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| Britain |
| British Muslims say hostility to Islam could trigger riots |
| 2004-05-30 |
| Hostility towards Islam permeates every part of British society and will spark race riots unless urgent action is taken to integrate Muslim youths into society, according to a devastating report. The Commission on British Muslims and Islamophobia (CBMI), which is chaired by a key government adviser to the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, warns that more and more Muslims feel excluded from society and simmering tensions, especially in northern English towns, are in danger of boiling over. Members of the commission interviewed scores of British Muslims for their report, which will be published this week and will conclude that Britain is ’institutionally Islamophobic’. It emerged last night that the government is considering new laws to stop radical muslim clerics coming from overseas to preach in Britain. According to reports in a Sunday newspaper imams will have to pass a ’civic engagement test’ which will include an English language exam and questions on British culture. Public funds will be provided for the training of home-grown clerics in order to halt the influx of militant preachers from the Middle East. The report produces a raft of evidence suggesting that since the 11 September attacks there has been a sharp rise in attacks on followers of Islam and their mosques and a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment across a range of UK institutions. Ahmed Versi, editor of the Muslim News, who gave evidence, said: ’We have reported cases of mosques being firebombed, paint being thrown at mosques, mosques being covered in graffiti, threats made, women being spat upon, eggs being thrown. It is the visible symbols of Islam that are being attacked.’ Dr Richard Stone, chair of the commission and an adviser to Sir William Macpherson’s inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence, warns in a foreword to the report that: ’There is now renewed talk of a clash of civilisations, a new global cold war, and mounting concern that the already fragile foothold gained by Muslim communities in Britain is threatened by ignorance and intolerance.’ The report suggests the situation in Iraq has had a negative impact on religious tolerance in British society. It quotes from an interview with Labour peer Baroness Uddin, who comments that: ’The perception that our government is pandering to the neoconservatives of America has given rise to the belief that all Muslims are implicated in the aggression. Each of us is constantly being asked to apologise for acts of terror that befall the world.’ Sadiq Khan, chair of the Muslim Council of Britain’s legal affairs committee, told the commission, which was launched by Jack Straw in 1997, that recent changes in the law had also played a part. ’Laws such as the Terrorism Act 2000 and the Anti-Terrorism Crime Security Act 2001 have helped to create a climate of fear,’ he said. ’They have led to the internment in the UK of Muslim men, respectable charities having their funds seized, and charities suffering because Muslims are reluctant to donate for fear of being accused of funding "terrorists".’ More than 35,000 Muslims were stopped and searched last year, with fewer than 50 charged. Three years ago only around 2,000 Muslims were stopped and searched. Asian peer Lord Ahmed, a leading critic of Muslim extremism, told The Observer he had twice been stopped and searched in recent months at Heathrow airport.’ I’ve been stopped and searched at the airport after 9/11 too, and I’m not Muslim. I don’t feel like cutting anybody’s head off for it though. Statistics also show a sharp rise in the number of Muslims jailed. In 2001 there were 6,095 in UK prisons compared with 731 in 1991. Muslims comprise 9 per cent of the prison population but only 3 per cent of the population as a whole.’Islamophobia in Britain has become institutionalised. If we don’t take positive action to embrace the young Muslim men in this country, we are going to have an urgent problem,’ Stone said. ’We’re going to have real anger and riots with young Muslims pitched against the police.’ The report is critical of the media’s treatment of Islam, especially its coverage of Abu Hamza, the radical cleric who was arrested last Thursday. |
| Posted by:TS(vice girl) |
| #22 Hooligans would love the chance at them I am sure. Then some Hindy's would take over and there would be no stopping the rioting. The English love there beer and if they (The Moooooslems)start some shit early on a Saturday... The "Little Sheet Heads" would not come out of this looking very good. And who would care what the media would say. We all would be walking around with a wiley grin on our faces... |
| Posted by: Long Hair Republican 2004-05-30 11:56:51 PM |
| #21 "We’re going to have real anger and riots with young Muslims pitched against the police." Just shoot the little bastard Islamoturds. If they riot, they've asked for it. BTW: riot about what ? Are they "humiliated" because people don't respect their Islamic Idiocy? They could always just go back home, where they're more appreciated . . . Pakistan . . . Iraq . . . |
| Posted by: ex-lib 2004-05-30 6:00:45 PM |
| #20 ;-) heh heh |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-05-30 5:51:01 PM |
| #19 We have reported cases of mosques being firebombed, paint being thrown at mosques, mosques being covered in graffiti, threats made, women being spat upon - oh, wait, that last one's us; sorry to trouble you infidels with that one. |
| Posted by: Shiekh Mohammed Abdullah Ibrahim Abdul Haji ibn al-Mohammed 2004-05-30 5:43:27 PM |
| #18 Once again the thought occurs: If you don't want to become part fo the British culture then WTF did you move there? Was this some attempt on the part of the muslims to proselytize the British or was it because they didn't much fancy the quality of life that inevitably follows living in a muslim country not blessed with oil? It would be to the Brits' advantage to deport every one that is not a British citizen and make the rest swear a loyalty oath that carries the death penalty if broken. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-05-30 4:27:05 PM |
| #17 I'm pretty sure Britain's soccer hooligans can out-riot the Moslems any day, and twice on Saturday. The whiners better not start Or better yet.... |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-05-30 3:04:55 PM |
| #16 US media is encouraging Muslim's worldwide to ask themselves "Why do they hate us?" |
| Posted by: Frank 2004-05-30 2:33:52 PM |
| #15 More than 35,000 Muslims were stopped and searched last year...Three years ago only around 2,000 Muslims were stopped and searched. Three years ago was...2001...and pre-9/11, the West was singing Kumbaye as an ode to multi-culturalism instead of reading the Koran with eyes wide open. |
| Posted by: rex 2004-05-30 2:33:00 PM |
| #14 Best send in the robots first then! Everybody else take cover. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-05-30 2:22:10 PM |
| #13 rofl Lucky, the day will come when the country wisens up and rises up to the death cult that is Islam and starts flaming their Mosques,bet a fair few would go boom real good to due to them probably being used as ammo dumps,they use mosques everywhere else in the world for that purpose so why not here? Of course are law enforcent types are far to soft to do raid each and every mosque as should be done,there are only around 1200 mosques in the UK i think so surly in 24 hours the police could seal off and search every one of those? lets hope so anyway. |
| Posted by: Shep UK 2004-05-30 2:03:10 PM |
| #12 British Muslims say hostility to Islam could trigger riots I'd wager that should British Muslims prove inable to begin reporting clerics and adherents who advocate violent jihad there most certainly will be riots ... with smoking holes in the ground replacing many mosques. While Islamists seem able to tolerate all sorts of abominations within their own cultures, something tells me the Brits will have a slightly lower threshold for such Neanderthal carryings on. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-05-30 1:48:46 PM |
| #11 ’We have reported cases of mosques being firebombed, paint being thrown at mosques, mosques being covered in graffiti, threats made, women being spat upon, eggs being thrown. It is the visible symbols of Islam that are being attacked.’ Shep!? |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-05-30 1:42:35 PM |
| #10 There may be riots, no doubt. But I rather suspect the Muslims will be surprised to see who are the rioters and who are the riotees. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2004-05-30 1:07:29 PM |
| #9 "Muslims comprise 9 per cent of the prison population but only 3 per cent of the population as a whole." The racism is just outrageous. Come on Brits, be tolerant, let them behead a few, and maybe do a few honor rapes. Let them train a few terrorists, incite suicide bombings, and maybe strap explosives to just a few children. So what if their "moderates" think these things are ok, and do nothing to condemn the "extremists" amongst them. They should be treated as if they were peace loving British citizens - or they will riot. |
| Posted by: Rock 2004-05-30 11:53:52 AM |
| #8 and will spark race riots unless urgent action is taken to integrate Muslim youths into society, Pray tell me how they expect that to be done when to date all evidence points to European Muslims refusing to be integrated into the society in which they chose to live? They deny current law of the land in favour of Sharia law. Co-operating with the authorities in the interest of Britain's general security is seen to be at odds with being a Muslim as they would have to act against those extremists who are also Muslim. |
| Posted by: Anonymous5056 2004-05-30 11:50:11 AM |
| #7 "The report is critical of the media’s treatment of Islam, especially its coverage of Abu Hamza, the radical cleric who was arrested last Thursday." I see. Bad media for exposing Cpt. Hook and the failure to denounce him earlier. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2004-05-30 11:45:43 AM |
| #6 "35,000 Muslims were stopped and searched." Clear proof of racism. Wasn't one of those guys the chap with the shoe bombs? |
| Posted by: Sam 2004-05-30 11:44:45 AM |
| #5 "Islamophobia" Now why would any peace loving, freedom loving, infidel have reason to fear Islam? |
| Posted by: Jake 2004-05-30 11:39:29 AM |
| #4 Typical islamic sense of destiny and entitlement. They can treat jews and christians however they please because they are infidels, but if anyone looks crosseyed at muslims, it's racism. Well the Brits are quite possibly the only ones in the West who actually have a soft spot for Arabs. If these dolts start rioting, that will change and they may actually find out what it feels to be on the receiving end of intolerance. I doubt that they will like it. Stupid buggers. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-05-30 11:24:52 AM |
| #3 Hostility towards Islam permeates every part of British society and will spark race riots unless urgent action is taken to integrate Muslim youths into society, according to a devastating report. Please do, start riots. Please? I prefer a target rich environments. DPICM works best against concentrations of hostile forces. |
| Posted by: badanov 2004-05-30 11:23:08 AM |
| #2 Britain is threatened by ignorance and intolerance Exactly! |
| Posted by: Phil B 2004-05-30 11:10:31 AM |
| #1 "Hey! Look at us! We're seething over here! Dammit, if you don't treat us like innocent |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-05-30 11:05:03 AM |