Earlier this week, the mayor of London, Mr Boris Johnson, hit headlines by proposing that the children of ‘Radical’ Muslims should be taken into care. In his weekly Daily Telegraph column he equated radicalisation to a form of child abuse, stating that some children were being “taught crazy stuff” such as the men accused of killing Fusilier Lee Rigby[1].
For the Muslim community however, this is not seen as a resolve for radicalism at all, nor is their response a defence for “potential killers or suicide bombers”. Muslims at large do not affiliate with what was seen as a horrific act of madness, just as the average white non-Muslim would not affiliate with the swathes of sex offenders and serial killers from “their community”. However, at the same time, Muslims cannot accept the creation of vague laws that could lead to more harm than good. For many it is seen as a way to silence Muslims and to banish political opposition by threatening to remove the Muslim family’s dearest possession – the children.
With little (if any) academic evidence linking radicalism to the family, Boris should be well aware that both killers of Mr Rigby were born to devout Christian families. As for most other convicted terrorists, then they are typically anomalies amongst their families and the Muslim community at large. Laws such as those proposed by Mr Johnson would not tackle the real potential for radicalism, rather, they would set to penalise parents through their children.
‘Radical parents’ is an extremely vague term and ensuring that such a law is used sensibly would be almost impossible. Ask Mr Tony Blair, would a Muslim parent opposing his attack on Iraq be radical in his eyes? Could parents be penalised for discussing illegal settlements in Israel or including their children in prayers for those suffering in Syria? How about sending £200 to buy a generator for a poor Syrian family or providing aerobics advice as Moazzam Begg was ridiculously charged for[2]?
Consistent Islām-hate by the media and Government over the last decade has pre-conditioned the average person to believe that Islām is radical. Harmless Islamic practices such as halal meat, gender segregation or the veil, to mention a few, have recently made headlines and been unfairly represented as radical threats to British culture. Perhaps it is the new British culture and its muscular liberalism that has taken radical turns away from what all the Abrahamic faiths came to teach.
Muslims are tired of having their faith put in the boxing ring and for simple religious beliefs and practices to be misconstrued and mocked. If, however, such distortions lead to their family being torn apart, then it is fair to say that enough is enough so please leave the innocent children out of this.
Surely, if such a proposal was truly for the child’s interest, it would not be directed at Muslims alone but would be inclusive of hate groups such as EDL and BNP. The Muslim community is constantly tackling racial abuse and hatred inherent in such parties and largely perpetrated upon their youth. A number of EDL youths have been arrested for violence against Muslims or Mosques and children as young as 5 years of age have expressed hatred of Islām. In such cases, surely it is the parents to blame for indoctrinating hate that has resulted in numerous cases of actual bodily harm or destructive attacks on places of worship. Terrorism amongst white, far right youth is a far bigger reality, and if left alone they are at greater risk of becoming ‘potential killers’. The only reason we as a society are unaware of this is due to the blatant, disproportionate representation of crimes committed by minorities; no one gets to the dull, understated bulletins about white terrorists tucked away in discrete columns on newspapers and websites[3], even if they do commit or attempt to commit crimes of monumental viciousness.
In a response to whether this proposal would be applied to the BNP too, Boris states, “If that child is being taught to want to commit crime, or be full of hate, then I imagine you might contemplate such a thing.”[4] Why contemplate it as an exception on one side Boris, and allow its use with every vague boundary on another? Pure hypocrisy and evidence that the wellbeing of children has sadly been dismissed.
It is our greater interest as Muslims to ensure that children are raised in healthy and safe environments. Muslims do not oppose laws made for the greater interest of children but very little about Boris’ proposal suggests that he shares the same concern. Threatening Muslims alone and redefining what Muslims can and can’t teach their children is simply an unwarranted tool to silence them in hope that it will dissolve their beliefs. Perhaps the concept is too intellectual for the likes of Mr Johnson, but it is needless to say that terrorism typically results from frustration, oppression, injustice and many global policies that the West has contributed towards. A little research into the facts around Lee Rigby’s killer and his rant after his crime would have easily revealed so. Let’s be more genuine in approaching this issue, Mr Johnson, and in our mutual search for justice, let’s leave the innocent children out of this.
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Source: www.islam21c.com
Notes:
[1] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26413024
[3] http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-
7 Comments
Jason. Thank you for espousing the hidden and even overt, sinister agendas of racist, white imperialist nations (such as UK and America) and of racist imbeciles (such as yourself and Boris Johnson). Thank you for demonstrating to muslims the world over, how white caucasians such as yourself regard non-whites (particularly those who adhere to a different religion and cultural values – something which you know nothing of). But most of all, thank you so much for reminding me of what prophet Muhammad taught muslims during his last sermon in 632 A.C., on the Ninth Day of Dhul Hijjah 10 A.H. in the ‘Uranah valley of Mount Arafat’.
The seal of the prophets stated –
‘All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab. Also a white has no superiority over black, nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim, unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves’.
Thank you so much for reminding me that you (and racist imbeciles the likes of Boris Johnson) will never have even an atom of honour or integrity, even until your last breath, after which you will be held accountable for your evil deeds and suitably punished.
This is why when racist bigots like you rant and rave like lunatics, you make me feel honoured and truly blessed to be a muslim.
British schooling and the British society is the home of institutional racism. The result is that Muslim children are unable to develop self-confidence and self-esteem, therefore, majority of them leave schools with low grades. Racism is deeply rooted in British society. Every native child is born with a gene or virus of racism, therefore, no law could change the attitudes of racism towards those who are different. It is not only the common man, even member of the royal family is involved in racism. The father of a Pakistani office cadet who was called a “***” by Prince Harry has profoundly condemned his actions. He had felt proud when he met the Queen and the Prince of Wales at his son’s passing out parade at Sandhurst in 2006 but now felt upset after learning about the Prince’s comments. Queen Victoria invited an Imam from India to teach her Urdu language. He was highly respected by the Queen but other members of the royal family had no respect for him. He was forced to go back to India. His portrait is still in one of the royal places.
A report by the Institute for Community Cohesion found that native parents were deserting some schools after finding their children out numbered by pupils from ethnic minorities. Schools in parts of England are becoming increasingly segregated. The study focused on 13 local authorities. Many of the schools and colleges are segregated and this was generally worsening over recent years. This is RACISM because British society is the home of institutional racism. My statement regarding Muslim schools where there is no place for non-Muslim child or a teacher is based on educational process and not on racism. Muslim children need Muslim teachers during their developmental periods. For higher studies and research, Muslim teacher is not a priority.
You better teach your children in your own schools and let migrant communities teach their children according to their needs and demands. British Establishment and society should concentrate on the evils of their own society and stop trying to change the way of life of Muslims. Muslim community does not want to integrate with the British society, indulging in incivility, anti-social behaviour, drug and knife culture, binge drinking, teenage pregnancies and abortion. Prince Charles, while visiting the first grant maintained Muslim school in north London, said that the pupils would be the future ambassadors of Islam. But what about thousands of others, who attend state schools deemed to be “sink schools”? In education, there should be a choice and at present it is denied to the Muslim community. In the late 80s and early 90s, when I floated the idea of Muslim community schools, I was declared a “school hijacker” by an editorial in the Newham Recorder newspaper in east London. This clearly shows that the British media does not believe in choice and diversity in the field of education and has no respect for those who are different. Muslim schools, in spite of meager resources, have excelled to a further extent this year, with couple of schools achieving 100% A-C grades for five or more GCSEs. They beat well resourced state and independent schools in Birmingham and Hackney. Muslim schools are doing better because a majority of the teachers are Muslim. The pupils are not exposed to the pressures of racism, multiculturalism and bullying.
There are hundreds of state primary and secondary schools where Muslim pupils are in majority. In my opinion all such schools may be opted out to become Muslim Academies. This mean the Muslim children will get a decent education. Muslim schools turned out balanced citizens, more tolerant of others and less likely to succumb to criminality or extremism. Muslim schools give young people confidence in who they are and an understanding of Islam’s teaching of tolerance and respect which prepares them for a positive and fulfilling role in society. Muslim schools are attractive to Muslim parents because they have better discipline and teaching Islamic values. Children like discipline, structure and boundaries. Bilingual Muslim children need Bilingual Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods, who understand their needs and demands.
IA
London School of Islamics Trust
http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk
You Muslims need to stop playing the victim card. We all know your hidden agenda to islamise Britain. Its never gonna happen. We are going to make sure of that. We are going to systematically tear down your religion and culture in our country. Your children seem fair target, and we are succeeding. You Muslims are dependent on us for housing, benefits, jobs, schools etc. The rules of the game have changed and the people in this country have had enough of you. We have new legislation in place for you and your clerics. You can try and fit in as much as you like but we will never except you. If you want to raise your children with your values go to a Muslim country. If your gonna stay in Britain then know that they must adopt our values and we will make sure that they do.
Absolutely fantastic! I love how a person that can’t even write English properly is telling you to leave the country! You can’t even make this stuff up!
As a TRUE Briton, I support everyone in this country against buffoons like this Jason guy and his Imperialist masters like Boris and the rest of the crooks and thieves taking us all for a ride.
What the **** do you know about Islam? I bet you haven’t read the holy Quran you are just assuming that Allah rewards murder in his name. Islam is the religion of peace and tolerance. You have so much hate inside you against Islam and I truly feel sorry for you. Islam will give you peace, charity and understanding for life and your fellow. If you had read the holy books of Islam as you say you have you’ll knew that killing and suicide is forbidden in the religion. People who kill in the name of Allah isn’t Muslims but terrorists and there is no place in heaven for them.
None of 9/11 and 7/7 potential terrorists were ever educated in Muslim
schools in UK or in Pakistan. They are the product of western education
which makes a man, selfish, stupid, liar and corrupt.
Living together requires quite simply, an acceptance of the others, of the
way in which (the other) is dressed. It is absurd to believe that Muslim
schools, Imams and Masajid teach Muslim children anti-Semitic, homophobic
and anti-western views. It is dangerously deceptive and misleading to
address text books and discuss them out of their historical, cultural and
linguistic context. It is not wrong to teach children that Jews are
committing the same cruelty in Palestine what German did to them before or
during Second World War. It is not wrong to teach children that anti-social
behaviour, drinking, drugs, homosexuality, sex before marriage, teenage
pregnancies and abortions are western values and Islam is against all such
sins. This does not mean that Muslim schools teach children to hate
westerners, Jews and homosexuals.
Islam is a peaceful religion, terrorism arose in response to the massive
killings done by the west in Muslim lands, starting with Afghanistan, and
now the Arab world where the West is interfering now. As a Muslim I’m
taught that I have 2 kinds of brother, brothers in Islam, and brothers in
humanity, that’s why I love everyone unconditionally. I believe in the truth
and the truth is that Islam does not allow the deaths of innocents and you’re
cherry-picking and misinterpreting and taking out of context. According to
Islam, as a Muslim who studied it for more than a decade, is AGAINST the
killings of innocents. Don’t judge a faith from the misguidance of others.
It is a sin in Islam to kill innocent people including children, women and
elderly. You are fooled by your media and anti-Islamists misinterpreting
the sources of Islam.
The Muslim community has been passing through a phase of fourth Crusades.
The battleground is the field of education, where the young generation will
be educated properly with the Holly Quran in one hand and Sciences in other
hand to serve the British society and the world at large. A true Muslim is a
citizen of the world, which has become a small global village.
We are going to prepare our youth to achieve that objective in the long run.
A true Muslim believes in Prophet Moses and the Prophet Jesus and without
them one cannot be a Muslim. My suggestion is that in all state, independent
and Christian based school special attention should be given to the teaching
of Comparative Religion and Islam should be taught by qualified Muslim
Teachers to make the children aware the closeness of Islam to Christianity
and Judaism which will help them to think about Islam, as “A Pragmatic and
Modern Way of Life,” during their life time.
It is absurd to believe that Muslim schools, Imams and Masajid teach Muslim
children anti-Semitic, homophobic and anti-western views. It is dangerously
deceptive and misleading to address text books and discuss them out of their
historical, cultural and linguistic context. It is not wrong to teach
children that Jews are committing the same cruelty in Palestine what German
did to them before or during Second World War. It is not wrong to teach
children that anti-social behaviour, drinking, drugs, homosexuality, sex
before marriage, teenage pregnancies and abortions are western values and
Islam is against all such sins. This does not mean that Muslim schools teach
children to hate westerners, Jews and homosexuals.
Extremism, homophobia and anti-Semitism are nothing to do with Islamic
teachings and beliefs. Islam does not teach that Jews and Christians are
pigs and monkeys. The Policy Exchange Think-tank should concentrate on
institutionally racist British schooling with chicken racist teachers.
Muslim parents do not want their children with behaviour problems that
include unprovoked aggression, promiscuity, violence, eating disorder,
bullying and alcohol. According to ATL, teachers believe behaviour is worse
than it was five years ago, with even five year olds being disrespectful,
intimidating and violent. This is the true picture of British broken society
and the Muslim community does not want to be integrated. The British
government is again asking us, Muslims, to adopt the” British values” and to
integrate fully into the British way of life. But many so called “British
values” are not acceptable to us. We would like to confirm again that we
practising Muslim believers will never ever adopt or integrate into all
these “destructive and immoral values”:
IA
http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk
Being an immigrant in the UK and I never had a feeling that people in my workplace are racist.
I pay £50,000 a year in Tax alone and never taken a single penny in Benefits
Immigrants like me give more than we take and such rude comments will never be tolerated
Fantastic article Uzma. May Allah.accept it from you x