In Half 1 I delved into the query of whether or not there was an issue with Islamism within the UK and concluded that there was.
Earlier than I start half 2, it is very important do not forget that the issue is Islamism, not Islam. And don't neglect that there are various Muslims who are usually not Islamists who’re good residents and welcoming members of the group. However now we’ve to ask what will be completed about Islamism?
The pinnacle-in-the-sand method that appears to be the bulk place of elites within the UK is not going to succeed. Both as a result of they don't perceive Islamism, or they don't see it as a risk to themselves, or they're simply scared.
Plainly a lot of the institution would slightly discuss concerning the risks of Islamophobia than the risks of Islamism. Take, for instance, the now-unfunny comic Frankie Boyle, who proves the “get up, you're dropping your humorousness” mantra, who tweeted this week: “If I see the phrase Islamist, I simply assume I'm going to learn the incoherent ramblings of a loopy racist.”
What’s Islamophobia? The time period is current, coined by the Runnymede Belief in 1997. It was meant to confer with “unfounded hostility in direction of Islam”. Nonetheless, it’s now getting used as a de facto blasphemy legislation to silence all criticism of Islam and Islamists. By the way, I word that no politician has tried to ascertain the crime of Christophobia or Hinduphobia. Why?
In 2018, the All-Occasion Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Muslims outlined “Islamophobia” very broadly as “a sort of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness”. All however the Tories accepted this definition.
In its proposals for what successfully quantities to a brand new blasphemy legislation, the APPG included numerous offences, together with its declare that Muhammad was a pedophile (due to his marriage to a 12-year-old woman), blaming Muslims for the actions of Muslim states. or declare that Islam was unfold by the sword. The latter would make historian Tom Holland's e book not possible Shadow of the Sword for launch immediately.
He additionally prompt that accusing Muslims of inventing or exaggerating the time period “Islamophobia” can be in opposition to the legislation, as would saying that any Muslim is extra loyal to the Ummah (transnational Muslim group) than to this nation – even when they have been!
Because of this, freedom of speech, work and motion are already severely restricted within the UK. Once more, there are various examples, however let me point out just a few acquainted ones.
In 2007, extremism, which included misogyny, homophobia, anti-Semitism and anti-democracy, was uncovered in a number of UK mosques by a Channel 4 documentary Secret mosques. However as a substitute of coping with actual hate from hate preachers, West Midlands Police and the Crown Prosecution Service attacked the documentary's makers, claiming they’d misrepresented the imam's phrases and brought them out of context. In 2008, Channel 4 was vindicated with a public apology and a six-figure defamation settlement from the police and CPS. However I doubt they or every other mainstream media would dare to do such a program now. Nobody desires to be accused of blasphemy when you must face each the mafia and the police!
In one in all trendy Britain's most ironic moments, London's Mall Galleries pulled a piece referred to as “Isis Threaten Sylvania” by satirical artist Miriam Elia from its “Ardour for Freedom” exhibition in 2015. The work depicted the fictional nation of Sylvania, the place some animals had gathered to have fun Come. Within the distance are three small figures, squirrels or hedgehogs, in black masks with a machine gun. The police despatched emails to the gallery saying it would offend and that it was not artwork.
Elio's response is as related immediately because it was 9 years in the past: “The choice to censor reveals that our institution is extra threatened by satire, readability and fact than by younger males keen to kill, rape and pillage within the title of Islam.” my footage have been “probably inflammatory” to terrorists. That's the equal of claiming that an anti-Nazi cartoon from the late Thirties was offensive… to Nazis. Those that justify and defend barbaric totalitarianism in any type are in for a fast solution to turn into totalitarian themselves.”
If you wish to gauge how far the worry of Islamism has gone within the UK, take into account that whereas photographer Andres Serrano's grotesque “Piss Christ” could possibly be exhibited within the UK with none police intervention, a satirical article concerning the terrorist group ISIS was banned in impact in by the police.
One other instance will be present in a movie made by Muslims Heavenly Girl which was pulled by Cineworld after demonstrations by some Muslims. The issue was that the movie was made by the incorrect type of Muslims – Shiites – so Sunni hardliners campaigned in opposition to it, and since Cineworld couldn't assure the security of their crew, it was pulled. The police stated and did nothing whereas the politicians remained silent. Not a phrase from those that now complain so loudly about Islamophobia.
Or take the notorious case of a trainer in Batley who was pressured into hiding as a result of he confirmed his pupils an image of Muhammad. The varsity suspended him. Police reassured the “group” and the Huffington Submit referred to as the picture a “racist cartoon”. Once more, the overwhelming majority of firm commentators remained silent. And the place is the trainer now? Three years later, he was nonetheless in hiding, fearing for his life.
My newest instance (there are various others) is an autistic boy in Wakefield who scratched the Koran. He introduced one to highschool with three of his pals and apparently threw it away. Because of this, he obtained loss of life threats. The boys have been suspended and their conduct was recorded as a “hate incident” by the police, whereas those that really made loss of life threats have been left untouched. That is trendy Britain and shortly will probably be unlawful to say so.
The reply to all of that is firstly to make sure that we’ve freedom of speech and to cease the irrational and intolerant need to censor within the title of 1 faith. Somewhat than pandering to Islamists, maybe a part of the reply is for the UK to take the method of our French cousins, who this week deported Imam Mahjoub Mahjoubi for hate speech after calling the French flag “satanic”.
In Germany, the federal government now now not permits imams from Turkey to evangelise of their mosques, and Denmark, some of the left-wing progressive international locations, now has stricter legal guidelines than every other nation in Western Europe.
Melanie Phillips in her controversial 2006 bestselling e book, in London, described how the UK basically and London specifically grew to become a haven for Islamism within the West. On the time, I questioned if her e book was an exaggeration, however her argument that administrative incompetence and cultural weak spot allowed it to occur proved largely true.
I doubt any of our governments or lots of our political leaders will take this critically, as administrative incompetence and cultural weak spot have solely elevated in the previous few years – a present to the far proper (or certainly the far left).
However there may be one other manner.
Take the wonderful story of Spencer Fildes, former chairman of the Scottish Secular Society (SSS). He and I have been enemies for some time till at some point one thing modified. The SSS was bitterly and publicly against any public show of Christianity and was particularly offended at public Christians like yours actually. However Spencer, to be honest to him, was an anti-religious, equal alternative particular person.
Spencer wrote: “It happened once I needed to do one thing on the College of Dundee to pressure feminine college students to cowl their legs and arms on a visit to the native mosque. Then he held a 'greatest trying hijab' competitors.” .. then taking footage of scholars sporting them… One in every of my secular colleagues stated that “I'm no higher than the far proper… This senseless hyperbolic nonsense was relentless, all of the secularists ever needed to do is Christian bass, no manner on the separation of church and state, it’s a deep-seated left-wing political hatred of the Christian proper. Because of this they make curious allies with Islamists. I needed no a part of it.”
I like to recommend his current weblog submit for his attention-grabbing ideas on why “progressive secularists” argued for a Muslim candidate to turn into Scottish First Minister whereas bitterly attacking a Christian. Years later, Spencer is now a Christian brother and buddy.
And therein lies the reply.
We want the liberty to share the gospel with out being accused of Islamophobia. And other people must have the liberty to decide on their very own faith, one thing that hardly exists in any Muslim nation.
I as soon as gave a lecture at a Muslim faculty that was arrange with Center Jap cash to attempt to introduce a extra “liberal” type of Islam. I spoke concerning the Islamic doctrine of tolerance, and in the midst of the lecture I requested: “If somebody apostates from Islam and turns into a Christian, ought to he be punished by the state or ought to he be given freedom of alternative?”
To my utter astonishment, nearly all the scholars claimed that apostasy was punishable by loss of life, imprisonment or fines. At that second I spotted that the notion {that a} liberal Islamic model of the separation of church and state would one way or the other evolve was an phantasm. However I didn't foresee the time coming when the UK would as soon as once more introduce a blasphemy legislation – this time on behalf of Islamists. Authorities and state companies should converse for the victims, not defend the oppressors.
Once I was pastoring a then very small church in Dundee, my sister came over me and witnessed a younger Pakistani boy being crushed up on the street in what was clearly a racist assault. She got here house and requested what I used to be going to do with it. I shrugged. What might I do? “Typical Christian – all discuss and no motion.” She satisfied me. So we began an Asian ministry to share the love of Christ with the Asians in our metropolis, and amongst different issues, there was a joint Urdu examine of the Koran and the Bible led by a multilingual colleague for some time.
The native imam requested me to return and see him. He was from Pakistan however there was a person with him who was a white convert from Manchester. He was livid – how dare we attempt to convert Muslims! I defined that as a real biblical Christian I by no means tried to transform anybody as a result of I couldn't. We solely needed all folks with out discrimination, together with Asians and Muslims, to listen to the excellent news about Jesus. Earlier than the convert might reply, the imam spoke: “I agree with my brother David. He isn’t racist or in opposition to Islam. God is sovereign. Let him resolve.” Possibly our flesh pressers ought to take heed to the Imam. Let God resolve – not them!
There’s solely One who will break down the dividing wall. Christians ought to by no means be “Islamophobic” – when you imply “afraid of Islam”. Nor ought to we despise Muslims who, like us, are human beings created within the picture of God. However we should always take the chance to like our Muslim neighbors. And the easiest way to like them is to share Christ with them, who brings life and a relationship with God that Islam by no means can.
David Robertson is minister of the Scottish Kirk Presbyterian Church in Newcastle, New South Wales. She blogs at The Wee Flea.
