Perceived threat increased Islamophobia, says report

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Hyped media reporting on terrorism increases Islamophobia, according to a new study by social psychologists at Royal Holloway, University of London.

The study, the first of its kind in Britain, analysed the psychological reasons behind the reported rise in Islamophobia and how this is linked with a perceived threat to national identity. The research, which follows a similar one undertaken in the US post 2001 attacks, drew the same conclusion. It concluded increased perception of national threat increased support for draconian strategies and immigration policies, including policies, which would reduce the civil liberties enjoyed by British Muslims.

The research, carried out before the July 7 attacks on London, highlights the key role the media play in reporting acts of terrorism. The study shows how media articles portraying the idea that “Islamic terrorism” constitutes a significant threat can lead to increases in Islamophobic prejudice, targeted not just at the terrorists, but all Muslims, especially those living in the UK.

Muslim News, 30 June 2006

Denis MacShane backs Mad Mel on ‘Londonistan’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

denis_macshaneLabour MP Denis MacShane has a rambling piece in the current issue of Tribune, which purports to examine “how Labour should respond to Islamist politics”. The primary purpose of the piece is to offer critical support to the thesis in Melanie Phillips’ paranoid rant Londonistan that Islamism is a threat to Western civilisation. MacShane distances himself from some of the language used, but concludes that “Phillips’ book should be read…. Britain does need to wake up to the problems she discusses”.

The level of ignorance and contempt for facts in MacShane’s article is quite breathtaking. He tells us that the Muslim Council of Britain is “linked to the Muslim Brotherhood”. Presumably he means the Muslim Association of Britain – which is just one of hundreds of MCB affiliates. MacShane refers to a speech he made in 2003 “after a young man had gone to Israel, strapped explosives to his body and sought to kill innocent Jews”. This would appear to be a reference to Wail al-Dhaleai, who was reported to have died in a suicide attack on US troops in Iraq.

In his 2003 speech – which he now claims was uncontentious, even banal – MacShane said: “It is time for the elected and community leaders of the British Muslims to make a choice – the British way, based on political dialogue and non-violent protests, or the way of the terrorists, against which the whole democratic world is uniting.” MacShane claims that the head of the CRE, Trevor Phillips, “wrote a whole page in The Observer denouncing me”. Phillips wrote no such article in the Observer. There was a report in that paper which noted that MacShane’s supposedly uncontroversial speech had “provoked a furious reaction from Muslim leaders, who said that they had condemned terrorism time and again”. Trevor Phillips was quoted in the report as saying:

“It would have been smarter if Denis MacShane had found out what British Muslims have been saying since, before and after September 11 on the issue of terrorism. Had he taken the trouble to do so, he would have known that his criticisms could not possibly apply to the leadership of mainstream Muslim opinion in Britain. This type of language will simply drive Muslims, who believe that once again they are being stereotyped, into the arms of extremists. He could have spoken to David Blunkett and Jack Straw, both of whom know the British Muslim community quite well, neither of whom would have made these remarks.”

Phillips also said that the use of the phrase “the British way” was offensive: “On the face of it, it is a little undiplomatic for a Foreign Office Minister to suggest that the British have a monopoly on rational and civilised behaviour. Anybody who hails from a colony could adduce several centuries of evidence to the contrary.”

According to a Guardian report, MacShane’s constituency party passed a resolution, proposed and seconded by two local Muslim councillors, which expressed no confidence in their MP and called on the party’s national executive committee to discipline him. The motion stated:

“Denis MacShane is inciting racial and religious hatred, by publicly implying in the press that the Muslim community elected members and leaders are in favour of terrorism and being anti-British. We feel these comments are ill-informed, designed to portray us in the media as conspiring against the state. The Nazis in world war two similarly accused the Jews, disputing their patriotism, which was so well executed that it led to what we now know as the Holocaust.”

In short, if the Labour Party is to discuss the issue of Islamism, the last person they should be listening to is Denis MacShane.

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Fascists sideline anti-semitism in favour of Islamophobia

Posted on by Bob Pitt

BNP Islam Out of Britain“The BNP has moved on in recent years, casting off the leg-irons of conspiracy theories and the thinly veiled anti-Semitism which has held this party back for two decades. The real enemies of the British people are home grown Anglo-Saxon Celtic liberal-leftists who seek to … impose multiculturalism on a reluctant indigenous population, and the Crescent Horde – the endless wave of Islamics who are flocking to our shores to bring our island nations into the embrace of their barbaric desert religion.”

BNP news article, 28 July 2006

In an accompanying article, fascist “theoretician” Lee Barnes outlines the BNP’s position in relation to Israel’s war on Lebanon:

“As a Nationalist I can say that I support Israel 100% in their dispute with Hezbollah. In fact, I hope they wipe Hezbollah off the Lebanese map and bomb them until they leave large greasy craters in the cities where their Islamic extremist cantons of terror once stood. The 21st Century is the Islamic Century. Unless we start to resist the threat of Islamic extremism then within 100 years the West will have become Eurabia.”

A matter of life and death

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“Hatred of Muslims resulting in abuse and vicious murderous attacks is not a new phenomenon. Contrary to popular belief 9/11 (and later 7/7) did not create Islamophobia as it has always existed. Rather it can be said to have been ‘outed’ since 9/11 when it could no longer be denied.

“In some quarters Islamophobia has been accepted as an element of racism but others do not believe it exists at all. While there remains ambivalence to recognising and understanding Islamophobia and its institutional manifestations we will not be able to address it strategically and institutionally. There is no doubt that discrimination and attacks are sometimes motivated by a combination of racism and Islamophobia but quite often they are simply inspired by a pure hatred of Islam and Muslims.”

Khalida Khan on the BLINK website, 27 July 2006

Hizbullah a threat to the whole world, Dershowitz claims

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“The fight against Hizbullah is a fight against anti-Jewish, anti-Christian, and humanistic values. If Hizbullah terrorism is not stopped in southern Lebanon, it will be coming to a theater, church, or synagogue near you.” Alan Dershowitz explains the crisis in the Middle East.

Christian Science Monitor, 27 July 2006

Well, we can certainly agree that Israel’s assault on Lebanon and the slaughter of innocent civilians is a fight against humanistic values, but I suspect Dershowitz meant to write “anti-humanistic”.

Mosque for all

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Letter from Ali Mangera, Mangera Yvars Architects, in the Evening Standard, 25 July 2006:

“REGARDING your report on the Islamic Centre project at Abbey Mills, we would like to make clear that it has nothing to do with any radical group, including the London bombers (17 July). Those men could have attended any number of mosques, but certainly did not attend our Abbey Mills site. The building is designed as a prototype for sustainable development and a community resource with exhibition spaces, restaurants and public gardens. Our aim is to create dialogue between peoples and provide an inclusive centre open to all faiths, which is particularly relevant to London today.”

WND explains the Middle East conflict

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“Radical Islamic jihadists seek to destroy Israel. Nothing short of the Jewish state’s annihilation will satisfy them. In fact, even the destruction of Israel is simply a means to an end – a short-term goal, if you will. It is the first step in a long march to global domination. Some secularists in the West look at Islam and dismiss the possibility that it could ever dominate the globe … much of the world believes this evil ideology can be negotiated with. They believe it can be placated. They believe it can be bought off. They believe it can be reasoned with. They even believe that it might be enflamed by legitimate grievances….

“There are no legitimate grievances. Israel did not steal anyone’s land. Israel did not create a refugee crisis. Israel did not oppress the ‘Palestinian people’. All that is nonsense…. The conflict between Islamic radicals and Jews in the Middle East is really very simple. The Islamic radicals want all the Jews dead…. No amount of land concessions will appease the beast. No amount of foreign aid will appease the beast. No amount of revisionist history will appease the beast. Only death and destruction of all infidels will quench the beast’s appetite for blood and power….

“This is the way it has always been – since Muhammad first got his demonic visions in the desert. Ever since then, radical adherents to his message have been on the march – beheading, converting by sword, wiping out entire villages, raping and pillaging.”

Joseph Farah in World Net Daily, 26 July 2006

It’s a clash of civilisations, former Mossad chief explains

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“This is not a conflict between Israel and Hezbollah over a piece of land on the Israeli-Lebanese border. Rather, it goes deep down to the core of the conflict that exists between Western societies and fundamentalist Islam. As politically incorrect as it might be to say, let’s face it: This is a clash of civilizations. Or, as some euphemize it, a fight between the forces of order and disorder. One side does not accept the idea of coexistence but believes it has been ordained by God Almighty to make the rest of the world Islamic – or to eliminate it. Whenever I say this, it sounds like I’m describing medieval times. Unfortunately, it is the real story.”

Shabtai Shavit, former director general of Mossad, explains Israel’s war against Lebanon.

Herald Sun, 25 July 2006

London Islamic Centre designed as inclusive project for all faiths

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Architects at the London Islamic Centre have hit out at allegations linking the centre with the 7/7 bombers. In a stinging letter to the Evening Standard newspaper, Ali Mangera of Mangera Yvars Architects said that no links could be made between the centre and the London bombers. Mangera said:

“We would like to make clear that our project has absolutely nothing to do with any radical group whatsoever including the London bombers. The bombers could have attended any number of mosques in their lifetime, but they certainly did not attend our site at Abbey Mills. As architects working closely with our clients, we have gone to great lengths to provide an inclusive project open to all faiths. It is inconceivable that a public building and landmark project of this type could be built by any radical group.”

The Islamic Centre, based in Abbey Mills, will initially provide 10,000 prayer spaces, and a maximum of 20,000 in phase two of the project.

Developers Illyas Mosqu say that the scheme will provide access across the site to the Olympics Stadium from West Ham Station, the second station for Olympics visitors after Stratford.

Support for the project has already come in from London mayor Ken Livingstone, the London Development Agency, Newham Council, and Thames Gateway.

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