Monthly Archives: November 2006

Dutch Muslims condemn ‘populist’ burqa ban move

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Muslim leaders in the Netherlands have condemned a proposed ban on burqas, describing the eve-of-election pledge as an opportunistic overreaction and a populist attempt to win the anti-immigration vote.

The announcement on the burqa from the outgoing government took many politicians by surprise because the twin issues of Islam and immigration had barely featured in the campaign up to that point.

But the integration of Muslims in the country remains a sensitive issue two years after the murder of the film-maker Theo van Gogh, whose film Submission criticised Islam.

On Friday, the hardline, outgoing, immigration minister, Rita Verdonk, said the cabinet had decided it was “undesirable that face-covering clothing – including the burqa – is worn in public places for reasons of public order, security and protection of citizens.”

She added: “From a security standpoint, people should always be recognisable and, from the standpoint of integration, we think people should be able to communicate with one another.”

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Danes’ anti-immigrant backlash marks radical shift

Posted on by Bob Pitt

An anti-immigrant backlash, bordering on xenophobia, is sweeping across Europe. Sentiments once associated with ultra right-wing parties are becoming mainstream. Many taboos are being broken – nowhere more starkly than in Denmark – the erstwhile poster child of the welcoming and nurturing welfare state.

Currently, the nation’s best-selling book is called Islamists and Naivists. “We compare Islamism to Nazism and communism because they are all three of them a totalitarian ideology,” says Karen Jespersen, who co-wrote the book with her husband, Ralf Pittlekow.

Their politically incorrect analysis would suggest they’re right-wingers. But they’re diehard Social Democrats – proud veterans of the student protests of the 1960s. Jespersen, a feminist and a former interior minister in charge of immigration issues, says the radicals’ goal is the Islamization of Europe.

NPR, 20 November 2006

Study rejects claim that Muslim areas harbour terrorists

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Muslims living in ghettos are no more likely to become involved in terrorism than those living in mixed areas, according to research to be published today. The study by Manchester University says that “terrorist hotbeds” are a fantasy and concludes that Islamist terrorists are as likely to come from towns and cities with small Muslim populations as from so-called “self-segregating” Muslim areas.

Guardian, 20 November 2006

Livingstone decries vilification of Islam

Posted on by Bob Pitt

MayorMuslims are being singled out for demonisation on a par with the victimisation of Jews during the last century, the mayor of London claimed today.

Unveiling new research indicating that 75% of those polled in the capital support the right of Muslims, and those of other faiths, to dress “in accordance with their religious beliefs”, Ken Livingstone criticised the “barrage” of attacks as an assault on freedom of religious and cultural expression.

His comments coincide with the launch tonight of a high-powered coalition, involving MPs, Muslim groups, trade unions and the campaign group Liberty, to confront Islamophobia. The new coalition is supported by figures from the three major parties, Sikhs, black-led organisations and human rights groups.

Many leading figures are concerned about issues such as Jack Straw’s observations on Muslim women who wear the veil and criticisms from ministers who say Islamic communities should do more to root out extremists.

Mr Livingstone said: “Over recent weeks we have seen a demonisation of Muslims only comparable to the demonisation of Jews from the end of the 19th century. As at that time, the attack on Muslims in reality threatens freedoms for all of us, which took hundreds of years to win – freedom of conscience and freedom of cultural expression. Every person who values their right to follow the religion of their choice or none should stand with the Muslim communities today.”

He linked the criticism of Muslims with the adverse scrutiny accorded to government policy overseas. “I cannot believe it is a coincidence that this entire artificial pseudo-debate has been stirred up at a time when the credibility of the entire war and occupation of Iraq is collapsing before our eyes. Muslims and all of us have a right to call for a different policy within the democratic process.”

Guardian, 20 November 2006

See also “Rally calls for religious freedom”, BBC News, 20 November 2006

Londoners back freedom of conscience and religion

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A new Greater London Authority (GLA) poll showed on yesterday that 75 per cent of Londoners back the right to dress in line with religious beliefs.

The poll, which was undertaken by MORI on behalf of the GLA, found that 82 per cent of Londoners also believe that everybody in London should be free to live their lives how they like as long as they don’t stop other people doing the same, with 13 per cent disagreeing. It also showed extremely strong disagreement with the government being allowed to tell people how to lead their lives, with only 15 per cent agreeing and 76 per cent disagreeing.

The figures coincide with a public meeting tonight, organised by Liberty and the British Muslim Initiative, at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, in support of freedom of conscience, religion and thought. The meeting will include speakers from across the political spectrum and individuals representing different faiths and none.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone said that the figures are consistent with previous polls and confirm that Londoners strongly support living in a city as diverse as London. “London is applying the principle that people should be able to live their lives as they choose, including the way they practise their religion, as long as it does not prevent others doing the same,” he said. “Such a strong support of liberal values is a core foundation of good community relations.”

Morning Star, 20 November 2006

Surge in anti-Muslim racism in London schools

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Racist incidents in London schools have increased by 26 per cent in just one year. Attacks on Muslim children have increased since the 7/7 bombings and the debate about the wearing of the veil has prompted further incidents. The figures include verbal and written insults, physical attacks and spreading racist material over the internet.

Professor Heidi Mirza, an expert in equality studies at the Institute of Education, University of London, said: “Islamophobia is a huge problem since the July bombings with Muslim children becoming the focus of abuse and Jack Straw’s comments about women wearing a veil, which is just guarded racism, has led to Muslim girls being taunted in the playground.”

Evening Standard, 20 November 2006

Beyond The Veil

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“Who would have thought such a fracas could erupt over a bit of cloth, no bigger than 20 square centimeters, that a tiny number of Western Muslim women use to cover their faces? To be sure, this wasn’t the first time that Muslim women’s dress had caused a crisis, and it won’t be the last. But why does the veil strike such a chord, fueling suspicions that Muslims are an indigestible minority, at odds with the European way of life, and a security threat as well?”

Fareena Alam writes in Newsweek, 27 November 2006

Ex-archbishop Carey speaks out against the veil

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The Welsh-based former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord George Carey says Muslim women, particularly teachers, should not be permitted to wear the veil in the workplace. The 70-year-old former head of the Church of England who now has a home in Llanrhidian, Gower, was speaking ahead of a lecture he will give at Swansea University next week.

“The face is an important medium of communication,” he said. “We all need to see a full face, to see the smile and hear the voice clearly. Obviously, wearing of the veil is not central to Islam otherwise every Muslim woman would be compelled to adopt that kind of dress.”

Wales Online, 20 November 2006

End attacks on Muslims – London rally on Monday

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Defend Freedom of Religion rallyNational Rally to defend freedom of religion, conscience and thought
Date:  20th November 2006
Venue:  Methodist Central Hall Westminster, London SW1
Time:  6.00pm to 9.30pm

Freedom of religion is one of our most precious democratic rights. It took hundreds of years, including international and civil wars, to establish the right of every individual to freely pursue their religious beliefs subject only to their conscience and to the necessary and proportionate protection of the rights and the freedoms of others.  It must be defended against every challenge.

Britain today faces a systematic campaign by sections of the media and some politicians, fanned by the BNP, to undermine this right by sowing hatred against Muslims. This has culminated in physical attacks, fire bombings and assaults on women. This campaign constitutes an attack on civil and religious liberties including an attempt to suppress the right of persons of all faiths to dress in accordance with their religious convictions. It must be strongly opposed – as indeed should any attack on the rights of Christians, Jews, Sikhs or any other religious group.

It is necessary for all democrats, of all faiths and none, to come together to defend these basic principles of freedom of religion and culture.

As the first step, faith groups are coming together with all political parties and communities to a central London public rally to defend freedom of thought, conscience and religion and to call for an end to the recent attacks on Muslims.

The aim is to develop a national campaign to defend freedom of religion and culture and to combat the rise of Islamophobia.

The shadowy figures exposing Islamic extremism

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“They are both British and in their 50s. One is a City financier, the other an ex-member of the Armed Forces. And 18 months ago they became the unlikely financiers of a secretive organisation that, alongside BBC journalists, last week revealed how a cleric banned from Britain is using pseudonyms to broadcast his support for terrorism into the UK. The two ‘patriots’ who set up Vigil keep their identities secret, but others from the organisation agreed to talk to The Sunday Telegraph.”

The idiots responsible for Newsnight’s ludicrous “exposé” of Hizb ut-Tahrir are given credibility by the Torygraph.

Sunday Telegraph, 19 November 2006