This despite Smith’s having visited a mosque and issued numerous groveling apologies. Do you think he would have received this suspension if he had been perceived as having insulted any other group? Neither do I. But in Britain today, and all over the West, Sharia blasphemy laws forbidding criticism of Islam coalesce nicely with the initiative to ban “hate speech” against supposedly vulnerable minorities. The freedom of speech is far more severely threatened than most people realize.
“Louis Smith: British Gymnastics bans four-time Olympic medallist over video,” BBC, November 1, 2016 (thanks to Bob):
Four-time Olympic medallist Louis Smith has been suspended for two months by British Gymnastics over a video in which he appeared to mock Islam.
The video, filmed by Smith but leaked to the media, appeared to show him laughing while retired gymnast Luke Carson mimicked Islamic prayer practices.
Smith, who won pommel horse silver at Rio 2016, later said he was “deeply sorry” for his “thoughtless actions”.
Carson was given a reprimand.
Smith, 27, is one of Britain’s best known gymnasts and won the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing in 2012.
“It is regrettable that following a historic summer of achievement, the organisation finds itself in this difficult position with two high-profile members in breach of our standards of conduct,” British Gymnastics chief executive Jane Allen said.
“As the custodians of the integrity and values of the sport, we have had no choice but to act responsibly.
“Whilst both individuals showed remorse following the incident, we hope in the future they use their profile to have a positive impact on sport and communities.”
British Gymnastics said Smith’s ban was a “cumulative penalty” because of a previous breach of its rules on conduct.
He was reprimanded in June for posting an image on social media of an American gymnast, who was 16 when the photograph was taken, accompanied by a comment British Gymnastics said was “unbefitting to a participant”.
In April, he apologised for questioning the judging at the British Championships, where he was beaten to pommel gold by Max Whitlock.
The Briton missed last month’s Olympic and Paralympic celebrations for Britain’s Rio 2016 medallists to visit two London mosques “to learn more about the Muslim community”.
Smith said he had previously been “ignorant to people’s religion” and added on Facebook that it was his responsibility “as someone of sporting influence” to exercise freedom of speech “in good taste”….

daniel sebold says
Christians are jerks.
gravenimage says
In what way? Christians do not demand that no one be allowed to criticize their faith, as Muslims do.
heidi says
‘scuse me? muslims are doctrinally instructed to commit pedophilia, to terrorize, to kill gays, apostates, women who’ve been raped non believers, & you suggest Christians are jerks? they are not even in same category since islam is an oppressive, TOTALITARIAN ideology, violently enforced with sharia.
Ernie says
No ,” Daniel Sebold ” , before you make such a bold ( and stupid ) comment you better look into the mirror . Islam/muslims see Christians ( and treat them as such ) this way . Are you a muslim Daniel ?
Ernie says
Are your parents related by blood/cousins ” Daniel Sebold ” ?
Dennis says
I believe that Daniel made that comment because the “Christian” nations accept and tolerate such bullshit as what occurred with this medalist. Why are Christians so submissive? Why are they bending so far backwards to accommodate Muslim sensibilities? In this way Christians are very very ignorant and will eventually pay the price. No I am not related, not am I a Muslim. I am Jewish. The Christians should learn from Israel how to treat such “stupidity”!
Charli Main says
@ Dennis
Agreed. Time to stop kissing the arses of these Muslim scum and put the boot up their arses instead. Violence is the only thing Muslims respect and understand .” Civilised” and” nice” means only one thing to Muslims——weakness to be exploited and used to spread the Ummah.
Ernie says
Dear Dennis , Daniel Sebold is not referring to “Christian”-Nations ” , but to “Christians” ( in general ) . There are no more “Christian Nations” in the West . The West is Secular , though many Christians live in the Western world . Church and state are seperated in our “Western World/ Western democracies . Not seeing the difference is symptomatic for muslims , since muslims don’t seperate church and state . It is a sign of projection from muslims ( and a clear note of NOT UNDERSTANDING how Western DEMOCRACIES function ) . Dennis , when you state “The Christians” should learn from Israel how to treat such “stupidity” you give evidence of not understanding our Western world . You claim to be Jewish , and I’m having my doubts about your claim .
old white guy says
f–k islam.
Kay says
This is a shame! And so scary!
Didn’t we learn when Charb was murdered?
Meanwhile we seem incapable of taking a stand against true crimes: rapes, assaults, pedophilia, graft . . .
moeped says
What kind of punishment was given to the Egyptian Judo Olympian who didn’t shake his Jewish opponent’s hand after the match? Why hold ourselves to a “higher standard” than those who are truly hateful?
Angemon says
Laughing at a joke is apparently no laughing matter in Britain…
Again: laughing at a joke.
Mubarak says
“The video, filmed by Smith but leaked to the media, appeared to show him laughing while retired gymnast Luke Carson mimicked Islamic prayer practices.” –
Mimicking Islamic prayer practices is less ridiculous and insulting to Muslims than the ostensible real thing they themselves practice.
ECAW says
This is a particularly craven abandonment of free speech in the face of a bully. Deeply, deeply sad, but at least we can let them know what we think about it:
information@british-gymnastics.org
ECAW says
Thankfully there are some people left in Britain who understand:
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/11/je-suis-louis-smith-must-free-mock-islam/
Mubarak says
The article is a good reference, ECAW.
British Gymnastics make fools of themselves, and if Louis Smith had had any balls, he would leave the association and ban them from using his name and his photo.
“Whilst both individuals showed remorse following the incident, we hope in the future they use their profile to have a positive impact on sport and communities”, BG writes on their website.
Others might hope that a growing number of athletes will “use their profile to have a positive impact on” (by putting restraints on) the foolishness and the danger posed by a religion that doesn’t eschew intimidations and violence in their pursue of respect for their quack of a prophet and his latter days parrots when performing their ridiculous gymnastics five times a day.
Mubarak says
Sorry: “a religion” = religionists
gravenimage says
Why would Mubarak have a problem with Muslim prayer, while claiming that Muslim *rape* is salubrious for our society?
Dom107 says
Yes,I seen that grovelling apology from Smith.Obviously forced to by some authority.
The Brits love apologising from late trains to foreign religions but not of course Christianity !
underbed cat says
What seems an unbreakable trance, that the left continues with the idea of a tolerant i—m doctrine all that is needed is factual data. It ( Quran, the Reliance of the Traveler,) is in the library, the internet, ( along with inaccurate books written to cleverly deceive), video’s, websites etc….. Point is that the information is available which contradicts, if the Republicans are so”uneducated” (false) then why can the Democrats get away with the fibs and how did the administration last so long undermining and aiding the jihadist….isis, bokoharem, al qaeda isil, daesh, you name it they defend terrorism..so strange.
Who they don’t defend is Israel….or Christianity, nor truth and the right to speak it.
Michael Copeland says
Ridicule of particular religions or the practices of their adherents is expressly protected in English law. This is stated in the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006, section 29J. It is a long piece of prose, but here it is:
“Nothing in this Part shall be read or given effect in a way which prohibits or restricts discussion, criticism or expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule, insult or abuse of particular religions, or the beliefs or practices of their adherents, or of any other belief system, or the beliefs or practices of its adherents, or proselytising or urging adherents of a different belief system to cease practising their religion or belief system.”
If the British Gymnastics are operating a policy which is at variance with these rights their policy is not lawful.
Under Cameron the law was not upheld. Under May it seems the same.
daniel sebold says
I just wanted to apologize for saying “Christians are jerks” in my previous correspondence. I didn’t mean it. Really. You guys are groovy.
Mark A says
As a Christian, I forgive you.
“…..forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us….”
Billy Lynch says
Why would you even insult Christians in an article about Islam? I forgive you but that will not lift the curse you have just brought upon YOURSELF by doing so. Only Jesus Christ can forgive you, so you need to ask HIM to forgive you for that and all your other sins.
citycat says
The Pope’s a jerk.
Charli Main says
The Pope is not a Christian. He is a Muslim stooge.
citycat says
The Christians in power, who are letting Islam take over, are jerks.
Kay says
There are fewer Christians than you think.
citycat says
The ordinary Christians not in power, who think Islam is a religno of peace, are jerks.
Kay says
Misinformed maybe, or ignorant– not “jerks.”
citycat says
I don’t know of any other religion except Christianity that, with respect to Islam’s intent to conquer Earth, contains jerks.
daniel sebold says
Christians are obligated to spread the word. When I was living in Saudi Arabia, it was amazing how at times my students would drop these evangelical pamphlets on me about Islam–pamphlets very similar in style to Christian ones, except that, on the issue of evolution, the Muslims accepted evolution.
Angemon says
daniel sebold posted:
“the Muslims accepted evolution.”
I find that impossible to believe considering that the quran, which presents itself as the perfect word of allah, says that all humans came from Adam (quran 4:1), who was created from clay and then blown to life (quran 23:13, 38:71-72).
daniel sebold says
Really? What are you? Creationist or evolutionist? Why would I lie about that? I have no great love for Middle Eastern cultures for reasons that don’t have to be stated. There is no incentive for me to lie about that. I find it easy to believe that forty-five percent of Americans are creationists given the current state of education in the USA and that many are Biblical literalists who believe that man was created from dust. The Quran says clay, a drop of sperm or a clot of blood, depending upon what passage you want to read, though I will give credit to the Catholic Church for officially accepting evolution back in the year 1950. How many protestant sects in America accept evolution today? . By the way, when I taught in Saudi I did go ahead and teach lessons about Astronomy and the Physics and Chemistry of the Universe, on the number of galaxies and the size and age of the Universe, things I would get in trouble for in the USA. My students had no problem with this.
I have run into a lot of English teachers in the USA who have been converted into science teachers in supposedly liberal cities like Portland, Oregon, teaching lessons out of Scope Magazine about the Loc Ness Monster and Big Foot.. I had never read the fine print on my Iowa teacher’s certificate until recently and was surprise to discover that I am, too, a certified middle school science teacher. Who would have known? But I have no plans in the near future of teaching about inverse square and angular momentum laws or about how electromagnetism and the weak force are a manifestation of the same thing. I trust that America’s science teachers, the few with actual science degrees, would do a much better job.
Angemon says
daniel sebold posted:
“Really?”
Yes, really. I gave you the chapter and verses of the quran so you can see for yourself. Why are you asking me instead of checking for yourself?
“What are you? Creationist or evolutionist?”
Sir, I don’t like your tone, nor the way as you are trying to make it personal. Whether am I a creationist or evolutionist makes no difference to what islam teaches and muslims believe, does it?
“Why would I lie about that?”
Who said you were lying? Why are you adamant in making it personal? Did I struck a nerve when I said the quran teaches creationism? The quran says what is says. I gave you the sources. You are free to confirm.
“I have no great love for Middle Eastern cultures for reasons that don’t have to be stated.”
That’s irrelevant to the discussion.
“There is no incentive for me to lie about that. ”
Who said you were lying? Ignorant of islamic tenets to the point you are easily fooled by a dawah campaign? Certainly. Why jump the gun and assume someone who stated facts was calling you a liar?
“I find it easy to believe that forty-five percent of Americans are creationists given the current state of education in the USA and that many are Biblical literalists who believe that man was created from dust.”
That’s completely irrelevant to what the quran says and muslims beieve, isn’t it?
“The Quran says clay, a drop of sperm or a clot of blood, depending upon what passage you want to read, though I will give credit to the Catholic Church for officially accepting evolution back in the year 1950.”
Blood cloth or sperm refers to the fertilization and creation of the human embryo, not evolution/creationism. The quran states that all people descend from Adam, who was created from clay and blown to life. That is creationism, sperm or no sperm, blood clot or no blood clot.
“How many protestant sects in America accept evolution today?”
That’s irrelevant to whether or not muslims believe in evolution or creationism, isn’t it?
“ By the way, when I taught in Saudi I did go ahead and teach lessons about Astronomy and the Physics and Chemistry of the Universe, on the number of galaxies and the size and age of the Universe, things I would get in trouble for in the USA. ”
Citation needed. How well represented is America on the Nobel Prize in Physics pantheon? And Saudi Arabia?
“I have run into a lot of English teachers in the USA who have been converted into science teachers in supposedly liberal cities like Portland, Oregon, teaching lessons out of Scope Magazine about the Loc Ness Monster and Big Foot..”
Even if that’s the case, what does that have to do with what islam teaches about creationism?
“ I had never read the fine print on my Iowa teacher’s certificate until recently and was surprise to discover that I am, too, a certified middle school science teacher. Who would have known?”
Even if that’s the case (and why should that be a surprise seeing how you allegedly have a background in Astronomy, Physics and Chemistry), what does that have to do with what islam teaches about creationism?
“? But I have no plans in the near future of teaching about inverse square and angular momentum laws or about how electromagnetism and the weak force are a manifestation of the same thing. I trust that America’s science teachers, the few with actual science degrees, would do a much better job.”
What does that have to do with what islam teaches about creationism?
daniel sebold says
I agree. Quranic creationism is wrong. Only the Biblical version is right.
Angemon says
daniel sebold posted:
“I agree. Quranic creationism is wrong. Only the Biblical version is right.”
Can you take a criticism of islam and/or muslims without going after Christians in the process? The alleged pamphlets you allegedly received were clearly dawah meant to fool naive idiots. Quran teaches creationism. If you have an issue with it, take it up to allah itself. Whether some Christian groups teach creationism or not it’s irrelevant.
You’re an anti-Christian bigot, I get it. But this site is not “Christianity Watch”, it’s “Jihad Watch”.
Kay says
@ Daniel
“Creationist or evolutionist”
It really isn’t an either/or. Most churches recognize that. And my guess is that most Bible believing Christians are not “literalists.”
But if you are Jewish, then we share the creation stories. They give great dignity. We are created in the image of God. He has breathed His spirit into us.
gravenimage says
citycat wrote:
I don’t know of any other religion except Christianity that, with respect to Islam’s intent to conquer Earth, contains jerks.
……………………
citycat, you are quite mistaken. There are Jewish and Hindu dhimmis, as well–and there are Christian, Jewish, and Hindu Anti-Jihadists. No faith has a monopoly on dhimmitude.
gravenimage says
daniel sebold’s implication that Islam is more reasonable and advanced than is Christianity is just absurd.
Firstly, the theory of evolution–like most science–developed in the Christian West, not in Islam. Many Christians, in fact, do believe in evolution.
What is salient, as well, is the contrast between the behavior of Christians and Muslims who do not believe in evolution; here is a death Fatwa issued by a Saudi cleric against an Imam who did believe in evolution. He was driven from his Mosque in England and forced to go into hiding:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2013/dec/04/creationist-fatwa-wahhabi-islam-usama-hasan
Christian creationists are not threatening those who believe in evolution.
And this is the point–even if what daniel sebold claimed was the case, how would this *possibly* outweigh Islam’s violent savagery and supremacist diktat to impose Islam on the entire world?
daniel sebold says
Graven Image
I am not an apologist for Islam. I wouldn’t be on this web page if I were. I am deeply concerned that the US Government is deliberately bringing in terrorists to distract Americans from their economic problems. Surely you will acknowledge that the USA is in economic decline. There is no central authority to the Muslim religion, so anything can happen anywhere to anyone. Comparably, the USA seems to exhibit great contrasts in possibilities of experiences of intolerance and sexism and racism depending on where you live in the country.
When I lived in Jubail in Saudi Arabia the Saudi Royal Commission television station was showing sexy scantily clad exercise programs with young women on their television station regularly. At the Interontinental Hotel In Jubail both genders could sunbathe on the beach wearing whatever they wanted, men and women, boys and girls–it looked more like Rio than Saudi at that private hotel beach. I am just telling you my experience. I don’t recommend living in Saudi, but it is not as horrible as you may think. I also tell the Europeans here in Bangkok who tell me that the USA has become a door locking ulcerated danger zone of criminal millionaires and intolerant religious zealots–when they say these things to me, I tell them, no, the USA really isn’t that way. Every once in awhile you read about clashes between the police state and protesters, but, as a hole, it is relatively free.
What can I say? I served in the ’91 Gulf War as an Arabic linguist and have had to seek employment countries that have severe human rights problems, like Saudi Arabia. Just because I live in these countries doesn’t mean I think Islam is a groovy religion.
As for the evolution/creationism issue: the Catholic church accepted evolution as well as the Big Bang theory back in the year 1950, so there are indeed Christians who are scientists and who see no contradiction in their science and religious beliefs.
–Daniel in Bangkok
Angemon says
daniel sebold posted:
“There is no central authority to the Muslim religion, so anything can happen anywhere to anyone.”
Al-Azhar “University” is the most prestigious centre of “learning” in sunni islam, which composes 85-95% of the muslim population worldwide.
“Comparably, the USA seems to exhibit great contrasts in possibilities of experiences of intolerance and sexism and racism depending on where you live in the country.”
Huh, what? What does this alleged location-based “racism” and “sexism” have to do with the matter at hand? Are black people treated like slaves in America as they are in, for example, Saudi Arabia? Are women in America treated as second-class citizens, forbidden to drive or walk around without a male relative escort or risking to be raped and stoned for “adultery”? Is that not actual racism and sexism?
daniel sebold says
My African students in Saudi did quite well. The Shiite and African students were my best students. They were excellent students and many African Saudis have done well there. I taught women students in Oman and they were far better students than the male students. Some have argued that in our mostly female universities in America, women are doing far better than the male students.
Trump has shown us that misogyny is alive and well in the USA, so is misandry from what I have seen of the Men’s rights web sites. My guess is that things will eventually work out in the USA between the genders. Saudi Arabia abolished African slavery I believe some time in the 1960’s. I have walked through the slums of Jeddah talking to and photographing Africans, and met and photographed many Sudanese and Eritreans in Jazan’s old city way down on the Yemen border. I have lots of photos of poor Africans in Saudi. Many have escaped civil conflicts in Chad, Sudan and Somalia never returned to Africa after Haj.
gravenimage says
daniel sebold wrote:
Graven Image
I am not an apologist for Islam. I wouldn’t be on this web page if I were. I am deeply concerned that the US Government is deliberately bringing in terrorists to distract Americans from their economic problems. Surely you will acknowledge that the USA is in economic decline. There is no central authority to the Muslim religion, so anything can happen anywhere to anyone.
………………………………..
The idea that there is nothing consistent in Islam is quite mistaken. The texts and tenets of Islam are *quite* clear, and that is why we find Muslims waging violent Jihad and imposing brutal Shari’ah law wherever they go.
I think the West’s bringing in Mohammedans has more to do with “political correctness” than anything else. How a mass Muslim invasion would distract from economic problems is anyone’s guess; if a society is not suffering from economic decline *before* a mass influx of Muslims, it soon will be.
More:
Comparably, the USA seems to exhibit great contrasts in possibilities of experiences of intolerance and sexism and racism depending on where you live in the country.
………………………………..
Not sure what your point is here. No–the United States is *not* perfect when it comes to intolerance, sexism, or racism–but it is clear that none of these problems, to the extent that they exist, would be improved by the presence of Islam.
More:
When I lived in Jubail in Saudi Arabia the Saudi Royal Commission television station was showing sexy scantily clad exercise programs with young women on their television station regularly. At the Interontinental Hotel In Jubail both genders could sunbathe on the beach wearing whatever they wanted, men and women, boys and girls–it looked more like Rio than Saudi at that private hotel beach. I am just telling you my experience. I don’t recommend living in Saudi, but it is not as horrible as you may think.
………………………………..
Saudi Arabia and other parts of Dar-al-Islam have relaxed rules for the wealthy, inlcuding wealthy Infidels at times. This does not change the nature of Islam.
And despite what you appear to believe, scantily clad exercise programs do not represent the core of Western values.
More:
I also tell the Europeans here in Bangkok who tell me that the USA has become a door locking ulcerated danger zone of criminal millionaires and intolerant religious zealots–when they say these things to me, I tell them, no, the USA really isn’t that way. Every once in awhile you read about clashes between the police state and protesters, but, as a hole, it is relatively free.
………………………………..
I would not put a lot of stock in what American-hating tourists have to say.
And no–America is *not* a “police state”.
More:
What can I say? I served in the ’91 Gulf War as an Arabic linguist and have had to seek employment countries that have severe human rights problems, like Saudi Arabia. Just because I live in these countries doesn’t mean I think Islam is a groovy religion.
………………………………..
You chose to work in these places; I can respect that. But I do not believe that you were somehow forced to work there–unless you were kidnapped, of course.
More:
As for the evolution/creationism issue: the Catholic church accepted evolution as well as the Big Bang theory back in the year 1950, so there are indeed Christians who are scientists and who see no contradiction in their science and religious beliefs.
………………………………..
True.
daniel sebold says
And we should consider that Islam is now where Christianity was four hundred years ago: four hundred years ago Giordono Bruno was put to death for saying that the stars out there are really other suns like our own, and probably have planets like our own with life on them. The Polish scientist Copernicus consequently did not publish his scientific findings about a Sun centered cosmos until he was on his death bed because he was afraid the Christians would put him to death.
Christianity held back scientific achievement until the 1800’s by embracing Plato’s idealism through the Apostle Paul and Augustine and by adopting unscientific Aristotelian teleological concepts through Aquinas and by rejecting the pre socratic scientific philosophies of Atomism of Democritus and Leucipius. .
Jay Boo says
Daniel
You still seem to have a bit of Stockholm Syndrome leftover from the time you spent serving the Saudis.
citycat says
Apart from that the only other jerks i know that think Islam is a religion of peace are a couple of Atheists.
Kay says
Do you know anyone who isn’t a jerk?
( Some days I don’t either. But I try not to tell them all. Usually after I get a good night’s sleep it seems their redeeming qualities have multiplied.)
Mirren10 says
”Do you know anyone who isn’t a jerk?
( Some days I don’t either.”
An English version of your sentiment, Kay. 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10211273672617358&set=a.1674097932063.97340.1225875446&type=3
Mubarak says
Even if the law forbade ridicule and insults: when people debase, ridicule and insult themselves – as Muslims do – the law can do nothing. A masochist can’t sue a sadist for mistreatment. Am I wrong about that? —
But your comment and quotation is very relevant and well chosen.
gravenimage says
*No* law in the free West should forbid ridicule and insults–this crushes freedom of speech.
Mubarak says
But if people sabotage free speech by obsessive-compulsive speaking, Tourette’s syndrome (Coprolalia) or obligatory praying five times a day the law that protects free speech is rendered impotent.
jayell says
“But if people sabotage free speech by obsessive-compulsive speaking, Tourette’s syndrome (Coprolalia) or obligatory praying five times a day the law that protects free speech is rendered impotent.”
You’re talking about recognised or recognisable disorders on the one hand and prescribed ritual on the other, neither of which could possibly be taken by any reasonable person or court to amount to intellectual critical dialogue of any kind. I really don’t understand your comment.
gravenimage says
More from Mubarak:
But if people sabotage free speech by obsessive-compulsive speaking, Tourette’s syndrome (Coprolalia) or obligatory praying five times a day the law that protects free speech is rendered impotent.
…………………………..
What absolute crap.
Speech does not render freedom of speech impotent.
No one here has a problem with Muslims praying five times a day–just with the results of such prayers in an evil creed, which is oppression and violence.
Presumably the primary implication here is that that Mubarak is having his Da’wa impinged by having to put up with posters here calling him on it.
Mubarak says
jayell:
If speech is prompted by anger, rage, hate, contempt, envy, lust and the like, I doubt it can be called free. There is a spiritual aspect to free speech that is essential and law cannot get hold of it; law can neither promote nor prevent free speech in this region. We usually talk about free speech as a political right, but that doesn’t exhaust the phenomenon. I just wanted to call attention to that.
Mubarak says
“Speech does not render freedom of speech impotent.” and “the law that protects free speech is rendered impotent.” —
Are these two sentences the same in your grammar, GI? Or are you just doing your usual work of distorting my comments? —
Stalking is also not an expression of freedom, BTW.
Angemon says
Mubarak posted:
“Stalking is also not an expression of freedom, BTW.”
Was that what law enforcement told you?
gravenimage says
The appalling Mubarak wrote, in reply to Jayell:
jayell:
If speech is prompted by anger, rage, hate, contempt, envy, lust and the like, I doubt it can be called free.
……………………………….
Good God, what crap. The whole point of free speech is that–unless it directly threatens others–is that it is not restricted for either its content–or, worse–the subjectively perceived emotional state of the speaker.
But Muslims have *never* understood anything about free speech.
More:
There is a spiritual aspect to free speech that is essential and law cannot get hold of it; law can neither promote nor prevent free speech in this region. We usually talk about free speech as a political right, but that doesn’t exhaust the phenomenon. I just wanted to call attention to that.
……………………………….
This is, in fact, *very* common with those who want to restrict freedom of speech–claiming that there is a ‘responsibility’ to curtail freedom of speech unless it is properly ‘respectful’–or, in this case, accordingly ‘spiritual’.
And now would this play out in the real world? Mubarak has said many times that we deserved to be raped by Muslims for exercising our freedom of expression–for allowing lingerie ads, for allowing protests of Muslim rape if performed in the nude or in miniskirts, and for allowing women to attend public celebrations or to work and study alongside men, and for failing to put Fatwas out on “artists” like Andres Serrano.
Nothing more “spiritual” than Shari’ah strictures. *Ugh*.
gravenimage says
Yet more from the foul Mubarak:
“Speech does not render freedom of speech impotent.” and “the law that protects free speech is rendered impotent.” —
Are these two sentences the same in your grammar, GI? Or are you just doing your usual work of distorting my comments? —
………………………………………
The implication is that the free West does not have laws guaranteeing freedom of speech–or that such laws are supposedly rendered “impotent” by the existence of people who speak compulsively, people with Tourette’s syndrome, or people who pray several times a day.
Of course, this is utter hogwash. Accepting this claim would mean that legal guarantees of freedom of speech are rendered “impotent” because of human nature.
But *nothing* could be further from the truth–freedom of speech–and its legal guarantees–work *because* of the nature of humans, and of human freedom.
As I noted, it should come as no surprise that pious Muslims consistently prove incapable of understanding such freedoms. Certainly, they hate and despise such freedom.
More:
Stalking is also not an expression of freedom, BTW.
………………………………………
Well, this is non sequitur–no one here ever claimed this about stalking.
Perhaps what Mubarak means, however, is that posters should be prohibited from pointing out someone who praises Muslim rape–certainly, it is quite inconvenient for Mubarak when he is in Taqiyya mode.
Again, this shows the difference between Islam and the free West–in Islam, anything that is an exposure that is inconvenient or embarrassing for Muslims is considered “slander”.
Here in the free West–much of it, at least–truth still counts, for now, at least.
Angemon says
Mubarak posted:
“A masochist can’t sue a sadist for mistreatment. Am I wrong about that?”
Of course you are.
gravenimage says
Very true, Angemon.
Kay says
Thank you gravenimage and Angemon for reading and refuting Mubarak.
Good to keep jihadwatch as jihadwatch and not give in to the twisting. But oh, the energy!
gravenimage says
Thank you, Kay. 🙂
gravenimage says
Thanks for the information, Michael.
george whyte says
Let them know what you think:
information@british-gymnastics.org
P2 says
I sent them an email referencing the law. Thank you for the info.
gravenimage says
Thank you, George.
john spielman says
what ? where is freedom of speech and expression ! in a democracy you have the right and privilege of being insulted!
LR says
“In a democracy you have the right and privilege of being insulted!”…
That would make a good bumper sticker…
gravenimage says
Sharia UK: British Gymnastics suspends Olympic medalist for 2 months for insulting Islam
…………………….
Thought police at the Olympics.
Mark A says
This suspension is a “cumulative penalty”?
I’d be curious to see details of previous “offences.” I’d also be curious to see the video that this athlete supposedly laughed at and found amusing.
Unless there is something really egregious among these “cumulative” offences, I have a problem seeing this suspension as anything more than political correctness running amok yet again.
Mubarak says
https://youtu.be/C5tBD0z5-P8
The innocent video commented by a Muslim, who doesn’t understand that it is Islam that is mocking him. He also doesn’t understand, that by taking the videoclip serious he validates and justifies its ridicule. —
Muslims are caught in a rather extended Stockholm syndrome. Maybe one could call it the Mecca-Medina mumbledrome
daniel sebold says
The Brits are that afraid of reprisals. I have had enough. I am going back back to the 1970’s
citycat says
Got any acid man?
Vote them out says
Left wing political correctness will result in the death of the West, unless every voter sends a clear message of rejection to the ‘thought police’ by voting out the left wing politicians and replacing them with politicians who understand the threat from Islam and who respect freedom of speech.
Joseph says
Why is isalm the ONLY religion to have it’s very own PHOBIA. No one is phobic about Judaism or Sikhism or Christianity or Budhism or Hinduism. Why is islam the ONLY religion pressuring the rest of the world to adopt rules outlawing blasphemy or defamation . Why do the rest of the world’s major religions not feel the need to be artificially protected from question or criticism?. Why is islam the ONLY religion that kills in response to cartoons , books , videos , films , speeches . Other religions can live with a degree of mockery or criticism OR at least react in a civil and orderly way without loss of life or destruction of property. Why is islam the ONLY religion that imposes the death penalty on anyone who leaves islam ?. All other religions are confident enough in their own integrity to allow dissent or departures if that is what the individual wishes. Why is islam the ONLY religion that feels the necessity to suppress ALL other faiths and belief systems in the areas it controls ? . All other religions are comfortable with allowing freedom of worship and practise in their areas. Why is islam the ONLY religion that appears in so many countries to be so widely ” misunderstood ” ?. All other religions have a clear religious message and do not claim to be peaceful , tolerant and caring BUT in practise carry out killing , burning , rape , child marriage , FGM , slavery , polygamy , intolerance , bigotry and more. Why is islam the ONLY religion that seems to think it is OK to IMPOSE dress codes, restrictions and bans on other faiths in muslim countries BUT whinges and complains when there is mention of banning a burkah , or restricting the opening of a mosque or islamic schools ?. Why is islam the ONLY religion whose children still contract Polio ? . No other religion thinks that the Polio Eradication Scheme is a plot to sterilise them and no other religion kills the vaccinators. These idiots are totally adrift from reality and their sense of victimhood and persecution is a pathetic effort to disguise the inadequacy of their doctrines and their religious beliefs and practises which truly belong in the 7th century which is where they are – AND WILL REMAIN – permanently anchored.
Steve's nephew says
Joseph: Excellent post. Here is my thought: When something is the Truth, it will stand up to questioning and criticism. But when questioning and criticism are prohibited, in all probability, it is not the truth.
gravenimage says
Fine post, Joseph.
citycat says
This Engeland now is looking truely fucked. I didn’t know Sharia law was here. I can’t trust the governments, it’s as if something has got a hold on them. The only way is with the people now.
daniel sebold says
And I can’t believe the US Government or some NGO could sell out Dearborn like that, drive out the merchants by raising the rents enormously high, then bring in the Saudis, now running around in their burkas, driving sixty thousand dollar vehicles with four wives in the back seat, while on Medicaid–they need to find out who did this. Who did this? Can we find out? Does anybody know? Rich Saudis on medicaid in America while our own people suffer.
Kay says
Yes, it’s terrible graft. We have too many people suffering to spend resources like that.
Mubarak says
“British Gymnastics bans four-time Olympic medallist over video,” –
Why? Don’t they know how many lashes the sharia prescribes for such an offense?
daniel sebold says
Yes, why not give them lashes? How ignorant and inappropriate.
daniel sebold says
Excuse me. Could you please give me some lashes? And you said you were going to spend me. Sure this should mean a hanging?
Peggy says
The mistake we all make is that we are all too quick to apologise and grovel.
They see that they can treat us any way they want.
If we all just refused to apologise and stood our ground they couldn’t possibly punish us all. When we apologise when we are not sorry it makes us look weak and abuse ready.
I get so angry when I hear on TV or read that after something was said about Muslims those people are so ready to apologise. When Muslims apologise to us and visit a church to show their regret then and only then would I consider doing it.
daniel sebold says
I would like to apologize and grovel for putting down Christians.
Kay says
You have already been forgiven daniel. No need to grovel.
(Maybe something made you angry? That would be understandable.)
LR says
Daniel was having a little fun here…
Of course Christians are jerks!
citycat says
@KAY
i don’t know many jerks.
Two atheists, which is now down to one and a half.
And a handful of half-jerks.
The Christians i know are not jerks, but they are ones who are on Islam’s case, but can’t say publicly.
My sister is a bit of a jerk, but that’s because Islam is a bit too heavy to contemplate, so i don’t mention it to her.
citycat says
Why are the jerks the ones that are in the higher positions of Christianity, like the pope and those that think there is such a thing as inter religious chat or commune with Muslims, yet the rest of the ordinary Christians, at least all that i’ve met, which is fair sample, know fully what Islam is, once you can get them to break their safely lock of silence.
LR says
I HATE EVERYBODY!
Mubarak says
That’s a good start, if you want to be a Christian, LR:
““If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”
Son of Albion says
Actually Mubarak
To fully understand what Jesus meant in this verse. The meaning of the Greek word translated “hate” must be looked at. In this verse, the original Greek word is miseo, meaning “TO LOVE LESS” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible). In other words Jesus is saying you must love your family less.
Jesus also said in Matthew 19:17-19 “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.”
Mubarak says
I believe and hope you have a strong case there, you son of a BRIT.
But I *was* commenting with half my tongue in cheek.
The poor guy hates everybody so we have to cheer him up.
PS: I also like your comment below.
gravenimage says
Mubarak wrote:
That’s a good start, if you want to be a Christian, LR:
““If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”
…………………………..
Mubarak enjoys misinterpreting Christianity.
Worst of all, of course, is when he claims that Christianity demands surrender to Islam–and to Islamic norms.
Son of Albion says
Why does every body presume the USA or for that matter any Western Nation is Christian? They may have been based on Judaism / Christian principles at one point but that was long ago and I`d now say Western Nations are secular not Christian. Any Nation that allows abortion, teaches evolution as fact, promotes premarital sex as a rite of passage, promotes and supports LGBT and teaches these as alternate life styles is secular not Christian. Walking into a garage does not make one a mechanic anymore than being born in the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, or any Western Nation makes you a Christian. True Christianity is a choice and comes through believing that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and that his death at Calvary paid a debt that the sacrifice of animals could not accomplish. It is more than just believing it is about relationship and living on the principles that Jesus expounded when when he walked on the earth.
The ban on this gymnast had nothing to do with Christianity but every thing to do with weak Government and left wing ideals. There is an agenda to destroy the west, bring down the middle class and distribute wealth equally across the globe. There will only be the rich and the poor (the vast majority) Any remnant of Judaeo / Christian principles will be done away with . You can see it happening now in the USA as Obama rots that great nation from the inside out. Europe is in it`s final stages. When the Swedish Government excuses rape and blames it on the victims, when the UK media refuses to identify Islamic crimes by leaving out names, description etc and hide the age of “child migrants ” , when Germany continues to allow mass migration of refugees even though the country has become a nightmare and Holland, Norway and France follow suit, you are watching the down fall of democracy and freedom. Hillary, May, Merkel, Trudeau, Manuel Carlos, Rutte, etc are all pawns of the Global elite. Even Trump is nothing more than a gauge for the climate of the USA . If he wins it just sets the agenda back but it still progresses on a slower scale. Muslim migration and the slow allowance of their culture and laws in our Nations is just one more step in the erosion of our great Nations.
Ernie says
Son of Albion , great comment , thank you !
Marty says
the UK is steadily becoming a mohammedan state.
The mohammedan demographics from the most respectable
sources forecast that we have about 50 years left.
patriotliz says
Islam has been at war w/ Western civilization for 1400 years; now they are finally able to conquer it using the Leftist multiculturalist war on nationalism.
Bob says
I’ve been under the clearly mistaken belief that blasphemy is no longer a crime in British law – except, it seems, if the muslims’re offended, & they do seem to have particularly thin skins!!
Kuffar says
I would be deeply sorry – For Nothing
gravenimage says
Hear, hear, Kuffar!
Pumbar says
Charles Walker MP raised this issue in PMQs today;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaRANy2A6Uk
He got the usual flannel from Shariah May.
Give him a pat on the back and some encouragement to pursue this here;
http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mr-charles-walker/1493
Carolyne says
I’m afraid that I would have to return that medal and tell them to stick it where ” the sun don’t shine.” One’s pride is in oneself, not some medal for athletes. If I were in his position I would tell them that I am not sorry, I believe what I said and did, and like it or lump it. I guess he’d go to jail for that, though.
citycat says
@ gravenimage
am i correct in understanding that you are saying there are Jews that think Islam is OK?
And Hindus too? I don’t know, maybe there are Hindus who don’t know Islam well.
But Jews? I can’t see personally, i suppose it’s conceivable. I don’t believe it though.
Charli Main says
@ citycat
Apologies for butting in to the question you asked GI.
Let me relate a personal experience. A long time, back in the day, I was working in the Near Eastern office of an American oil company.
One of my ” co-workers” was a woman who claimed to be an Israelí born Jewess. I have never come across a rabidly pro ” Palestinian” individual in my life. She never stop ranting about how the ” poor Palestinians” were being brutalised by the Israelí army and every member of the Knesset was a xxxxxxx Nazi.
gravenimage says
This does not surprise me, Charli. I have known a lot of people just like your clueless coworker.
gravenimage says
citycat wrote:
@ gravenimage
am i correct in understanding that you are saying there are Jews that think Islam is OK?
And Hindus too? I don’t know, maybe there are Hindus who don’t know Islam well.
But Jews? I can’t see personally, i suppose it’s conceivable. I don’t believe it though.
…………………………..
Hi, citycat. Sure, there are plenty of Hindu and Jewish dhimmis.
With respect, I’m surprised you are not aware of this. Here’s the Jewish Voice for Peace “Network Against Islamophobia”:
https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/network-against-islamophobia/
“The Network Against Islamophobia (NAI) was created to serve as a resource to, and work with, JVP chapters and other Jewish groups and to be a partner to the broader, Muslim-led movement against Islamophobia…”
And here is the “Jews Against Islamophobia Coalition”:
https://www.facebook.com/Jews-Against-Islamophobia-Coalition-336413369790913/
Really, there are scores more organizations like these.
You even find this in Israel itself.
But I don’t think that these Jews–or Hindus, or any other dhimmis–really “think Islam is OK”. It is more that they, like Christian and Atheist and other dhimmis–are in denial about the violence and threat of Islam.
There are also–thankfully!–many people of all faiths and none who *do* recognize the threat of Islam.
citycat says
@ KAY
I’ve been taking “jerk” to mean someone who thinks that Islam is a religion of peace and thinks Islam is not intending to be
“running the show soon”
as one Muslim screamed at me.
daniel sebold says
Hope you are safe