Will Cummins in Torygraph: This way lies riots

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“It’s not unusual to find sections of the British press displaying Islamophobic or racist sentiments – we all know about the Daily Express and its long-standing vendetta against immigrants, and at the other end of the scale Polly Toynbee in the Guardian with her hostility to all religion, at least when it comes in contact with the state. Recently though, the Daily Telegraph has been playing host to a far more extreme anti-Muslim bigot calling himself Will Cummins, and some of the letters in reply to him have been worse still. It’s real foaming-at-the-mouth stuff.”

Yusuf Smith at Indigo Jo Blogs.

Religion as a fig leaf for racism

Posted on by Eddie Truman

“The Islamophobia embraced by the BNP as a surrogate for its formally disavowed racism is by no means confined to the wasted landscapes of former working-class communities. It is deeply rooted and widespread, as was revealed by the success of Ukip (just listen to Robert Kilroy-Silk assert that “Muslims everywhere behave with equal savagery”).

“Indeed, Islamophobia is the only form of prejudice to which the middle class can readily admit: a religion which is perceived as advocating repression of women and hatred of gays renders acceptable forms of prejudice that would be unthinkable if directed against any other social group.”

Jeremy Seabrook writing in the Guardian, 23 July 2004

Does Ken believe in killing gays? Tatchell wants to know

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“The battle-cry of women’s liberation was hijacked this month by Muslim fundamentalists to disguise an agenda that denies choice to women. A conference on the hijab, held at City Hall in London on 12 July and hosted by London’s mayor, Ken Livingstone, took place under the title: ‘A woman’s right to choose’.”

Peter Tatchell in the New Statesman, 19 July 2004

The Tories must confront Islam instead of kowtowing to it

Posted on by Eddie Truman

“The Conservative Party should stop playing the Muslim Block Vote’s game of divide and conquer. As the by-elections show, the party will only ever gain a small number of Muslim supporters. Breaking with the Umma would be a radical move that millions of voters would respond to. Do the Tories not sense the enormous popular groundswell against Islam?

“Charges of ‘racism’ would inevitably be made against the party but they would never stick. It is the black heart of Islam, not its black face, to which millions object.”

Opinon article by ‘Will Cummins’ in the Sunday Telegraph, 18 July 2004

Leading Greens oppose Qaradawi witch-hunt

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Green MEP Caroline Lucas and the party’s home affairs spokesperson Hugo Charlton both took a stand against the anti-Qaradawi campaign.

Dr Caroline Lucas, Green Party MEP for South-East England:

“Sheikh al-Qaradawi has been the victim of an Islamophobic smear campaign in some sections of the media, and has been associated with a fundamentalist position on a number of topics, including the treatment of homosexuals and women.

“Most of the criticisms leveled at him have been ill-informed – indeed Dr al-Qaradawi has clearly stated that Muslims should obey the law of the land and has distanced himself from a fundamentalist position.

“I oppose discrimination wherever it rears its ugly head, and support the rights of homosexuals to live free from discrimination and persecution, of Muslim women to wear Hijab wherever and whenever they so choose, and of everyone to practice their religion in a climate of free expression. I do not believe these rights are incompatible.

“At a time when Muslims find themselves victims of vilification – both in the press and by government agencies – it is more important then ever that our commitment to human rights and equality is not expressed in a way that can fan the flames of populist Islamophobia.”

Hugo Charlton, Green Party Home Affairs Speaker:

“I regret the decision by some assembly members to attempt to deter the distinguished Muslim scholar Dr Al-Qaradawi from speaking at City Hall.

“Among those human rights issues which are championed there, freedom of speech does not seem to be one they are prepared to prioritise in this instance.

“Dr Al-Qaradawi is widely respected in the Muslim world and to decline him this venue can only send a negative message to both the domestic and international Islamic community. I strenuously support all attempts to build bridges and increase understanding – this is best done through dialogue, an essential component of which is allowing other people to speak.

“Whilst I understand and support the position of those who oppose homophobia and sexism when it is to be found in any religion (or anywhere else), I think that in this instance they have picked the wrong man, at the wrong time and in the wrong place.”

The Left and Islam

Posted on by Eddie Truman

“Since September 11 2001, Islamophobia – fear and hatred of Muslims – has been on the rampage across the Western world. In the UK, racist tabloid newspapers daily churn out frenzied reports of Muslim clerics declaring jihad against the West. The scaremongering of newspapers like the Sun, the Daily Mail and the Daily Express has succeeded in inciting widescale violence and abuse directed against the entire Muslim population.”

Eddie Truman in Scottish Socialist Voice.

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BNP activists admit to race crime

Posted on by Eddie Truman

British National Party activists have confessed to racially motivated crimes including an assault on an Asian in a BBC undercover documentary. BNP member Steve Barkham told reporter Jason Gwynne how he kicked and punched a man during the 2001 Bradford riots. The Secret Agent also shows the party’s leader Nick Griffin condemning Islam as a “vicious wicked faith”.

BBC News, 15 July 2004

Distorted MEMRI

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi, who is currently visiting the UK, is one of the most prominent clerics of Sunni Islam, and is among the top spiritual leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood movement. He is also a spiritual guide for many other Islamist organizations across the world, including supporters of Islamist terrorist organizations such as Al-Qa’ida.”

The Middle East Media Research Institute’s Special Report No.30 offers an “analysis” of Yusuf al-Qaradawi – who is, of course, one of Al-Qa’ida’s fiercest opponents.