Author Archives: Bob Pitt

‘I’m proud to be called intolerant’, says Nick Cohen

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“Those who will kill for an Islamist empire find grievances in anything and everything – a knighthood for Salman Rushdie, the existence of Israel and all the Arab governments that don’t follow their commands, Danish cartoons and girls who deserve to die because they dance around in London clubs like ‘slags’, as one wannabe bomber put it.”

Nick Cohen proudly announces his membership of the “it’s nothing to do with foreign policy” brigade. But then, as one of the foremost “left-wing” cheerleaders for the Iraq war, he would say that, wouldn’t he?

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Bring in racial profiling, urges Express

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Terror Search FiascoPolice chiefs were last night under intense pressure to use racial profiling in the battle to prevent ­further terror strikes.

All the suspects in the latest failed attacks are young adults of Asian or Middle Eastern descent. But officers carrying out spot checks at key sites have been told not to target people based on their ethnicity or age.

The policy has led to accusations that police bosses are more worried about upsetting minority groups than protecting the country. One frustrated officer last night said: “In these extreme circumstances the rules need to be changed because otherwise we are wasting our resources.”

Tory MP Philip Davies said: “I agree with him completely. It makes my blood boil. In a nutshell, what police officers are being told is put political correctness above the security of people in this country.”

Daily Express, 5 July 2007

Clashes over ban for Hizb ut-Tahrir

Posted on by Bob Pitt

HizbThere have been Commons clashes over whether or not Islamic organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir should be banned. Conservative leader David Cameron told MPs that ministers should act against “groups which are seeking to radicalise young people”. The government had pledged to ban the group two years ago, he said. “We think it should be banned. Why hasn’t it happened?” Gordon Brown said that “you have to have evidence” to ban any group. But Cameron said that Hizb ut-Tahrir is “poisoning the minds of young people”.

ePolitix, 4 July 2007

See also Conservative Party press release, 4 July 2007

Read Hizb ut-Tahrir’s reply to Cameron here

Give us the freedom to disagree with you

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Ismail Patel of the British Muslim Initiative welcomes the “measured responses” of the prime minister and other politicians to the abortive terrorist attacks in Glasgow and London. He adds: “It falls equally upon the Government and Muslims in our country to work in tandem. To truly tackle the terrorists, Mr Brown must steer a change from the political approach of the Blair years during which the Government by and large engaged only with those Muslims who have acquiesced to the former’s political stance.”

Independent, 4 July 2007

Muslim leaders organise anti-terror rally

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Muslims are organising a rally in Glasgow on Saturday to demonstrate a united front against terrorism and to quell fears of a backlash against Scotland’s Islamic community.

Mosques and Islamic organisations hope that the event, which will be held on July 7, the second anniversary of the fatal bombings in London, will demonstrate their resolve against terrorism. They are inviting everyone to take part, including faith leaders, churches, trade unionists and others in civic society under the title “Scotland United Against Terror”.

However, Osama Saeed, Scottish spokesman for the Muslim Association of Britain, who is helping to organise the rally, said he feared “rising hostility” against Scotland’s generally well-integrated Muslim community.

Times, 4 July 2007

See also the Scotsman, 4 July 2007

BMI welcomes ‘new tone’ from Brown government

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“The British Muslim Initiative welcomes the new tone that has emerged over recent days from corners of the new government under the premiership of Gordon Brown. Following the terror plots in London and Glasgow, the British people had become accustomed to a near frenzied reaction which contained the usage of loaded terms and phrases, closely followed by heavy-handed legislation proposals. However, to hear Gordon Brown speak of the need to confront this threat as a community, and his refusal to descend to the old rhetoric which demonised and singled out one sector of British society, was not only refreshing but also gave impetus to the leaders of the Muslim community and wider society in adopting a unified stand in condemning any threat to our country.”

BMI press release, 4 July 2007

Them and us

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“There has been enough talk of ‘them and us’. However strong our legitimate opposition to British foreign policy is, we are on one and the same side in the battle against domestic terrorism.”

Salma Yaqoob writes at Comment is Free, 4 July 2007

Compare this thoughtful and nuanced analysis with Joan Smith’s piece in the Independent, which includes the stupid assertion that “political Islam hates not just British foreign policy but our way of life”. She and Denis MacShane must get on really well.

‘Muslims must help police more, leaders urge’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“Britain’s most influential Muslim umbrella group yesterday signalled a significant shift in policy as it urged its communities to play a key and potentially decisive role in the fight against terrorism.” So Hugh Muir claims in today’s Guardian.

In fact, at a press conference yesterday the Muslim Council of Britain reiterated the same message it has consistently sent out in relation to terrorism, namely that such actions should be unequivocally condemned and the community should co-operate fully with the police. Still, I suppose this sort of report is at least an improvement on the “Muslim leaders must take a stand against extremism” editorials and op eds that fill the right-wing press.

See also MCB statement, 3 July 2007

Media urged to report responsibly

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Terror cell in the NHSIn response to media reports that alleged terrorist suspects “are linked to the NHS”, Unite – the third largest trade union in the NHS – urged the media to report the events calmly and responsibly.

Unite Head of Health Kevin Coyne said, “It is important to remember that these criminal actions have been carried out by individuals – the blame should not be placed on whole communities. In particular, we are concerned that there has been a disproportionate focus in the media on the link to the NHS.

“The NHS relies very heavily on the skills and hard work of employees from minority ethnic backgrounds, whether they have been born in Britain or have come here from abroad to work for the health service. Their contribution is greatly valued and they should not be demonised.”

Over 14 per cent of people working in the NHS are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, compared with 9.4 per cent of the working population. Among some professions the proportions of black and minority ethnic staff are even higher.

Amicus press release, 4 July 2007

For an example of the way the hysteria about “Muslim terrorists in the NHS” is being exploited by far right racists, see BNP news article, 4 July 2007