Category Archives: UK

Crick hits out at call for ‘Britishness’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Bernard CrickThe UK government’s former chief adviser on integrating immigrants into British society has attacked attempts to denounce multiculturalism in favour of promoting “Britishness” in the wake of the London bombings.

Professor Sir Bernard Crick, who until his resignation three months ago was chair of the government Advisory Board on Naturalisation and Integration, said he was “pretty pissed off” over comments condemning multiculturalism made by Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, and the former Home Secretary David Blunkett. He added that any attempt to promote Britishness in its place could make Muslims feel threatened in the current climate.

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‘Resist this culture of anti-British segregation’ – Observer columnist

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“I found myself resenting the idea that one group of people had removed themselves from the values that I admire about Britain, regardless of the level of tolerance and generosity offered to people of all faiths and backgrounds. Not only have some Muslims wilfully detached themselves from this great and ancient democracy, but they are actually opposed to it….

“It’s difficult to say how liberal democracy persuades such a large number of people to share its values, but I do know that we have to examine the processes of segregation which have been allowed to grow in the last few decades. For which reason I support – and urge others to do so – Ruth Kelly’s backing for Denbigh High School in Luton, which is fighting a case against a young woman who wishes to wear strict Islamic dress as her human right…. let’s be candid, we have to look after the things which make us a single, coherent society.”

The liberal press joins the assault on multiculturalism.

Observer, 31 July 2005

Imam beaten unconscious

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Dulwich Islamic Centre’s Imam became yet another victim of a vicious Islamophobic attack on Saturday July 16.

The driver of a white van tailed Muhammed Haq as he cycled to Asr (late afternoon prayers) at about 7 pm. The driver pulled over in Lordship Lane, Dulwich, south London, and repeatedly punched Haq shattering his cheekbone. Haq lost consciousness while the assailant fled.

Despite the pain, the 27-year-old spoke of the attack.

Speaking to The Muslim News Haq said, “I was on my bicycle when I noticed a white van beside me. It pulled over in the middle of the street and blocked my path. I assumed he wanted directions. He said nothing – but the next moment he was hitting me. He started screaming ‘Al-Qa’idah’ at me whilst punching me.”

Haq then blacked out but said his bruises indicate he was hit after he lost consciousness.

He is due for surgery on his cheek on Monday, July 25.

Police quizzed a 20-year-old man on July 18, on suspicion of racist assault. A spokesperson for the police confirmed the arrest to The Muslim News, “William Gregory, aged 20, appeared before magistrates and was charged with Religiously Aggravated Assault on July 19.”

Worshippers at the Northcross Road Centre were also singled out on the day of the London bomb attacks when yobs dumped pork outside – a grave insult to Muslims.

Haq, who led prayers for the London bomb victims, said, “We had just finished prayers for those who died when somebody spotted the pork.” He described it as the work “of mindless idiots”.

Chairman of the Centre, Hussain Malik, said, “We utterly condemn the despicable attacks on London and we utterly condemn these criminal attacks on our mosque.”

Muslim News, 29 July 2005

Minister backs school hijab appeal

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Ruth Kelly, the Education Secretary, is to back the appeal of a school found guilty of discriminating against a student for wearing strict Islamic dress.

Shabina Begum, 16, claimed a victory for all Muslims in March when she won a landmark Court of Appeal ruling that Denbigh High School in Luton had unlawfully excluded her for flouting its uniform policy by wearing a jilbab, which leaves only the hands and face exposed.

Miss Begum said at the time of the ruling that the schools decision had been caused by an atmosphere in which Islam was a target for vilification in the name of the War on Terror.

The Court of Appeal said that Miss Begums human rights had been infringed because she had been denied the right to education and to manifest her religious beliefs.

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Britain ‘taken for suckers by the Muslim immigration wave’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“Our English cousins are getting a brutal lesson in reality: Multiculturalism will kill you if you don’t watch out…. Public opinion in Britain, in fact, appears to be saying enough, already. There’s a growing consensus that the British have been taken for suckers by the Muslim immigration wave that has overwhelmed the sceptr’d isle…. The one-sided celebration of diversity is beginning to grate as well. Julie Burchill, a columnist for the Times of London, notes that ‘English toddlers are being forced to celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid when they are still trying to get their heads about the Easter bunny’.”

Washington Times, 29 July 2005

British Muslim women respect fatwa, keep hijab

Posted on by Bob Pitt

While respecting a recent fatwa by a leading British Muslim scholar allowing them to take off hijab to avoid spiraling harassment, a number of young British Muslim women said they would keep their religious dress code and seek police protection against racists.

“As a British citizen I have every right to wear my hijab, which is part of my Muslim identity,” Yusra, a University of London student, told IslamOnline.net by phone. “If harassed because of my religion, I would immediately resort to the Metropolitan Police to protect me from racists.”

She maintained that taking off her hijab would be tantamount to giving in to extremists and racists “who would not stop at that”.

Islam Online, 30 July 2005

Muslim fears grow over rise in violence, arson and verbal abuse since bombings

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The number of hate crimes against Asians has risen dramatically over the three weeks since the 7 July suicide bombings, Muslim groups have said. Incidents being reported include verbal abuse and spitting directed at Muslims in the street, graffiti and vandalism of Asian homes and mosques and some assaults on individuals. There have also been at least two incidents of arson and one car being damaged. Three days after the 7 July bombings, an Asian man was murdered in Nottingham. A number of people have been arrested in connection with the killing.

Independent, 29 July 2005

Britain ‘encourages asylum-seekers to despise the society that helped them’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Mick Hume reassures us that racism isn’t much of an issue in Britain, that Islamophobia barely exists and that the real problem is “our self-flagellatory culture”, which encourages asylum seekers to hate the country that has given them refuge.

Times, 29 July 2005

These ex-RCPers are really something else, aren’t they? It is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish the contributions of Hume, Kenan Malik et al from the outpourings of the racist Right.