“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.
“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
In 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
British Muslim Initiative press release, 4 July 2007
The British Muslim Initiative remains firm in its condemnation of any and all attempts to undermine the safety, security and sanctity of human lives in the UK, and continues to call the Muslim community to offer full support to the police and security agencies in order that a full and thorough investigation could be conducted in the failed bomb attacks in London and Glasgow. However, BMI wishes to express its utter disgust at the attempt of some in attempting to score points at this critical time of our country and people, by peddling much repeated myths, falsehoods and lies in order to mend a beleaguered and flimsy argument at a time of great difficulty for all.
The attempt by some to promote the term ‘Islamist’ as indicative of the new evil element on the block, is nothing short of evil in itself. The groups mentioned in Denis MacShane’s article in the Telegraph yesterday (‘Islamist’ is the word for these terrorists) have been amongst the most vociferous and outspoken against the trend of extremism…. MacShane’s argument is not just false, it threatens to lump those who have all along rejected violence, with those who use violence as their means and declare violence as their objective, hence compromising all efforts to combat the rise of this threat.
BMI also expresses its alarm as to the coverage offered to the ideas and arguments of ‘former’ extremists, such as Ed Hussein and Hassan Butt, who have not stopped at merely relaying their experiences as ‘repentant extremists’, but go on to offer their input on the whole scope of Islamic theology, ideology and groupings, which given their former history, they have almost no proper insight into and have no right to assume the position of experts or authorities thereon.
See also Anas Altikriti’s piece at Comment is Free, 4 July 2007
On the July 2 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, discussing the recent terror-related arrests in Britain, radio host Michael Savage said, “When I see a woman walking around with a burqa, I see a Nazi,” adding, “That’s what I see – how do you like that? – a hateful Nazi who would like to cut your throat and kill your children.” Savage also said that when a Muslim woman wears a burqa, “She’s doing it to spit in your face. She’s saying, ‘You white moron, you, I’m going to kill you if I can.'” The Savage Nation reaches more than 8 million listeners each week, according to Talkers Magazine, making it the third most-listened-to talk radio show in the nation.
“This planned Mosque would be large enough for tens of thousands of Muslims at a time. But what’s the betting against it becoming another hotbed of so-called ‘radical’ preachers? Such large scale facilities suggest an ambition among some of East London’s Muslims to become ever more dominant over other faiths and communities in the area. Before long I can see the old East End becoming an almost exclusively Muslim district in which others fear to tread….
“The people of this country have to let Muslims know we are not happy with the way community relations are going. Unless mainstream Muslims come to realise that the disastrous course their community is currently set on – segregation, anti-free speech, anti-women’s rights, pro-sharia courts – is fiercely resented by the majority of British people then the pressure cooker of ill-feeling will keep building.”
Patrick O’Flynn urges support for the “mega mosque” petition initiated by BNP supporter Jill Barham.
… another terrorist conspiracy is attracting rather less in-depth attention from the media.
It’s also worth noting that Robert Cottage’s wife has stated that his descent into BNP-inspired political extremism accelerated as he “became more religious” – the religion in question being, one assumes, a version of Christianity. But I rather doubt we’ll be treated to headlines in the Daily Express denouncing “Christian terrorism” or articles in the liberal press warning against “Christofascism”.
Nor is this blinkered attitude restricted to the right-wing press. Over at the Daily Mirror, under the headline “Time for Muslims to defend our country”, Sue Carroll writes: “I don’t believe it’s racist, bigoted or politically incorrect to say that at this moment in time the terrorists who threaten our way of life come from only one religion – Islam.”
As William Dalrymple observed back in 2004: “There are few things, you would imagine, that … Denis MacShane, Margaret Thatcher, the British National Party and the daytime television host Robert Kilroy-Silk would all agree on. Nevertheless … a deep disdain for Islam is one subject on which they can all concur whole-heartedly.”
Everything MacShane has said or done since then only reinforces the accuracy of Dalrymple’s assessment, and his article in (appropriately enough) today’s Torygraph is no exception.
As for MacShane’s blanket condemnation of “Islamism”, we’re getting a bit weary of refuting this particular stupidity, and so refer readers to an earlier reply to Johann Hari. And as we’ve also pointed out: “Along with references to ‘Eurabia’ and Bat Ye’or, it’s always a sign that Islamophobia has reached the point of total dementia when a commentator launches into a diatribe against Tariq Ramadan.”
So it hardly comes as a surprise that MacShane does just that. “Islamist” is the appropriate word for Al-Qaida-inspired terrorists he tells us, and Professor Ramadan is an advocate of Islamism. Which of course obliterates the not entirely irrelevant distinction between terrorism and one of its most vocal opponents within the Muslim communities. The irresponsibility of this nonsense beggars description.
Salmond upholds liberties
By James Tweedie
Morning Star, 3 July 2007
Scottish civil liberties campaigners welcomed First Minister Alex Salmond’s insistence on Monday that the recent terror attacks must not be a pretext for increasing detention without charge to 90 days.
Speaking in the wake of the failed Glasgow airport car bomb attack, Mr Salmond said: “We have not been persuaded about the necessity for that, as, indeed, other parties haven’t. There is nothing in this incident which would affect that at the present moment, since we have in custody two people who are suspected of being involved in a terrorist incident.”
Scotland Against Criminalising Communities secretary Richard Haley said: “We are glad Alex Salmond has made these comments. The interests of justice will be served best if police stick to the tried and trusted methods contained in the ordinary criminal law and avoid using the divisive powers granted them under terrorism laws. When all is said and done, let’s remember that fewer people were hurt in the Glasgow airport incident than in the the football-related violence in Shettleston on the same day,” he pointed out.
“A number of Muslim leaders have made clear how shocked and offended their community has been by these incidents. But given the state of public anger and alarm over the series of failed attacks, and the sense that it was only the most extraordinary good fortune that prevented them from ending in carnage, it may no longer be enough for British Muslims to offer verbal condemnations after the fact….
“Obviously, all Muslims should not be branded as potential terrorists, but, for present purposes, all terrorists are likely to be Muslims…. it is they who will have to accept the infringements of liberty that follow from racial profiling and the targeting of likely terrorists, which are now necessary for public safety. Perhaps the many British Muslims who detest terrorist activity might consider raising their voices against it in public protests, to demonstrate their understanding of the need for the hard measures to come.”
Editorial in Daily Telegraph, 3 July 2007