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And when they are bought, and those who have outlawed speech about the elements of Islam that give rise to terrorism are in power, will they find what they have bought to be worth it? Will they find it was worth it when jihad terror and pressure to implement Sharia provisions are on the rise, and they can do nothing and say nothing to stop them because they themselves have outlawed such actions?
From the Telegraph, with thanks to all those who sent in this and similar stories:
Ms Ali inspired the liberal film-maker Theo van Gogh into extending a traditionally earthy Dutch anti-clericalism to Islam; the result being that he was shot and stabbed, with a warning note to Ms Ali thoughtfully affixed to his corpse with a carving knife.I have yet to hear a single senior British politician condemn these outrages, let alone express solidarity with the persecuted Ms Ali. In case Blair, Howard and Kennedy have forgotten, she is a duly-elected member of a sister parliament in one of Europe's most respected democracies.
Instead, the ever-active David Blunkett has slipped into the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill measures extending laws against incitement to racial hatred to cover "religious hatred" as well. The reason is superficially compelling. Whereas mono-ethnic "faith groups", such as Jews or Sikhs, are protected by laws against racial incitement, the law does not cover multi-ethnic "faith groups" such as Christians or Muslims, although we can all anticipate which of those will most benefit from the law.
Critics rightly suspect a cynical attempt to claw back Muslim support for New Labour that has been squandered through the war in Iraq. It is a bone tossed to those who claim to speak on behalf of a Muslim community that overwhelmingly resides in Labour inner city heartlands.
Those claiming to speak for the Muslim community have played to the traditional Left-wing imagination by conjuring up the myth of "far-Right extremism".
In reality, evidence for "Islamophobia" - as distinct from a justified fear of radical Islamist terrorism or a desire to protect our freedoms, institutions and values from those who hold them in contempt - is anecdotal and slight. I have met one "Islamophobe" - the gay gentleman who cuts my hair, which is hardly a firm basis to jettison centuries of hard-won religious give and take....
If Ms Ali lived here, she could find herself facing a seven- year prison sentence, for publicising the fact that in some Islamic societies, women cannot leave the home, let alone drive a car. Rather than dabbling in areas where it has no business, the Government should be wondering how to defend the likes of Ms Ali, since it is - tragically - too late for Theo van Gogh.
Posted by Robert at December 9, 2004 5:19 AM
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"will they find what they have bought to be worth it?"
I don't think they think that far ahead. It's all about them getting into power now, and staying in power for a few more years, & cementing their lifelong lucrative pensions and perks that the average joe can only dream of. If things get a little ugly at home in the future, due to the mess they made with their grovelling vote-buying, they can always flit off to some sunny little hideaway and leave the average joe to suffer the consequences. They're all the same everywhere. Canadian Liberals think the same way. Australian Labor party thinks the same too (thankfully they lost, ha ha ha!). Whoring themselves for votes the only way they can. Not through proper, well thought out policies, good fiscal management, etc. But through pandering to the special interest groups.
Posted by: feralee![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 9, 2004 5:47 AM
Oppas: “I believe that you understand how the entire army of Spain cannot resist the force of the Muslims. How then can you resist on this mountain? Listen to my advice. Abandon your efforts and you will enjoy many benefits from the Muslims.”
Pelayo: “Have you not read in Sacred Scripture that the Church of the Lord is like the mustard seed, which, small as it is, grows more than any other through the mercy of God?”
Oppas: “Truly, so it is written.”
Pelayo: “Our hope is in Christ. This little mountain will be the salvation of Spain and of its people. The mercy of Christ will free us from the Muslims.”
- From the “Cronica de Alfonso”, written in the 9th century, the story of Pelayo, who began the war for the reconquest of Spain.
at December 9, 2004 5:55 AM
Question for law professors:
Carefully craft a bill that will outlaw all blanket attacks on whole classes of people, as one finds all over the Qur'an and hadith. Make sure that this incitement to religious hatred cannot continue -- it may require, of course, the banning of all Qur'ans.
Make sure, of course, that those who point out that certain belief-systems include this incitement to hostility, violence, and even murder, are NOT engaged in hatespeech, but in lucid analysis of an ideology of conquest.
There. That shouldn't be so hard, should it?
Posted by: Hugh at December 9, 2004 12:22 PM
"Whereas mono-ethnic "faith groups", such as Jews or Sikhs, are protected by laws against racial incitement, the law does not cover multi-ethnic "faith groups" such as Christians or Muslims, although we can all anticipate which of those will most benefit from the law. "
A little OT, but it would appear the author(s) are completely unaware of Ethiopian, Yemenite, Indian, Baghdadi or Iranian, Turkic or Sephardic Jews. Until the most recent wave of immigration from the former Soviet Union, the majority of Israel's Jewish population was comprised of these non-Yiddish speaking, non-Eastern European Jews.
The well-known Sasson family of Britain are Iraqi Jews. I understand that quite a large portion of the Jews who fled Iraq in the 1920s immigrated to Britain, not Israel. Baghdad once having been a quarter Jewish, the number would not be insignificant.
Posted by: waterdragon52 at December 9, 2004 1:09 PM
A phobia is defined in the Collins English Dictionary as an irrational fear.
The writer of the article above states that his gay hairdresser is an "Islamophobe". Given that Sharia Law prescibes the death penalty for homesexuality, can this man's fear of Islam be descibed as irrational?
If we cannot criticise people's beliefs and opinions, then where does that put free speech? If that bill is passed, then Great Britain has said goodbye to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Posted by: Amicus at December 9, 2004 8:40 PM
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