|
news
26th May 2006
Islam bashing and the BNP
by Maroof Shaffi, Islamic Society of Great Britain (Bradford)
Islam bashing seems to have become a favourite past time of the far right. The BNP is trying to convince the British public en masse that Islam is in no way compatible with the values of Western civilization.
A closer study of Islam and Muslim civilization reveals that Elected and accountable leadership, Justice, the Rule of law, equality of all human beings and human rights are the norm and not the exception. Islam does not call for the enslavement of women of other religions. This is a wicked and vile assertion that has no basis in the Muslim way of life. The opportunists in the BNP are just riding the wave of Islamophobia prevalent in the media.
Muslims also hold sacred the right of all to freedom of thought and speech. What Muslims object to is the right to abuse. The far right in Denmark in our view are not the defenders of this fundamental freedom but rather have abused this right and used it to offend, enrage and to widen the gulf between different communities.
We as a people in Britain must not succumb to the binary vision of ‘us and them’. The BNP vision is an ugly vision of strife and discord and they want, through their misguided rhetoric, to mislead and sow the seeds of irrational hatred. We must, as communities, come closer together and allow the moderate voices of reason on both sides to prevail.
The Muslim community welcomes an open dialogue about our values and beliefs. Dialogue is one of our greatest assets and we must come together regularly to share our views and concerns. In doing so we will find that we have far more in common than that on which we differ.
When this dialogue does take place what most people will find is that Islam and Muslims are the friend and the BNP are the real enemy of us all.
|
|
» download the join form here
