Scott Burgess weighs in on BBC Channel 4's program Who Speaks for Muslims?, and the UK government's continuing confusion over what constitutes a "moderate" or "mainstream" Muslim.
"March of the Moderates Continues," from The Daily Ablution (thanks to Hugh Fitzgerald):
Print media continue to provide welcome publicity for tonight's Channel 4 documentary Who Speaks for Muslims?, which lays open the extent of the links between the Foreign Office and Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and their south Asian co-ideologues, Jamaat-i-Islami - whose founder, Maulana Maududi, wrote:
"The objective of Islamic 'jihad' is to eliminate the rule of an un-Islamic system and establish in its stead an Islamic system of state rule. Islam does not intend to confine this revolution to a single state or a few countries; the aim of Islam is to bring about a universal revolution.'"
[...]
The picture is quite clear: these groups, allied by ideology, seek to establish a worldwide Caliphate under Sharia law. "Martyrdom" is one tool to be used to that end.
Today's press coverage, in the Times and Daily Mail (apparently not online), concentrates on the current trip to the UK by Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, an official of J-i-I in Bangladesh (and a member of the Bangladeshi parliament). Maulana Sayeedi, who compares Hindus to excrement and feels that the US "deserve all that is coming to them" for fighting the Taliban, visits as the guest of the East London Mosque, where he'll be preaching. Later he'll be addressing "a rally in a nearby park alongside the MP George Galloway" (Times).
Though not at the government's invitation, Mr. Sayeedi's admission into the country reflects a split in the Foreign Office concerning how such individuals should be treated (as it's in that department's power to deny the necessary visa application).Those Foreign Office officials who objected to his visit were, however, overruled by the increasingly influential Mockbul Ali, the 25 year old Islamic issues adviser; who, after a perfunctory statement that "we would not endorse [Sayeedi's views] in any way", insisted that the Bangladeshi was "viewed as a mainstream Muslim figure".
Read it all.
The truth is that it is hard to next to imposible to find a "moderate Muslim" that is willing to take a stand. Either they quietly support the jihadists or are fearful for both their lives and those of their dear ones to the violence. The most peaceful Muslims most likely are the ex-Muslims.
The thrust of the program was that if the government "further alienates" the "moderates", it will be our own fault when these "moderates" become the next Islamicide bombers. For example the program ended with the interview of 3 black Molsem rappers who insisted suicice bombing isn't part of Islam and that those who call for violent Jihad are distorting the real faith. The program maker called this supposed distorition "political Islam", and suggested that the government was courting this "political islam" through the MCB etc., who don't represent the fluffy peaceful version of Islam practised by most British Moslems (the ones who are subsequently going to bomb us next).
The program seemed to be concluding that we should let Moslem sentiments control our policy decisions or else they're going to slaughter more of us. It was a confused and completely uninformed travesty that totally ignored the core canonical doctrines common to all Moslems, and who's "moderate" guests were themselves in ignorance or denial. I'd imagine most veiwers, including those in the media and govt, found it to be an informative and lucid argument. It was anything but.
That Mockbul Ali guy sounds like bad news (what the hell is a 25 year old doing, giving advice to anyone, any way) - it seems that one of the vibrant and colourful contributions of the Muslim community to British life is to place that fairly open knee-jerk anti-Semitism, usual in the Islamic world, at the heart of the British foreign office. The thought of anybody who regards Mohammed as the most perfect of men and an eternal example, having any input into British government policy at all, makes me feel slightly queasy.
Who Speaks for Muslims? Because the muslims do not have a current Caliph, I will speak on their behalf. As the official spokesperson for the entire muslim ummah I declare we unconditionally surrender. We are terribly sorry for our actions over the last 1400 years and will immediately disband our religion and dedicate ourselves to building a better world. It is the least we can do to make up for all the pain we have caused this planet. I also declare all muslims will keep their heads lowered as a sign of embarrassment over joining this cult. We also give up all claims to the Gaza strip and any dream of a Palestine state. Again world, we are truly embarrassed and terribly sorry.
I would appreciate it if some British poster posted links of the pics of this rally. Should have some interesting images.
The nearest park to the East London Mosque is known as Itchy Coo Park (of pop song fame) which is opposite a hostel for the homeless ( it's name comes from tramps scratching themselves - I've seen a shouting and swearing schizophrenic clear it of people in minutes flat). Because of the large number of curry houses in Brick lane and nearbye streets, the local sewers block up with fat and it smells to high heaven at this time of year.Hope they have a nice rally. The park has a strange ornamental entrance that is some sort of memorial to a Bengali boy killed in a racist murder, years ago.
i am god incarnate. if the muslims need someone to speak for them i will have a go. first of all just because someone clams to represent god it does not mean they do. most pepole on this planet who clam to worship god do not even believe in god as a person . i am now nearly 34 years old and i have just finished my part in creation. i am allah or to the hindu i am braman the great god all mighty who is born into existance , and to others i am the creator of ellohim and the king of ellohim. and iwould just like to say that some peoples own jihad on others is basicly one unbeliever against another . so if anyone should be declaring jihad it should be me .the muslims want to shoot the jew and the christion , and as far as i can see , the christion want to rule the world in the name of jesus and the jew probably want to shoot both the christion and the muslim , and most of them probably want to shoot me ( GOD) .for saying who i am .i am the lord of orion , the king of creation , so if all you people out there who clam to know the truth and the real god ,you probably dont unless you believe i am god . so if you all stop shooting each other ,i would apreciate that as you are all idiots who do kill in one of my names and dont believe in me .and if you want to declare jihad on someone find my enemy , and dont shoot at them ,as there place is in hell , and those who believe in me their place is with god , i am the narrow gate writen about i am the gate to life immortaly . and if someone wants to fight me , i have the creation spirits , the angels , orion , the army of heaven , and an iron bar , who you got to back you up . and by the way i dont want to fight anyone so dont make me hurt you .love from the grat god omnipotant jimmy .
Hmmmm...allah has just shown us he is NOT a perfect God. He cannot spell.