Farooq Siddique: A Muslim in Bristol
I still cringe when I recall how, on BBC's Question Time, Nick Griffin applauded along with the audience "each swing of proverbial baseball bat around his proverbial head"; apparently incapable of realising that the audience and his fellow panellists were making a mockery of him and his party policies!
But in reality it's not how extremists say what they are saying, it's the chance to say it to an even bigger audience. It's the legitimisation of their extreme point of view that is the aim; the "they have a point" mantra. That's why the extremists so crave media and public attention.
The more a society hears an extreme point of view, the more acceptable it begins to appear to that society. It is then that we become totally reliant on the sanity of the majority of the general public.
However, when the majority of that society surrenders their sanity, then, for example, even getting consent for genocide, described outlandishly as the "final solution" for the "Jewish problem" in 1930s Germany becomes an option.
A few months ago, in Luton, the media focused on 20 or so followers of Anjem Choudary, leader of a number of extremist groups, who demonstrated against returning British soldiers from a tour of duty in Iraq. A few weeks later, when they again tried setting up their stall in the street, they were physically chased away by over 200 Muslims from the local mosque. Again, a clear distinction was made that the ranting of a few idiots does not represent the majority.
On Saturday, the same self-serving Anjem Choudary planned a stupid march through London calling for the implementation of Sharia Law in the UK. The Daily Express described him ridiculously as the Chief Sharia Judge! He is no such thing and no such office exists! But his utter and repeated buffoonery has always found far-too-eager coverage in some of the national print media.
On this occasion though, Anjem was forced to cancel his plans after representatives of the vast majority of Muslim communities in this country organised two counter demonstrations against him the same day; Anjem said he feared for the safety of his small band.
Anjem and Nick – ironically, these two extremists actually thrive on the actions and convictions of the other.
While the British people of all colours, of all faiths, or none, continue to stand up against them; to speak out against them; then these two, and their kind, will always be just a minor annoyance.
What they hope for is that we get tired; that we become confused or apathetic; that we stop; that we do nothing. That's all it takes for the people like them to succeed: for good people to do nothing.
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by G West, Bristol
Thursday, November 05 2009, 4:59PM
“Well done David Whittern of Knowle for revealing the true and shocking realities of what may happen to our green and pleasant land if people and the Government just passively sit back and allow our Christian heritage to ebb away with the influx of muslims all because they pride themselves on being "POLITICALLY CORRECT". What evil prevails when good men do nothing.”
by Paul C, Easton
Thursday, November 05 2009, 1:27PM
“Vote BNP and put an end to all this multicultural, nation-destroying nonsense!”
by John, Bristol
Thursday, November 05 2009, 11:24AM
“What a shame we can't have an article about wanting to integrate into British society and culture, rather than an article which supports the adaptation of British society to fit in with the culture of immigrant arrivals. No wonder so many native Brits continue to become increasingly angry about the state of our nation and find themselves supporting the BNP as the only option to give hope that the destruction of the very fabric of our British culture can be reversed.
If you want sharia law - go live in Saudi!”
by Martin, Knowle,Bristol
Thursday, November 05 2009, 8:11AM
“Its the word "law" you see. Legally binding. It's not just a code of conduct but a law.
You know how the argument goes as well as I do.
Where there is a contradiction between two laws some pious zealot will challenge mans law as being subservient to his gods law and hey presto! we are all, not just Muslims, on the slippery slope.”
by Brendan, Bedminster
Thursday, November 05 2009, 12:52AM
“Farooq,
I really appreciate your thoughts; it must be very frustrating and hurtful to read some of the comments posted on this site. I would like to add a few too. Firstly it is just not widely understood how much diversity there is within Islam and this reflects how Sharia is understood, interpreted and applied. For example in Indonesia, the most populous Muslim nation on earth some provinces have recently adopted Sharia law enforced by a draconian ¿Sharia police force¿ who literally force men to attend Friday prayers while in a neighbouring province a form of Islam is synchronised with local pre Islamic beliefs. At the moment the two co-exist peacefully.
I would however take issue with your comment about Sharia only being for Muslims, in Pakistan for instance the notorious blasphemy law penal code 295 (c) has been widely applied to minorities rarely if ever supported by any objective evidence. Politicians are terrified of repealing this law for fear of appearing ¿less Islamic¿ than their rivals. I have campaigned for years for the Christian church where its persecuted (an untold story in itself). Sadly the worst examples of institutalised persecution are found mainly in the Middle East and South Asia. As a general principle the greater the role sharia plays in a nation¿s legislature the worse off faith minorities tend to be in relation to most social indicators. I find it frustrating that most Muslims seem to have nothing to say about this. Perhaps its fear. When Tariq Ramadan an eminent European based Islamic scholar called for the suspension of the Hudood ordinances he was immediately condemned and subject to numerous death threats from his co-religionists. I¿m not writing these things to point score, the Christian church has many faults and failings, I just want to encourage an honest appraisal of the realities related to a static theology that struggles to ask tough contemporary questions.
To finish on a positive note a Muslim friend of mine who has lived here most of his life and done pretty well for himself was back in his home village in Pakistan and observed a Christian being abused by a Muslim (because of his faith) my friend heroically challenged him about his behaviour. To me, although a small gesture, was a sign of hope for genuine tolerance and respect.”