Shazia Hobbs - We need to talk about Islam
The following is an interesting opinion piece from writer Shazia Hobbs, in response to the article 'The far right is the militarty wing of mainstream Islamophobia' Written by Moazzam Begg for the Middle East Eye.
I believe that is time to talk honestly about Islam and the hatred that is contained within the verses of the Koran, the Hadiths and the Sira.
It’s not the ‘right wing media’ or conservative politicians who have written this text or dictate what is preached in many mosques all across the UK.
There is no denying that many young Muslims ARE raised to hate the very societies in which they were born and raised and there is no denying that many Muslim parents discourage their children from integrating, preferring that they mix with only other Muslims.
How many documentaries need to be made to show that we have a problem with what is being preached in mosques? To claim as Begg has, that ‘mosques do nothing of the sort’ is an outrageous lie. We think of mosques as similar to churches in the West, the reality is they are quite different, being the central point for community instructions for example.
Anti –Muslim rhetoric is something those of us who criticise Islam are accused of especially by high profile Muslim voices. This is a deliberate tactic; to conflate legitimate criticism of ideology with attacking individuals allows the ‘victimhood narrative.’ These same people, of course, ignore the anti-western rhetoric espoused in many mosques and by a significant amount of Muslims, a cursory glance at social media can confirm this.
Begg goes on to inform his readers about the six mosques in Birmingham that were attacked with sledgehammers. Damaged buildings, no one hurt and no doubt insurance will pay for the repairs. Churches are attacked on a regular basis, but of course, that never makes headline news. The actions of one or two men in these attacks are used to smear ‘the right’ and Begg isn’t bright enough to see the irony of his statements.
What about the Muslim girls forced out of school and forced into marriage in these very mosques? What about the damage that is done to them?
He continues to inform his readers of the burning down of the Al-Rahma Islamic Centre in Muswell Hill, London. This happened soon after Lee Rigby was murdered, almost decapitated by two Muslim men. Interesting to note that Begg adds that the two men were ‘claiming vengeance for the killing of Muslims by British Armed Forces.’
Interesting also how he falsely claims that the EDL are anti-Muslim instead of anti-Islam. We should all be anti-Islam, in my honest opinion and we should all be anti all religion. But religion is a personal choice and as long as it doesn’t impact on others then that is fine in my view.
Begg writes about mosques being attacked all over Europe, Australia and the US yet stays silent on the churches being burnt down all across Europe, the murders of Christians praying in churches by Muslim terrorists and the massacre of Christians in the Middle East. No words about the persecution of Christians in Pakistan either.
Austria has the right idea of expelling Imams and shutting down mosques. Look at how many mosques are being built all over the UK and Europe. How many more do we need? In Istanbul, Turks are calling for the Hagia Sophia to once again become a mosque.
Denouncing Islam here in the UK is a dangerous game for many Muslims. Take the Hussain family from Bradford who converted to Christianity and had to be escorted from their house by armed police, protected from Muslims, angry that they had left Islam. Mr Hussain said that that the violence and harassment escalated after he and his family appeared on a Channel 4 documentary about Muslim converts and how they are mistreated.
That’s what denouncing Islam does to you in the UK where we live under British law but you would be forgiven for thinking in some parts it is Sharia law.
‘Acts of violence include Qu’ran desecration.’ I almost spilled my coffee all over my screen as I read those words.
How can one be violent towards a book? Am I missing something here or is Begg missing a lot? His entire article reads of ‘oh the poor oppressed Muslims who have never done anything wrong.’
Throughout the article, he displays the victimhood we have all come to expect from certain high profile Muslims blaming everything on the far right bogeymen. There is never any reflection on why Islam has become such an issue over other religions, why Muslims believe they have a harder time than any other immigrants.
Yet nowhere do we hear these voices raising awareness or using their platform to speak about the rot at the heart of their communities, the racism, the rape of children, honour violence, forced marriage and domestic abuse.
Maybe the so-called ‘far right’ would cease to exist if Islam stopped being a real and credible threat to us all.
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