London, UK, November 27 – Despite the 'sorrow' expressed by UK Prime
Minister Tony Blair about the role of Britain in the Atlantic slave
trade, he continues the neo-colonialist foreign policy that has led to
the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, the support for
dictators around the world and the enslaving of entire nations through
the policies of the IMF and World Bank.

 
In his article in New Nation, Blair said, "It is hard to believe that what would now be a crime against humanity was legal at the time. Personally I believe the bicentenary offers us a chance not just to say how profoundly shameful the slave trade was – how we condemn its existence utterly and praise those who fought for its abolition, but also to express our deep sorrow that it ever happened, that it ever could have happened and to rejoice at the different and better times we live in today."
 
Notes about Blair's expression of sorrow revealed in the media said that an apology by Blair would be "status enhancing" for Britain. The notes, detailing a meeting between Blair and Baroness Amos, also contained the phrases "window closing, political pressure mounts, get it out of way" and "do it before end of year".
 
Dr Imran Waheed, media representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain, said, "Those living under brutal occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan and those enslaved to the IMF and World Bank will certainly not share Blair's contention that they live in 'better times'. Britain may have outlawed the phenomenon of physical slavery in 1807 but has continued its colonial policies of propping up dictators and invading territories for material gain. This expression of mere sorrow is merely an exercise in PR to distract from the Iraq quagmire and should fool no one."
 
"The Islamic Caliphate [Khilafah] will stand with the victims of colonialism and will never accept this rampant imperialism and racism that continues to enslave entire nations under the yoke of global capitalism."
 
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