Why This Fear of Islam?

Category: World Affairs Topics: Tony Blair Views: 5996
5996

An astute Egyptian friend recently forwarded an article that appeared in last Sunday's Independent newspaper titled "Drunk and Disorderly: Woman in UK Are the Worst Binge Drinkers in the World".

Appended to the e-mail was this comment from my friend pointing out the inherent irony. "Instead of recommending that UK women learn a thing or two from their compatriot Muslim sisters to save millions of pounds for the National Health Service, the jokers in Number Ten Downing Street instead make a big issue about a dress code that has zero effect on the well-being of the country."

He's surely got a point. According to the article "one in three 17-30-year-olds is now classed as a heavy drinker, bingeing on four or more drinks in one session at least once a fortnight", which translates to liver damage, premature death, cancer, heart problems, an escalation in anti-social behavior, lost working hours and puts those women at risk of sexual assault.

This trend affects one in out of every three young women and yet British politicians, including Prime Minister Tony Blair, seem more concerned about the handful of British women who have chosen to don the full veil, which poses no danger to either themselves or to the public at large.

It's fashionable nowadays for Britain's politicians to complain about immigrants who refuse to assimilate. The more right wing among them infer that the presence of a large Muslim community threatens "our way of life" without going into details as to what that way of life actually entails.

Not surprising when Britain has become such an eclectic multiethnic melting pot. There no longer is a stereotypical British way of life other than in the pages of an Agatha Christie or a P.G. Wodehouse novel.

It's interesting, too, that those who feel intimidated or threatened in the presence of a woman wearing the veil don't appear to be concerned by the sight of a nun's habit, Hassidic garb or side locks, Sikh turbans or the shaved heads and orange robes of Hare Krishna devotees.

Moreover the current ministerial focus on Muslim assimilation is having the opposite effect. Moderate Muslim leaders resented being told by John Reid, the home secretary, to monitor their children for signs of hate. And reports state that since Jack Straw's comments on the veil, more and more young women are adopting the niqab in protest - a predictable reaction. 

Indeed, the British government appears to be going out of its way to foment an enemy within in keeping with Blair's struggle against what he calls an evil ideology. It's no wonder that British Muslims are beginning to feel demonized and marginalized when their own government calls for mosques, faith schools, community centers and Islamic bookshops to be monitored.

If British Muslims tend to live in close proximity to one another it isn't the only community to do so. London's Stamford Hill was and is more reminiscent of Mea Sharim in Israel than a British city suburb. Brick Lane resembles a corner of Bangladesh while Soho is predominantly Chinese. These ghettoized areas aren't new. They've existed for more than half-a-century in some cases and nobody seemed to mind. 

The governmental message is further having an effect on the attitudes of ordinary people. Reports of Muslim women wearing the hijab being insulted in the streets or suffering the indignity of having their head scarves pulled from their heads are rife. In short, Muslims have become fair game for racists and bigots.

I know many Muslims who lived in Britain for decades without problems and who never faced discrimination or open enmity. Let's face it. It may be a clich but everything did change post- Sept. 11. It didn't need to.

If those 19 criminals had been labeled just that instead of "Muslim terrorists", law-abiding Muslims in Britain and Europe wouldn't have been stigmatized. After all, the IRA killers were never described as "Catholic terrorists" out to turn Northern Ireland into a papal state.

It seems to me that Muslims were deliberately targeted by the US that needed a new enemy following the collapse of the Soviet Union so that its mighty military-industrial complex could continue functioning. It needed a new "ism" to combat after the demise of communism and so the war on another intangible, terrorism, was born.

Moreover, the demonizing of what the US referred to as extremist Islam and what George W. Bush now calls "Islamic fascism" has facilitated public approval for the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Rule One. When going to war, the enemy must be painted as some kind of inferior or terrifying being.

For Europe, the US has opened a dangerous Pandora's Box with its assaults upon Muslims and Muslim countries. In Britain and France, Muslim youth, who are rightly angered, feel isolated from the rest of society and are becoming radicalized.

In turn, Europe's right-wing parties are gaining strength while Germany is witnessing a frightening resurgence of the neo-Nazi movement. Some European Muslims are asking, "are we becoming Europe's new Jews?"

They're not because there are major differences. Islam is the fastest growing religion on the planet and Muslims make up almost one quarter of the world's population. Europe's Muslims are - or should be - backed by Muslim states unlike the Jews scattered throughout the Diaspora.

It is this sheer strength of numbers combined with a sense of religious brotherhood shared by all Muslims that concerns British politicians. Their comments concerning the veil are simply a manifestation of those underlying fears. Whether Muslim women in Britain reject the niqab is not the issue. The differences will still remain. Few will show up in the statistics on binge drinking or unwed mothers for instance.

My Egyptian friend is spot on when he suggests British women could learn a thing or two from their compatriot Muslim sisters. Instead of attempting to drag Muslims down to the lowest common denominator Britain's leaders should encourage their citizenry to respect the morals and ethics espoused by Muslims that are so sadly lacking in society at large.

Until contemporary times those same morals and ethics were the mainstay of British life. I still remember how my grandmother would make sure the bottle of sherry was out of sight when the vicar made an impromptu visit and would wear a head scarf or a hat when attending church on Sundays.

The traditional British way of life that Muslims are being blamed for eroding disappeared in the 1960s. In fact, Muslims in Britain today could even be perceived as the torch carriers for the values inherent in the Britain that once was. Now that's a thought.

Linda Heard is a British editor, journalist and columnist currently based in Cairo where she is a correspondent for Arab News. She can be reached at [email protected]


  Category: World Affairs
  Topics: Tony Blair
Views: 5996

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Older Comments:
ELISHEBABB FROM USA said:
Their motive might be a subconscious guilt that they have strayed from the upbringing of their grandparents.
2011-06-27

HUDD FROM CANADA said:
Joys. Although I appreciate your comment I don't see your point. I'm a Canadian Muslim and fortunately and gracefully I don't have the grievances you people do in UK. Your country must be a very depressing place to live. When I read comments from you Brits my hair stands up with repulsion. What's wrong with you guys? That's true, you gave the world one of the worse forms of racism and cultural intollerance, but I thought with the advent of the 3rd millenium you would emancipate yourselves and liberate your spirit from the shackles of prejudice and hypocracy! Alas! Old Victorian Britain is still lingering on!
What domestic violence are you talking about? I hope you meant British boozers domestic violence that end up in spousalcide and numerous trips to the local pound and overnight sleeps with not too friendly inmates but sexually inclined toward anything that contains a cavity! There isn't a more violent nation than the British. Just follow soccer games. They are able to kill(there are statistics) for losing on a favourit team. How retarded is that? Come on, you British guys, learn some decency and stop making monkeies out of yourselves wherever you go!
Marrying your cousin is not customary in Christianity but it happened to the 'best',just read your history on various European kings that some married even closer than their cousin. What about the practiced incest in Scandinavia and parts of Britain?
Respect for the women from the West? Definitely. I would be lying if I would say that all Western women are valueless and immoral. I kew and know a lot of non-Muslim Canadian women that made a great change in our North American society for the better and the prosperity of all, including Muslims! I respect those women as well as I respect my Catholic and Rastafari neighbour and I rely on them as they rely on me. But what am I talking about? This is Canada I live in, not UK! Thanks God for that!
2006-11-01

ANN FROM USA said:
Finally someone sees the truth of the bigotry against Muslims. Muslim values would save humanity from its stupidity.
2006-10-30

JOYS FROM UK said:
"The differences will still remain. Few will show up in the statistics on binge drinking or unwed mothers for instance."

True, but they do tend to turn up over represented on the domestic violence and inherited illnesses statistics. Maybe they should learn some morality about violence and avoiding cousin marriage and respect for women from the west which is so sadly lacking in the muslim community.

If you disliked the previous sentence you might consider that the writer did the same in mirroring the smugness in much of the mainstream media over the last couple of weeks. Why complain about something if you are doing it yourself.

PS Also she comes from a really strange family if she is lauding the fact that your grandmother was too mean to offer the vicar a drink when he went out of his way to visit or I really doubt her background.
2006-10-30

PROF.M.NYAMATHULLAH FROM INDIA said:
Congrats. A fine piece of reason and understanding.
The statement of Archbishop of Canterbury is sure to set the Britishers ponder over it.
It seems the west does not want to give any respite to muslims from their agenda embroiled in controversies.
The Danish cartoons,followed by new Pontiff's remarks on Islam and now the burqa row.
Verse 9 0f Chapter 33 of Quran clearly establishes that it is a divine commandment specifically for muslim women going out of their houses.Who dare challenge the command of God?
It is akin to the dress worn by Mother Mary
mourning the death of Christ.
Our Prophet has been sent to ensure the perfection of human conduct.Divine commandments
were conscientiously fulfilled by him in his life time.He ensured their compliance even by his own wives and daughters.This dress is definitely meant to distinguish the wearer as a woman of virtue and prevents ill-intentioned men annoying them.
Outlook (India) reports that there were 1.5 million babies born to unmarried women in US in 2004. 24% of them were teeenagers! (And their share in 1970 was 50%). To a very large extent the immodest dress of young ones has been responsible for it.
Let Bush, Blair & Benedict XVI try to remove the
"beams in their eyes ere they try to remove the speck in others eyes"!
Those, who revelled, by resorting to "divide and rule" game in the past, are now hellbent on creating division between muslim men and muslim women.
Jesus has averred : "For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daghter-in-law against her mother-in-law" (Mathew - 10:35). Perhaps his followers in the west want to go one step ahead and turn wife against husband and sister against brother!
Allah will protect His slaves and once again enemies will bite dust.
2006-10-29

SALIMA RAHMAN SMITH FROM USA said:
Whats interesting to me is that there are so many social ills in our society that are far more important than a woman's attire. I for one find the g string thongs hanging out of womens butts far more offensive than my hijab but I don't see a movement to ban that. Or how about the fact that some young men wear their pants past thier underwear and I'm subjected to that, where's the law on the unsightly eyesore that those are. I for one agree with this article. Where is the government when women show up to work not in Hijab but with bruises from an abusive spouse, or where is the goverment when a young woman gets raped because the attacker thought she deserved it based on his assumptions of her. In my country, where religious ideals and tolerance are also coming under attack, we have far more important issues than to worry about what Christians, Jews, or Muslims are wearing in fact, I live and work in communities with lots of Hasidim and Christian Haitians where they are required to dress in all white and headscarfs and we all do not tolerate eachother, but embrace and respect each other, can't we expect a little bit more from our governments then?
2006-10-28

ANTI-NAZI said:
I notice some of the trolls have been trying foolishly to tie terrorism to this issue(as they try on anything related to Islam to justify their petty hatred and ignorance).
Lets be honest boys and girls, the VAST majority of the world terrorists are NOT Muslim but white European males who manufacture, sell and use WMDs against innocent people around the world. These are the same people who detain, torture, rape and kill people on a daily basis. These are the same hypocrites who cry "democracy" yet support the vast majority of dictatorships on the planet. Lets keep things and perspective here and not be fooled and distracted by the racist rhetoric of those too afraid to look at their vestige in the mirror.
2006-10-27

AHMED FROM UK said:
You're utterly clueless O'neil. If I choose not to drink, how does that make me "anti-west" ? What some of you white extremists and ignoramuses just get it, these Muslims are born and raised in the west, and have as much right to be here as you. Seems to me you're the one with the problem, perhaps you ought to move somewhere else if you cant tolerate someone else's freedom.
Dave Smith, you rants are dull and irrelevent, Your ignorance and arrogance are laughable. As for 'honour killings' - women in Britain are murdered every day by their partners, former partners and rejected prospective partners. Murderous violence against women is nothing special to Muslim communities, and it seems strange that, at a time when Muslim communities are singled out for popular revulsion, rather than, say, defending all women, you join in the chorus of prejudicial disgust. A chorus that does nothing to help Muslim women, but makes them further victims of prejudice, and nothing to help non-Muslim women, the violence against whom is hidden by a concentration on a tiny minority of murders which are suitably 'exotic'.
2006-10-27

DAVE SMITH FROM GREAT BRITAIN said:
I UTTERLY and completely disagree with you, your stance and your beliefs quite frankly.
BUT I do have to thank you for printing the negative comments of mine and others and debating.

That does show a willingness to debate and accept other views even if you will never agree.

So, we are world's apart in probably everything but I do respect that you printed my comments and thank you for it.

Peace (we can but hope).
2006-10-27

DR EDRISS FROM US said:

if you didn't get highschool diploma, try the GED? how manytimes you have been lock up and you didn't try to get the GED? you know who you are, no need to call names lol.

if you had GED, you will know that calling someone to go back to where he comes from is equal to take all the anglosaxons to North German. that's will help the dutch to advance their language :).

if you ask the Cherokee in North America or the Celtic in Scotland or those native Aussies or canadian, who do you want leave your country first? they will definitely reply: we want those who didn't come in peace leave first. The History know well those who scaped european prisons to slaughter weak nations in the name of their freedom.,, their children still hold the mentality of the owners of what their forefathers stole.

I didn't tell you that because I think you are anglosaxon, I know the anglosaxons are smarter and know this answer well. that's why they never ask stupid questions like you.

now! we know you are happy that you are in the west and you are busting your *** to be accepted as HATER in this culture. we value your motivation and we want you get GED so you can do better.

If you believe you are 100% anglosaxon, I advice you to come to Jerry show in America. He is good peaceful jewish, who doesn't like drinking..., and he did good job in helping people (like you) to find their real fathers.


don't take what I said in the wrong way? you asked all moslems here and I'm one of them. next time, especialy after you get that GED, make sure that you ask the people in your level? not everybody!!!?


2006-10-27

JOHN ONEIL FROM USA said:
But why move to the west in the first place? If you don't like drinking, why even move to the west - why not stay in an Islamic country where you can wear your dress and nobody drinks?

It is so strange to me - somebody please help to explain - why don't Muslims who hate the western ways stay in their Muslim countries?

A recent example is the Iman in Australia who moves to Australia, then says that Australian women are like naked meat because they don't cover their heads.

How strange! Please- I would like to hear why Muslims try so hard to move to the West and then talk about how bad it is.
2006-10-27

KHAN FROM USA said:
Fear of Islam and Muslims is a conspiracy, creation, invention and propoganda for religious and political purposes:
1) for excuse to invade muslim countries and take their resources.
2)so people believe them, hate muslims,Islam and do not embrace Islam.
3) for excuse to harass,torture and make puppet leaders in islamic countries.
4) to threaten the so called muslim leaders and please non-muslim leaders for their involuntary support.
5) to stop the spread of Islam which is a religion of peace.

BUT, please remember Islam is the religion of our forefathers(Adam,Abraham, Moses,Jesus and Muhammad-pbut).All were the messengers of the same one God-ALLAH.

Islam is a religion for all mankind and humanity, perfect for all human beings irrespective of
a)color(black/white/brown) b) sex(men or women) c)age(children/adults/elderly) d)ethnicity/origin(asian,european/American/canadian etc.

So take the fear off and find yourself the real peace in Islam by reading Quran,Hadith,ask for open house or dicussion session at your local muslim centers, talking to good muslim friends,neighbors, colleagues and so on.

2006-10-26

WCGAULT FROM USA said:
Just a couple of things.
I don't think that nun's habits or someone's sidelocks can be compare to a person that goes out among the public with their face covered. In western society, covering the face is a way of hiding your identity. I don't want to live around people that can not be visually identified.
Secondly, Islamic terrorism was not created by the US. Muslims, in the name of Allah, have routinely commited horrendous acts. The example of the Irish omits the fact that western media clearly identified the IRA as being catholic. It never said all catholics, nor was it said that all Muslims were terrorists. But clearly there are Muslim terrorists, there are Islamic fascists, and there are catholic terrorists and criminals. To make any of these statements should not be viewed as an afront to someone's religion. Such statements should not result in riots , murder or any of the kinds of things that we have seen lately throughout the world.
2006-10-26

DAVE SMITH FROM GREAT BRITAIN said:
'Honour Killings' (almost always against women) are nothing to do with a 'culture'. They are to do with Islam.
Btitain does not have a culture of honour killings. But they happen in Britain.
And they happen in Britain because of the Muslims that carry them out.
Being British and being in Britain has nothing to do with 'honour' Killings'...Being a Muslim has.

And seeing as forced marriages and honour killings happen in almost all Islamic regimes AND in Islamic communities elsewhere...shows a direct link to Islam and to being Muslim.

No other group has had this much trouble fitting in to their host society (or with other societies in Britain...witness the recent explosion on Asian Muslim violence on Blacks in the UK), no other group has called for it's own laws, no other group has carried out suicide attacks on the UK.

Sharia Law that so many Muslim want in the UK is perfectly shown at work (and perfectly shown to be the prejudice, backwards thought-process it is) in Iran where women are arrested on the street and in Suadi where women are not allowed to drive, where women are still stoned, where single men are not allowed into shopping centres etc etc...

And British Muslims whine about their 'rights' being infringed!!??
Lets tell British Muslim women they are no longer allowed to drive in the UK and that Muslim men are no longer allowed in shopping centres!! The 'fuss' over the veil will vanish into nothing then!
But perhaps the moaning British Muslims will finally see how good they have it in the UK compared to countries that actually do follow their much loved Sharia based society!

And I could go on all day about the Islamic conquests (esp in Spain) that PRECEEDED the Christian Crusades and the modern Islamic conquest of rape and murder seen in The Sudan.

Islam and 'social values', justice and tolerence simply don't go together.
2006-10-26

FARDEEN FROM UK said:
Dear Dave,

In answer to you uninformed or rather unreal knowledge of Islam I would like to point out a few facts.

1. Regarding the execution of homosexuals, even the Bible in Leviticus states 20:13 "If a man has sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman,25 the two of them have committed an abomination. They must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves."
2. Regarding conversion, the Holy Quran is very clear on this issue, '"Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error"[Al-Qur'an 2:256]. The execution was on those persons who acted as spies by calling themselves Muslims and lived among them(Muslims), then when they went back to their tribes they were following their own way of other religion. This was at the time of the holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Hence the act they committed was of treason and like any modern country would punish such SPIES so does Islam.
3. You talk about killing and beating of woman in Muslim families as if it is a commandment for every Muslim man. For your kind information it was Islam which brought the first rights for woman is the world. Here are a few verses from the holy Quran to clear your misconception :
"And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief! He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonor or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision." (An-Nahl 16:58-59).
"O You who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will, and you should not treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at time of marriage) you have given them, unless they commit open illegal sexual intercourse. And live with them honorably. If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings thr
2006-10-26

YATMA FROM SENEGAL said:
WELL DONE!!!
2006-10-26

JAN FROM USA said:
This conveniently timed controversy may have nothing to do with the choice of clothing. It is one more unveiling for us to see the true colors of the devil in disguise:- the armageddon crowd with their venom. It is one more unveiling of the politics of fear aimed at curbing the rights and dignity of a minority group - this time it is the turn of the Muslims. For the saner folks in UK and elsewhere who read between the lines know that the barrier to communication is NOT the choice of clothing but the lying and wishy-washy double-talk by Straw, Blair & Co., is the true barrier to communication. And this may NOT be the last straw in the vicious cycle.
2006-10-26

UNIMPRESSED FROM UK said:
Muslims are not "imposing" their way of life on you or anyone else "jordy." What skin is it off your nose if someone else dresses the way they want?! Europeans and their imitators are the most intolerant and hateful hypocrites on the face of the earth. Its not the Muslims but YOU who have failed to "integrate."
They invade whole nations, torture, rape and murder millions and complain about beheadings. They hold up the banner of "freedom of speech" yet attack defenseless woman in the streets for wearing hijabs and niqabs. I could go on and on, but the bottom line is that Muslims will not sit by idly by and tolerate such attacks, be warned nazis!
2006-10-26

RAY FROM USA said:
Perhaps the fear expressed towards Islam arises out of the random acts of violence that are carried out by Islamics pursuing martyr status.
There is no fear from the nun's habit, Hassidic garb or side locks, Sikh turbans, the shaved heads and orange robes of Hare Krishna devotees because none of these religious persuasions pose a threat.
2006-10-26

JORDY FROM ENGLAND said:
yes but muslims force their way of life on people. where as in the west it is your choice how you behave. muslims breed intolerance more than any religion!!!!
2006-10-26

BASHAR SALEH FROM MANCHESTER, UK said:
Well said. Thank you.
2006-10-26

MUHAMMAD SANI MADAHA SULEN-JEBU FROM NIGERIA WEST AFRICA said:
Hello Linda,
Since sept 11, it beats my imagination why my christian leaders,friends, brothers and siters tend to beleive that a loose life of excessive drinking, rape, ponography, homosexual and other terrible vices all done with passion and zeal under the banner of human rights is christian. Islam is demonized because it is retainig most of its purity and originess as such a lot beleive to show tarits in Islamic way of life is violent, decadent and backward. This is the same scenario in my country Nigeria .Everything fanciful, carefree,ponographic, abusive and also insulting the minds of some people is christian and progressive where as contrary opinions are retrogressive outdated and Islamic. It is a pity really. I used to adore missionary schools when we were growing up because of their strict religious values. I am apracticing muslim and I don't ascribe to any apealation of moderate,orthodox or the likes I am simply a muslim but all the same I sent my children to a christian missionary school and all of a sudden they started expereincing discrimantion and intimidation. Please appeal to our christian neighbours and tell them that Islam is the closest ally to christianity and we can never be enemies. We are not muslim until we beleive in Jesus and please the difference in perception of Jesus should not be a reason to term each other enemy.I wonder why we taking ourselves back to the stone ages.
2006-10-26

DR EDRISS FROM US said:

thank you sister for your owesome article. I never read so simple an very Important article like this. May Allah rewards you with the paradise.

forget about the hatemongers who keep this website like part of homeland security program? they will bark about anything you say as long as you said you are a moslem ! even if you say you love islam.org, they will say they hate it. the problem is they are lunatics and most lunatic people can not understand themselves.

there is something very important about the definition of freedom: this word hold in it's definition an anti_hypocrisy. once you allow to a woman to wear bikini or walk naked in special celebrations of the year, you already allow her to cover all her body and even her eyes if she can see :), following the freedom.

instead of spending the money of homeland security on idiots to sit their butt in front of computers and spread hate for the sake of jesus, they can spend money on recruiting good police women to take care of women problems. I believe women know well how to resolve their problems outside the fascist dictatorship of men.

it's not wearing hijab or niqab who threaten the countries influenced by America. it is the fascism, who never disappeared from the west, who BORN AGAIN very thirsty for blood and destructions. the politicians used to deal with fascism by slaughtering other cultures for the sake of controling it. it happened in Mossolini and Hitler's time and it is happening in Bush's time. the party of worldwide fascism is calling for sacrifice from the Islamic culture this time.

keep up good work. the best way to destroy the fascists is by enlighting and educating those people lock up in it.
2006-10-26

UNIMPRESSED FROM UK said:
I think Muslim woman should start taking self defense courses. The level of hatred displayed by European extremists is disgusting and a reflection of their hypocrisy. Hijabi and niqabi woman are being attacked and one was shot dead execution style as she was walking down the street with her three year old daughter in Fremont, California.
A warning to Islamophobes and white terrorists out there : Muslim will not be the new Jews and will not go silently into the night.
2006-10-25

DAVE SMITH FROM GREAT BRITAIN said:
And can I add.

----QUOTE----t's interesting, too, that those who feel intimidated or threatened in the presence of a woman wearing the veil don't appear to be concerned by the sight of a nun's habit, Hassidic garb or side locks, Sikh turbans or the shaved heads and orange robes of Hare Krishna devotees.-----QUOTE------

Yet again this is brought up. None of those dress modes cover the face though do they?
NO ONE has a problem with Muslim 'dress'. It's specifically the face hiding, face wiping, identity destroying VEIL that is the problem.

A veil that is in no way supported by the Quran or by the majority of Muslim I might add!

I hope, if you ever want a real, honest, fact based discussion to take place...you print both my comments.
2006-10-25

DAVE SMITH FROM GREAT BRITAIN said:
Well lets see if you print this first.

Are these Muslim vales Muslim values like the execution of homosexuals?

Like the execution of those who convert to Chritianity?

Values like the use of socially acceptable/cultully acceptable and often legalised honour killings of Muslim women by their own Family members?

Values like the rape, torture and murder of women in Iraq who hold professional jobs?

The values of arresting women in the street for what they are wearing that we see in Iran?

The values of forbidding women in Afghanistan ANY form of education and killing those teachers who try to give them one?

Values like the routine beating of women in the street by 'Islamic Police' that we see more and more in Indonesia?

The values that still see women publically stoned?

The values of high ranking Clerics, publically and openly (to great throngs of people) calling for Jihad against cartoonists and The Pope and praising suicide bombers?

The values that see young Muslim girls (nearly 200 a year vanish from the UK school sysytem!) packed off to Pakistan to marry older men in forced marriages?

The values that saw Pakistan re-new their disgusting (Sharia based) 'Rape Law' where a woman has to have 4 women witnessses to her rape!
And if she does not but still brings the case, and her or her rapist is married, SHE can be charged with adultery!

The values that saw the FIRST EVER suicide bombings in the UK by Muslims who were meant to be British citizens?

We all agree that the UK has problems and that certain parts of society have let this country down (thanks to Liberals who put thr rights of violent kids and criminals before the rest of us) and women have become too often removed from that once lovely image of the 'English Rose'.
BUT GUESS WHAT? Non-Muslims know that too!
Non-Muslims care about that too!
But we don't need these supposed Islamic social 'values' or Sharia Law in place to combat it thank you
2006-10-25

PAUL FROM UK said:
This is ridiculous. For a start, having four - four!!! - drinks once a fortnight would make somebody more or less teetotal, not a binge drinker. Secondly, when did drinking alcohol become a bad thing? It's a perfectly civilised and enjoyable thing to do, social drinkers live longer than teetotallers, and recent research by Imerial College even suggested that social drinking happily improves one's memory. Drinking is a part of western culture that I enjoy and most people are perfectly civilised with it.

There's an underlying insinuation here that extremly right-wing, ultra-conservative social conventions such as the sanctity of the family, worship at the weekend, heterosexuality, strict separation of the sexes, are a good thing. Well, they're not. They are restricting and anti-life, anti-pleasure, anti-joy. You are advocating a sort of right-wing authoritarianism in which everybody knows and accepts their place, with women covered up in deference to their 'faith leaders', be they priest, imam or some other charlatan.

Finally, the IRA was an extremely secular organisation fighting the military occupation of their community, it was not a religious organisation seeking a Caliphate and sharia law, so you are not comparing like with like.
2006-10-25