Luton louts are minority
Last week, I received many calls from concerned, disappointed and upset Bristol Muslims about the antics of a few young men in Luton.
They wanted to know what could be done to stop those "idiots in Luton". For too long, the vast majority of the Muslim community, here in Bristol and across the country, have been too polite to the likes of the Luton protesters. We have tried to ignore them, let them be, considered them misguided fools, but not condemned them. We thought we were being dismissive but the general public now perceives us as complicit.
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Anjem Chaudhry and his not-so-merry band of young Muslims – seven, to be precise – held up placards condemning British soldiers returning to their barracks in Luton from duty abroad. The so-called "protest" was designed to cause maximum offence and to attract media attention. Predictably, it did both. I'm not going to bother condemning the "protest" because, frankly, it was so stupid, so senseless and so dumb that it was obviously not genuine.
Nevertheless, GMTV gave Anjem Chaudhry 10 minutes of priceless airtime to spew his hate. It worked. The programme was flooded with more than 14,000 emails complaining not about GMTV giving Anjem the airtime, but about what Anjem said. The public was so outraged at "Muslims" and "Islam" that he was invited back on the show the following day to have another go. And the national newspapers kindly gave him their front pages.
Would it be wise to give Nick Griffin, the leader of the far right British National Party (BNP), prime time television coverage to explain his views on race, or anything for that matter? I would like to assume the answer is no.
It's about predictability. If you know, for example, that a dog is bound to respond by barking as soon as it sees a camera and lights, why would you put one on live television? It's in the nature of the beast – lights, camera, bark.
Anjem Choudhry is no Islamic cleric. He may dress like one, deliberately, but that is as far as the resemblance goes. He is not qualified and is utterly devoid of the spirit and genuine understanding of Islam. Yet he and his small, unholy band of cohorts are held up as somehow representative of British Muslims. They are not. These people are even less representative of British Muslims than the BNP is of British people.
If Nick Griffin was given the same airtime to "explain" his views, white, law-abiding British people would say: "I do not agree with everything he says, but he has a point about some things." A few good points make the hate speech palatable. That is why a responsible media, usually, does not allow people like Nick Griffin the airtime they so desperately crave. So why make exceptions for Anjem? Doing so only enables him to become the perfect recruiting sergeant for the BNP.
1,400 years ago, the Prophet Muhammad warned about the advent of extremists. He said: "Towards the last days, a people will emerge who will be young in age and have foolish ideas. They will speak with the best speech, but their faith will not go past below their throats (that their hearts will be devoid of faith). They will shoot out from the Religion just as the arrow shoots out from a hunted game."
For all our sakes, let us recognise those people for what they are.
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by Martin, Knowle,Bristol
Thursday, March 19 2009, 8:58AM
“Idiotic spurious comment from faceless anon. He makes it sound as if they were all killed by troops. The troops are there now to try and stop the looneys from killing each other and anyone else that gets in their way. They seem to have been partially successful and when they can do no more they will get out. Its been debated.
Why the troops were there in the first place is questionable. what they are doing there now is obvious.
Within every group, or community, of people there are differing views. Wether they are British,Islamic, Christian, Iraqi, atheistic, train spotters, European, or whatever, the bigger the group the wider and more varied the views. To say that Anjhem Choudhry does not represent the true spirit of Islam is misleading. He justs holds a different view of Islam to the columnist and, I hope, to most other people in this country.”
by Anon, Bristol
Wednesday, March 18 2009, 9:38PM
“What about the extremists that set crusading troops to iraq where they were sadly killed and more importantly more than 1.3 MILLION INNOCENT IRAQIS DEAD. Why does no one complain about that? It's more important than a few people protesting against some British soldiers.”
by David Challis, Bristol - BS2 - The Dings
Tuesday, March 17 2009, 5:45PM
“Ok everyone, so seven numpties make you angry. What about the numpties that sent the troops in the first place?
Anyway, regardless of that, Farooq, I'd love to shake your hand. You're showing that not all Muslims are hell bent on destruction. I feel that Islam is being held to ransom by.. as usual.. extremists.
I wish someone would actually get to grips with the fact that, no matter our skin colour, culture, religion or beliefs, we ARE all the same.
The fun is in the difference.
Tata for now.”
by Paul, Bristol
Tuesday, March 17 2009, 11:19AM
“Anjem Chaudhry is a very good public speaker, and I suspect, an excellent motivator. Its right for non Muslims to see & hear the thoughts of this man. Again, Farooq blurs the distinction between race and religion, but Anjem Chaudhry dislikes only non Muslims and is maybe not racist in the way the equally dreadful BNP are. He is only out to get non-Muslims.
I will also say, that despite his 2 TV appearances and the supposed furore he has caused in the Muslim world, there has been little evidence of the kind of outcry or protest against him by Muslims themselves - that an anti Islamic rant of a similar scale would have caused.
Searching for Anjem Chaudhry on Youtube reveals still darker views held by him..”
by Richard, Bristol
Tuesday, March 17 2009, 9:47AM
“Well done, this is the kind of column I have always looked to read. It is about time the Muslim community stood up to non believers who try and give them a bad name.”