The MCB is looking for jihadists. Is this a case of the fox guarding the henhouse? From The Independent, with thanks to Sr. Soph:
The Muslim Council of Britain has set up an investigation into mosques, women's organisations and Islamic youth centres across the country to root out extremism.Sir Iqbal Sacranie, secretary general of the council, told The Independent that the council, which has more than 400 affiliates and is the most powerful Muslim body in the country, had set up the focus groups to locate and combat the terrorist threat. Its early findings will be revealed in a national conference in September, he said.
The move comes amid allegations that the council is failing mainstream Muslims and has its roots in extremist politics. Sir Iqbal dismissed the reports of alleged extremist links as "absolute nonsense".
Sir Iqbal, who was knighted this year and is regarded by the government as the voice of moderate Islam, said the efforts to discredit the organisation were born from an "Islamophobic agenda". A report in The Observer claimed yesterday that Sir Iqbal and the council's spokesman, Inayat Bunglawala, had expressed admiration for the late Maulana Maududi, the founder of the Jamaat-i-Islami party, which is an elected religious party in Pakistan.
Sir Iqbal defended Mawdudi, saying he had a huge following among the Muslim intelligentsia. "We agree with many of his views and disagree with some. The Jamaat-i-Islami party happens to be a perfectly legitimate and democratic party, which through an alliance with other parties, is in power in the North-west Frontier province of Pakistan," he said.
I'd like to see him specify on exactly which points he agrees, and on which he disagrees, with Maududi.
Sir Iqbal is the fox in the hen house. I hope that he keep talking in public forums. His moderate mask is cracking and will soon fall off, exposing a real Islamist.
One more Teaching Moment: a moment to ask exactly which passages in Qur'an, which stories in Hadith, which details in the life of Muhammad, referred to by Maududi, that "Sir" Iqbal Sacranie disagrees with.
The absurdities pile up. The MCB will "set up the focus groups to locate and combat the terrorist threat." It will issue a report of its "findings." Wrapping itself in a mantle of legitimacy for the long-suffering Infidels of Great Britain.
One only hopes that more and more people are beginning to see them as -- absurdities. Rip off that mantle. See what is beneath.
Off, off, you lendings!
Aren't "Muslim" and "intelligentsia" two opposed concepts? Can devotees of a cult that seeks to minimise freedom of thought and expression through repression and violence really consider themselves to be enlightened? Or does one become a member of this supposed intellectual elite simply my memorising a lot of surah?
No doubt Sir Iqbal will not deny that there are jihadist every where. It will come down to what is defined as an "extreme jihadist".
Islam today is like an alcoholic that has not hit bottom ...yet. It reeks havoc in all the lives it comes into contact with muslim and no-muslim alike. Until it does hit bottom there will be no change.
Jack;
a far more accurate analogy than you may realize. alcoholics ravage the people around them, doing damage that may take years to repair, if ever. Death, poverty, mental illness,
broken families, sexual abuse, the list is long.
the response? Denial and a quick trip back to the well. and so it goes.
Nope, nope, no extremists here...move along dhimmis....
Women's organisations? Oh, please. Will it be in an effort to intimidate?
Also: The "North-west Frontier province of Pakistan"? Isn't that the most dangerous area?
Hugh
I have been reading your Comments for avery long time now.And,Thanx!!!I have learnt a great deal,even though I do not agree with all you write
But this comment above I have found a very grave mistake:-
The MCB will "set up the focus groups to locate and combat the terrorist threat."
Shouldn,t it read:-
The MCB will "set up hocus pocus groups to locate and combat the terrorist threat."
according to article in travel section..yesterdays seattle times..England will lose about $526 million in tourism dollars this year due to 7/7 bombings..tour buses driving around with half dozen on board etc..
Has nobody in the British government heard of the wooden horse of Troy????
Has nobody in the British government heard of the wooden horse of Troy????
Posted by: marilyn at August 15, 2005 09:11 PM
Has nobody in the American government heard of it?