ISLAMOPHOBIA: Anti Muslim Racism
Entries from March 1, 2007 - April 1, 2007
Watch out for those 'moderate Muslims', warns BNP
The fascists complain that "Anglican leaders have taken a major step towards handing over what remains of the faithful into the embrace of Islam by appointing a Muslim member of its educational staff at Blackburn Cathedral". Yes, it's yet another example of how our Christian culture is being undermined as "hand wringing ministers kneel before the advancing waves carrying aloft the mighty sword of Islam".
But it would be a mistake to think the Muslim takeover will necessarily require the use of violence – "not a single sword need ever be carried aloft, not a single shot fired in anger for Britain to become an Islamic state ruled by shar'ia law. The cowardly elite in Westminster, the media and the established Church are doing everything the softly spoken moderate Muslims want them to do, these moderates thus pose a far bigger threat to the survival of the British way of life than a handful of well monitored would-be suicide bombers".
Martin Sullivan
Hicks case exposes 'war on terror' sham
"After five years of solitary confinement in a small metal cell, David Hicks pleaded guilty on March 26 to one of the two charges brought against him by US military prosecutors on March 1, to finally get out of the notoriously brutal US military prison at Guantanamo Bay. Hicks's case has revealed just what a sham the US-led 'war on terror' really is.
"For five years Washington, backed to the hilt by Canberra, has claimed that Hicks was one of the most dangerous 'terrorists' being held at Guantanamo. He was charged with offences that carrying life sentences. Now, under the plea bargaining deal, his US military prosecutors are talking about him being able to be 'home before the end the year'. Indeed, on March 31, Hicks was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, with all but nine months of the sentence suspended. He will serve most of this in an Australian civilian prison."
Call that humiliation?
"I share the outrage expressed in the British press over the treatment of our naval personnel accused by Iran of illegally entering their waters. It is a disgrace. We would never dream of treating captives like this – allowing them to smoke cigarettes, for example, even though it has been proven that smoking kills. And as for compelling poor servicewoman Faye Turney to wear a black headscarf, and then allowing the picture to be posted around the world – have the Iranians no concept of civilised behaviour? For God's sake, what's wrong with putting a bag over her head? That's what we do with the Muslims we capture: we put bags over their heads, so it's hard to breathe. Then it's perfectly acceptable to take photographs of them and circulate them to the press because the captives can't be recognised and humiliated in the way these unfortunate British service people are."
Terry Jones in the Guardian, 31 March 2007
Ill-advised comments
Doctors who breach patient confidentiality must be dealt with, but Patricia Hewitt was wrong to single out Muslim GPs in this area, Rajnaara Akhtar argues.
School assistant loses veil appeal
Muslim teaching assistant has lost her appeal against an employment tribunal's decision that not being allowed to wear a veil in the classroom was not discrimination.
Aishah Azmi, 24, was suspended on full pay after staff at Headfield Church of England junior school in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, said pupils found it harder to understand her. A Leeds employment tribunal dismissed three of Mrs Azmi's claims of discrimination and harassment, but found that she was victimised and awarded her £1,000 for "injury to feelings". A month later, the local education authority sacked her from her post as a bilingual support worker. Mrs Azmi, of Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury, said she was willing to remove her veil in front of children but not when male colleagues were present.
Her lawyer Nick Whittingham said: "The EAT (Employment Appeal Tribunal) has not upheld the appeal." But Mr Whittingham, of the Kirklees Law Centre, said the EAT accepted that it was possible for direct discrimination to occur in respect of a manifestation of a religious belief such as the wearing of the veil. He said it was an "important test case".
UN Human Rights Council concerned over stigmatising Muslim, Arab minorities
The Human Rights Council adopted a resolution Friday that expressed concern at laws or administrative measures specifically designed to "control" and "monitor" Muslim and Arab minorities, thereby stigmatizing them further and legitimating the discrimination they experienced. The resolution was passed with 24 votees for, 14 against, and 9 abstentions. The council also expressed deep concern over attempts to identify Islam with terrorism, violence and human rights violations.
Don't confuse terrorism with Islam, says EU
The European Union has drawn up guidelines advising government spokesmen to refrain from linking Islam and terrorism in their statements. Brussels officials have confirmed the existence of a classified handbook which offers "non-offensive" phrases to use when announcing anti-terrorist operations or dealing with terrorist attacks. Banned terms are said to include "jihad", "Islamic" or "fundamentalist".
The word "jihad" is to be avoided altogether, according to some sources, because for Muslims the word can mean a personal struggle to live a moral life. One alternative, suggested publicly last year, is for the term "Islamic terrorism" to be replaced by "terrorists who abusively invoke Islam". An EU official said that the secret guidebook, or, "common lexicon", is aimed at preventing the distortion of the Muslim faith and the alienation of Muslims in Europe.
Conservative MEP Syed Kamall hit out at the lexicon. "It is this kind of political correctness and secrecy that creates resentment among both the mainstream in Europe and in Islam," he said. Meanwhile, UK Independence Party MEP Gerard Batten claimed that the EU was in denial over the true roots of terrorism. "This type of newspeak shows that the EU refuses to face reality," he said. "The major world terrorist threat is one posed by ideology and that ideology is inspired by fundamentalist jihadi Islam."
Tory MP urges Muslims to fly Union flag
A Yorkshire MP has called on Muslims in Britain to fly the Union Jack from mosques as a show of national unity. Shipley's Conservative MP Philip Davies submitted an early day motion which says that it would "show everyone that those in the Muslim community are very keen to integrate and positively contribute to good community relationships in the UK".
However leading Muslim figures in Yorkshire accused Mr Davies of singling out their community, described his comments as offensive and likely to do more harm than good. Rashid Awan, president of the Pakistani Society of West Yorkshire said: "To identify Muslims as needing to do this will aggravate the situation." Shahid Malik, the Muslim Labour MP for Dewsbury said: "What this country need is not more flags flying above mosques but less irresponsible politicians."
Davies, you may remember, figured in the entirely spurious Sun report about "Muslim yobs" wrecking the intended home of soldiers who had served in Afghanistan. He was quoted as saying: "This is outrageous. If there's anybody who should fuck off it's the Muslims who are doing this kind of thing." Though the story was soon revealed to be false, Davies refused to issue a public apology for his provocative remarks. If we were looking for advice on how to improve community relations, Philip Davies MP is the last person we'd turn to.
Mind you, Davies does have his admirers.
Stop bigots, voters urged
Voters have been urged by religious leaders to use the ballot box to help tackle racism. Representatives from the Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Jewish communities signed a declaration asking Greater Manchester people to reject all political parties that advocate racism in May's local elections. The document was signed at Trinity United Church in Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, which is used as drop-in centre for refugees and asylum seekers.
The statement reads: "We stand for a society of mutual respect and care where the hearts of all are heard and met through good neighbourliness at every level and in every circumstance. In particular, we regret that the British National Party now has 49 seats on local authorities in this country. Those who advocate racist policies cannot do so in the name of any of our faith communities."
The community leaders were inspired by the similarities of their different faiths when they devised the statement. Dr Muhammad Junejo, Muslim representative for Greater Manchester, said: "We meet fairly regularly to discuss the important issues affecting our communities. One thing our religions all have in common is the commandment to love your neighbour. Racism is strongly at odds with this idea and we need to stand against it."
And you thought there couldn't be anyone worse than Ruth Kelly? Think again
John Reid has won a cabinet battle to become Britain's "security supremo" under a plan for the Home Office to co-ordinate the fight against terrorism. A plan to split the Home Office into two separate security and justice departments is expected to be given the go-ahead by the Cabinet today.
Under the biggest changes to the Home Office in its 225-year history, the Home Secretary will take charge of counter-terrorism. Crucially, he will be responsible for all security threats to the UK, and the "contest" strategy against al-Qa'ida, now under the Cabinet Office.
The Home Office will also take charge of "winning the hearts and minds" of Muslims in Britain, currently shared with the Foreign Office and the Department of Communities and Local Government.
Belfast Telegraph, 29 March 2007
See also Financial Times, 29 March 2007