"Haifa and Leicester," from the UK Workers Liberty, with thanks to Susan:
Leicester University has cancelled a talk by Muslim lesbian feminist Irshad Manji because of fears of hostile reaction from right-wing local Muslims.Compare Haifa. Ilan Pappe, a lecturer at Haifa University, is a vehement anti-Zionist, as unpopular with right-wing and conservative opinion in Israel as Irshad Manji is with right-wing and conservative Muslims....
Irshad Manji spoke in London today, 12 May. She is, as far as I can judge, no sort of socialist or social radical, but she is an advocate of universal human rights, an opponent of cultural relativism, an advocate of what she calls a "reformation" in Islam...
Yes. Most interesting that such positions would be so threatening to these "right-wing" -- i.e., literalist and devout -- Muslims.
Robert,
The title of the UK source, "Workers Liberty" gives the impression that this is a Leftist publication. I note this with some interest because it seems that the Left has generally given Islam a "pass" on grounds of defending diversity/multiculturalism.
This has long seemed inconsistent and smacking of intellect cowardice. If the Left really supports human rights (including free speech) and believes in secular society, then Islam should be a deadly foe.
This may be changing. Here we have situation where, perhaps, a Left magazine is reporting the threatening/intimidating nature of Islam directed toward a lesbian reform-minded muslim. (Of course, the Pym Fortuyn murder jumps to mind whenever discussion of muslim attitudes toward homosexuality are mentioned.)
hmm lets see whether BBC reports this as an Asian problem or Muslim problem. British Media conviniently lumps Indians, Pakis and Bangladeshis as Asians. If one reads the reports on Bradford riots, one gets the impression that Indians also participated in riots during the Summer of Unrest.
The large majority of South Asians in Leicester are Hindus, Gujarati Hindus. In fact it is seen as the centre of the Hindu community in Britain. Muslims are actually a minority there. You can get some of the best Indian food in the UK in this city, proper homestyle Gujarati cuisine, and the city hosts the biggest Divali celebrations in the world outside India (that is the Hindu equivalent of New Year and Christmas rolled into one). Too many people are ignorant and think that all Asians are Muslims.
Anyway, I have personal experience of how some University campuses in England have become virtual fiefdoms of firebrand Islamic radicals, in which Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Sikh students in particular feel intimidated and marginalised, so this is not a surprise.
info tech guy
This may be changing. Here we have situation where, perhaps, a Left magazine is reporting the threatening/intimidating nature of Islam directed toward a lesbian reform-minded muslim
Good point. It will be interesting to see if this is a genuine awakening and part of a realisation by the left of 'the nature of the beast'
Once again we have the incredible situation of a tiny immigrant minority imposing its will on the majority indigenous culture. Isn't this imperialism or at least colonialism?
How sad that fear has censored the very institutions that advocate free speech. No doubt free speech exists for the hate mongers, but not any of the opposing views.
Free government has failed its governed when the public forum is closed because of threats from those who oppose the message. Free speech means that not only do we tolerate the message that we may find personally abhorrent but that we willingly give the speaker the platform from which to orate.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali said something very pertinent on the thread above
Furthermore, she concluded, if you looked into the condition of women in Muslim communities you found an intractable problem, one which liberals and multiculturalists refused to address. "I called it the paradox of the left," she says. "On the one hand they support ideals of equality and emancipation, but in this case they do nothing about it; they even facilitate the oppression".
The paradox of the left, sums it up exactly. I do hope this is a change of direction, and if it is I believe it will be gay women leading it.
BTW Leicester also has fabric shops to die for.
Re: the Paradox of the Left:
Christopher Hitchens, a radical Leftist for decades, is one of the only Leftists to speak up about this problem. Hitchens is firmly against the Islamofascists, because he sees them as a threat to the liberal values he cherishes. And he is puzzled and angry at his fellow Leftists for being so blind and confused about this issue.
(Paul Berman, another geniune Liberal, is also on the right side of this issue.)
This is actually an old story as I heard Irshad speak in London last Thursday 12th May where she mentioned the Leicester cancellation. I recorded her speech (but the quality wasn't so great as I was sitting at the back) if I clean it up I will post it somewhere.
Just so you know its an old story......
misguidedjihadi,
If you go to the article that was linked, you will see it is a story about Manji's speech on May 12, and how at that speech she mentioned the previous Leicester cancellation.
It's not so much a mistake as a belated reportage based on a recent citation (her May 12 speech).
Had Manji not mentioned the old cancellation on May 12 (probably parenthetically), and had there not been an alert reporter in the audience, it would never have been picked up by the news media at all.
Sorry, its been a long day....
Hey Zico, u seem to be from Leicester, keep momeds out as Leicester's gonna be UK's first Hindu majority city by 2010