewisham Islamic Centre calls upon all Muslims and people of conscience to stand in solidarity with the people of Sudan.

We therefore urge the Muslim Ummah to boycott the UAE, its institutions, products, and interests until it ceases all material and political support for the RSF and their campaign of terror in Sudan. In particular, we call upon Muslims to refrain from tourism and leisure travel to Dubai. It is deeply troubling that at a time when our brothers and sisters are suffering immensely, vast sums of Muslim wealth are being spent on vain holidays and luxury experiences in a country that is directly complicit in the oppression of Muslims in Sudan, not to mention in Palestine.

We remind our community that true honour lies not in indulgence or vanity, but in standing firm for justice and the oppressed. The interests of the Ummah must come before the pursuit of worldly pleasure. Just as we have continued to stand firmly against Zionist oppression, we must also take a moral stand here. As the continent of Africa reels yet again from a wave of soul-destroying war crimes, we call on the African Union to bare its teeth and not to merely wring its hands over Sudan. We fully understand where pressure must be brought to bear on the UAE: from its allies, who can no longer choose political and economic interests over the global outrage at the vicious, cold-blooded extermination of tens of thousands of people.

We call upon all Mosques, community organisations, and individuals to:

• Make du‘ā’ (supplication) for our brothers and sisters in Sudan.
• Raise awareness of the atrocities and the UAE’s complicity.
• Support humanitarian relief efforts through trusted and transparent channels.
• Join the growing movement to boycott the UAE, especially its tourism sector, for its role in the oppression of the Sudanese people.

Oppression anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We will not remain silent while our Ummah bleeds.