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| Fifth Column | ||
| Red Ken signs London away | ||
| 2007-06-07 | ||
The coalition is being set up in the light of continuing media and other claims that different communities and faith groups openly expressing their culture or faith threaten community relations in Britain. Such claims have been most recently and strongly directed at the Muslim community, particularly focusing on the right of Muslim women to wear the veil. But such attacks have also recently included a high profile case where a staff member at British Airways was prohibited from wearing a crucifix. The established rights of Sikh community to wear turbans have also come under assault. The new coalition will bring together people of all faiths and none, to counter these assaults and to actively make the case that all communities should be allowed to express their culture or faith, as long as this is within the law and does not impact on the rights of others to express themselves similarly. A Greater London Authority commissioned report into Islamophobia in the media showed that 90 per cent of reports on Islam were negative. However, the majority of Londoners – 94 per cent - support freedom of thought, conscience, speech and religion. The coalition will put the case that that multiculturalism, especially in London, enriches society and that division will flow from repression of these rights, not their expression. And that it is necessary for individuals and different communities to come to gether to defend freedom of religious and cultural though that have been established over hundreds of years. The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: 'I am proud of London's reputation as the most diverse city in the world where the contribution all communities is celebrated and people’s freedom of religious expression is respected as it is one of the most essential of our civil liberties. Attacks on the rights of Muslim people to express their faith as they choose are ultimately a threat to everybody's rights to freedom of religious and cultural expression. It should be the right of every individual to be able live their life as they wish, so long as it does not do harm to any other individual. This ability to be who you are and live as you choose is what has made London a magnet for people bringing their ideas and energy to make this the successful and dynamic city that it is.' More at the link, that's all I could take. | ||
| Posted by:McZoid |
| #5 If this is going to protect the rights of Jews and Christians too, Im not sure its such a bad thing. Anything that prevents or delays the installation of Muslim-unfriendly measures is a bad thing. This all goes to the heart of how politicians and religious leaders continue to incorrectly delegate religious status to Islamic political ideology. So long as Islam seeks theocratic rule, be it national or global, it must be declared a political ideology and stripped of all government protection. As always; What worthwhile aspects are there to shari'a law? What redeeming features are there in Islam? The answer is "none" and this is what merits the banning of Islam and shari'a in all democratic nations worldwide. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-06-07 15:08 |
| #4 ' But such attacks have also recently included a high profile case where a staff member at British Airways was prohibited from wearing a crucifix. ' If this is going to protect the rights of Jews and Christians too, Im not sure its such a bad thing. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2007-06-07 13:10 |
| #3 A Greater London Authority commissioned report into Islamophobia in the media showed that 90 per cent of reports on Islam were negative. Fred, I'd like to read the 10% that weren't negative. Any chance you can find them;) |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2007-06-07 11:42 |
| #2 The muslims will show their gratitude for this new initiative, by blowing something up. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2007-06-07 11:34 |
| #1 "Diversity" the new word for Low quality. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles in Blairistan 2007-06-07 10:27 |