Category Archives: UK

Clarke’s draft bill proposes new offence of glorification

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The government’s proposed anti-terrorism laws published yesterday are so widely drawn that anyone who “glorifies, exalts or celebrates” any terrorist act committed over the past 20 years could face a sentence of up to five years in prison. But the small print of the draft terrorism bill published yesterday shows that the home secretary is preparing to go even further and draw up a list of historical terrorist acts which if “glorified” could mean a criminal offence being committed.

A Home Office spokeswoman said 9/11 was such an example; it would become a “listed event”, the appropriate ban lasting longer than 20 years. However, the 1916 Irish Easter Rising would be exempt. Shami Chakrabarti, the director of Liberty, said the offence of “glorification” was so broad it meant the home secretary was now acquiring powers to determine which historical figures were terrorists and which freedom fighters.

Guardian, 16 September 2005 

Muslim fears at terror plans

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The government has unveiled its package of proposed anti-terror measures – and for many Muslims in Britain it is deeply troubling. No leading Muslim argues against tough measures to prevent terrorism because it is a danger to everyone: the list of the London victims included black and white, rich and poor, Muslim and non-Muslim. But many still regard the government’s response as being, at best, cack-handed and, at worst, having the potential to infuriate an anxious, young constituency that already feels that it is under the spotlight.

BBC News, 16 September 2005

Two Muslims offloaded from plane as nervous passengers refuse to fly

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Jittery British holidaymakers grounded an airliner in Cyprus for nearly a day when two British Muslims alarmed other passengers. The Excel Airways flight from Larnaca to Manchester was due to leave Cyprus on Sunday – the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks – but was cancelled after passengers refused to fly amid fears they were being targeted by bombers.

The scare began when two Muslim men, believed to be British of Pakistani origin, boarded the flight. Passengers yesterday said cabin crew became suspicious when one of the men refused to leave the onboard toilet as the plane prepared for take-off. When he finally emerged, he told a stewardess he had been praying. The men were then removed from the aircraft and questioned by police, and the flight was cancelled after many of the passengers remaining on board refused to fly.

The Scotsman, 13 September 2005

Posted in UK

‘Radical imam like pope, says mayor’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

An Islamic scholar who has been accused of supporting suicide bombers was likened by Ken Livingstone, the London mayor, yesterday to Pope John XXIII. He said that Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a Qatar-based imam who is banned from America, was “an absolutely sane Islamist engaged with the world” who believed in democracy and an increasing role for women. “Of all the Muslim leaders in the world today, Sheikh Qaradawi is the most powerfully progressive force for change and for engaging Islam with western values,” Mr Livingstone told the Commons home affairs select committee. “I think his is very similar to the position of Pope John XXIII.”

Daily Telegraph, 14 September 2005

See also “Livingstone Likens Qaradawi to Reformist Pope”, Islam Online, 14 September 2005

Liberal Islamophobia panders to racism

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“Why is it that a significant section of liberal and left-leaning opinion has signed up with such relish to the ‘clash of civilisations’ argument? Its champions in the media may not phrase it as such, but you can hear the creak of the drawbridge being pulled up: they believe they are surrounded by enemies – Muslims and their dastardly non-Muslim apologists – and must defend to the last man the checklist of universal Enlightenment values that sustain their mission. Their most ferocious firepower is directed at former allies on the left whom they regard as yet to see the light.”

Madeleine Bunting takes on Nick Cohen et al in the Guardian, 12 September 2005

Over at Nick Cohen’s favourite blog, Marcus complains: “She fails to mention that the ‘thorn in the side of the muscular liberals’ as she approvingly describes al-Qaradawi incited the murder of a gay person because of his sexuality as recently as last month according to gay rights group Outrage. ‘The scholars of Islam, such as Malik, Ash-Shafi`i, Ahmad and Ishaaq said that (the person guilty of this crime) should be stoned.”

Harry’s Place, 12 September 2005

Meanwhile, the obscure “Aljazeera” magazine that was the source of this fairytale has removed the report from their website, GALHA have withdrawn their press release based on the “Aljazeera” story – but Outrage and Harry’s Place continue repeating the slander unencumbered by any concern for the facts.

McGuinty government rules out use of sharia law

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“Seeking to end months of debate, Premier Dalton McGuinty now says ‘there will be no sharia law in Ontario’ – an announcement that should quell a growing public-relations crisis concerning the use of Islamic law, but which also exposes Queen’s Park to attacks from other religions. Following widespread condemnation of a plan that would formally allow the tenets of sharia to be used in resolving family disputes, the Premier said he’ll make the boundaries between church and state clearer by banning faith-based arbitrations…. Many moderate Muslims say they are overjoyed by the Premier’s announcement. ‘I’m so happy today. It’s a victory for the women’s rights movement’, said Homa Arjomand, an Iranian immigrant who has launched a campaign to stop sharia in Ontario.”

Globe & Mail, 12 September 2005

Homa Arjomand a “moderate Muslim”! But that is of course how she has dishonestly presented herself in the course of her inflammatory campaign.

Robert Spencer, too, is dead chuffed at this “hard-won victory for human rights”, although he thinks the ban should be restricted to Islamic arbitration.

Dhimmi Watch, 12 September 2005

For Yusuf Smith’s response to Spencer, see Indigo Jo Blogs, 12 September 2005