RevolutionMuslim kindly points out:

The Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said: ‘Whoever dies and has not fought or intended to fight (Jihaad in the path of Allaah) has died on a branch of hypocrisy’ [Muslim]

If you want to track an MP, you can find out their personal website after typing their name in this website. In their personal website, you can usually find the time and location of their "surgeries", where you can encounter them in person.

http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/

[List of MPs voting for the War follows]

bu Hurraira narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said: ‘Whoever dies and has not fought or intended to fight (Jihaad in the path of Allaah) has died on a branch of hypocrisy’ [Muslim]

And say not of those who are killed in the Way of Allaah, "They are dead." Nay, they are living, but you perceive (it) not. (Al-Baqarah 2:154)

And fight in the Way of Allaah those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allaah likes not the transgressors. (Al-Baqarah 2:190)

Jihaad (holy fighting in Allaah's Cause) is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allaah knows but you do not know. (Al-Baqarah 2:216)

And fight in the Way of Allaah and know that Allaah is All-Hearer, All-Knower. (Al-Baqarah 2:244)

And Allaah has already made you victorious at Badr, when you were a weak little force. So fear Allaah much [abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden and love Allaah much, perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained] that you may be grateful. (Aali Imran 3:123)

So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers. If a wound (and killing) has touched you, be sure a similar wound (and killing) has touched the others. And so are the days (good and not so good), We give to men by turns, that Allaah may test those who believe, and that He may take martyrs from among you. And Allaah likes not the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrong doers). And that Allaah may test (or purify) the believers (from sins) and destroy the disbelievers. Do you think that you will enter Paradise before Allaah tests those of you who fought (in His Cause) and (also) tests those who are As-Saabireen (the patient ones, etc.)? (Aali Imran 3:139-142)

If Allaah helps you, none can overcome you; and if He forsakes you, who is there after Him that can help you? And in Allaah (Alone) let believers put their trust. (Aali Imran 3:160)

Think not of those who are killed in the Way of Allaah as dead. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision. They rejoice in what Allaah has bestowed upon them of His Bounty, rejoicing for the sake of those who have not yet joined them, but are left behind (not yet martyred) that on them no fear shall come, nor shall they grieve. They rejoice in a Grace and a Bounty from Allaah, and that Allaah will not waste the reward of the believers. Those who answered (the Call of) Allaah and the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) after being wounded; for those of them who did good deeds and feared Allaah, there is a great reward. Those (i.e. believers) unto whom the people (hypocrites) said, "Verily, the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them." But it (only) increased them in Faith, and they said: "Allaah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)." (Aali Imran 3:169-173)

Let those (believers) who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter fight in the Cause of Allaah, and whoso fights in the Cause of Allaah, and is killed or gets victory, We shall bestow on him a great reward. And what is wrong with you that you fight not in the Cause of Allaah, and for those weak, ill treated and oppressed among men, women, and children, whose cry is: "Our Lord! Rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from You one who will protect, and raise for us from You one who will help." Those who believe, fight in the Cause of Allaah, and those who disbelieve, fight in the cause of Taaghoot (Satan, etc.). So fight you against the friends of Shaitaan (Satan); Ever feeble indeed is the plot of Shaitaan (Satan). (An-Nisa 4:74-76)

Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled, and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allaah with their wealth and their lives. Allaah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allaah has promised good (Paradise), but Allaah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward; (An-Nisa 4:95)

O you who believe! When you meet those who disbelieve, in a battle-field, never turn your backs to them. (Al-Anfal 8:15)

O you who believe! When you meet (an enemy) force, take a firm stand against them and remember the Name of Allaah much (both with tongue and mind), so that you may be successful. And obey Allaah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength depart, and be patient. Surely, Allaah is with those who are As-Saabireen (the patient ones, etc.). (Al-Anfal 8:45-46)

So if you gain the mastery over them in war, punish them severely in order to disperse those who are behind them, so that they may learn a lesson. (Al-Anfal 8:57)

And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war (tanks, planes, missiles, artillery, bomb vests, nail bombs, homemade explosives, "dirty bombs", car bombs, etc.) to threaten the enemy of Allaah and your enemy, and others besides whom, you may not know but whom Allaah does know. And whatever you shall spend in the Cause of Allaah shall be repaid unto you, and you shall not be treated unjustly. (Al-Anfal 8:60)

Now Allaah has lightened your (task), for He knows that there is weakness in you. So if there are of you a hundred steadfast persons, they shall overcome two hundred, and if there are a thousand of you, they shall overcome two thousand with the Leave of Allaah. And Allaah is with As-Saabireen (the patient ones, etc). (Al-Anfal 8:66)

Fight against them so that Allaah will punish them by your hands and disgrace them and give you victory over them and heal the breasts of a believing people, (At-Tawbah 9:14)

Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of Al-Masjid-al-Haraam as equal to the worth of those who believe in Allaah and the Last Day, and strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allaah? They are not equal before Allaah. And Allaah guides not those people who are the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers). (At-Tawbah 9:19)

Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allaah and His Messenger, and striving hard and fighting in His Cause, then wait until Allaah brings about His Decision (torment). And Allaah guides not the people who are Al-Faasiqoon (the rebellious, disobedient to Allaah). (At-Tawbah 9:24)

Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred, (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein, and fight against the Mushrikoon (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah) collectively, as they fight against you collectively. But know that Allaah is with those who are Al-Muttaqoon. (At-Tawbah 9:36)

O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to march forth in the Cause of Allaah (i.e. Jihaad) you cling heavily to the earth? Are you pleased with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But little is the enjoyment of the life of this world as compared with the Hereafter. If you march not forth, He will punish you with a painful torment and will replace you by another people, and you cannot harm Him at all, and Allaah is Able to do all things. (At-Tawbah 9:38-39)

March forth, whether you are light (being healthy, young and wealthy) or heavy (being ill, old and poor), strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the Cause of Allaah. This is better for you, if you but knew. (At-Tawbah 9:41)

There is no blame on those who are weak or ill or who find no resources to spend [in holy fighting (Jihaad)], if they are sincere and true (in duty) to Allaah and His Messenger. No ground (of complaint) can there be against the Muhsinoon (good-doers). And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Nor (is there blame) on those who came to you to be provided with mounts, and when you said: "I can find no mounts for you," they turned back, while their eyes overflowing with tears of grief that they could not find anything to spend (for Jihaad). The ground (of complaint) is only against those who are rich, and yet ask exemption. They are content to be with (the women) who sit behind (at home) and Allaah has sealed up their hearts (from all kinds of goodness and right guidance) so that they know not (what they are losing). (At-Tawbah 9:91-93)

Verily, Allaah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties; for the price that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allaah's Cause, so they kill (others) and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Tauraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and the Qur'aan. And who is truer to his covenant than Allaah? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success. (At-Tawbah 9:111)

Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allaah [i.e. they have gone out for Jihaad (holy fighting), and showed not their backs to the disbelievers], of them some have fulfilled their obligations (i.e. have been martyred), and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed [i.e.they never proved treacherous to their covenant which they concluded with Allaah] in the least. (Al-Ahzab 33:23)

So, when you meet (in fight Jihaad in Allaah's Cause), those who disbelieve smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives). Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom), or ransom (according to what benefits Islaam), until the war lays down its burden. Thus [you are ordered by Allaah to continue in carrying out Jihaad against the disbelievers till they embrace Islaam (i.e. are saved from the punishment in the Hell-fire) or at least come under your protection], but if it had been Allaah's Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight), in order to test you, some with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allaah, He will never let their deeds be lost, He will guide them and set right their state. And admit them to Paradise which He has made known to them (i.e. they will know their places in Paradise more than they used to know their houses in the world). (Muhammad 47:4-6)

So be not weak and ask not for peace (from the enemies of Islaam), while you are having the upper hand. Allaah is with you, and will never decrease the reward of your good deeds. (Muhammad 47:35)

Behold! You are those who are called to spend in the Cause of Allaah, yet among you are some who are niggardly. And whoever is niggardly, it is only at the expense of his ownself. But Allaah is Rich (Free of all wants), and you (mankind) are poor. And if you turn away (from Islaam and the obedience of Allaah), He will exchange you for some other people, and they will not be your likes. (Muhammad 47:38)

Anas (radhi Allaahu `anhu) narrated that Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said: "Fight against the disbelievers with your wealth, lives and tongues." [Abu Dawud]

The book that Mujaahidah Roshonara Choudhry (fakk'Allaahu asrah) read four days before her operation is 'The Book of Jihaad' by Shaykh Abi Zakaryya Al Dimashqi Al Dumyati (rahimahullaah), and can be downloaded and read here:
http://kalamullah.com/Books/MashariAl-AshwaqilaMasarial-Ushaaq-RevisedEd...

We ask Allaah to keep her safe and secure, to hasten her release and to reward this heroine immensely. We ask Allaah for her action to inspire Muslims to raise the knife of Jihaad against those who voted for the countless rapes, murders, pillages, and torture of Muslim civilians as a direct consequence of their vote.

Stephen Timms' Regular surgery times:

Stephen Timms holds regular surgeries around Newham. These are by appointment only. You can telephone 0207 219 4000 if you would like an appointment at the next surgery. At his surgeries you will be able to meet him. Although his surgery details do change on a month by month basis, his usual slots are as follows:

1st Friday afternoon of each month:
Beckton Globe, 1 Kingsford Way, Beckton, E6 5JQ

1st Saturday of each month:
East Ham Town Hall, Barking Road, East Ham, London, E6 2RP

2nd Friday afternoon of each month:
Beckton Globe, 1 Kingsford Way, Beckton, E6 5JQ

3rd Monday of each month:
Froud Centre, 1 Toronto Avenue, Manor Park, E12 5JF

3rd Friday afternoon of each month:
East Ham Town Hall, Barking Road, E6 2RP

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.208-1580.aspx

Allaah humma ansur Mujaahideen fee Iraq, fee Afghanistan, fee Somalia, fee Yemen, fee Pakistan, fee Palestine, fee Parliament, fee kulli makaan ya Rabb al-`Aalameen [Aameen].

Allaah humma dhammir Jeremy Cooke, Stephen Timms, wa a’adaka wa a’daai deen [Aameen].

---------------

Can anyone translate the last couple of lines for the benefit of us non-Arabic speakers?

Oh, and would anyone care to still pretend that the Quran and Islamic teachings are irrelevant to why this would-be murderer acted the way she did?

Felix, are you saying when the COfE sings 'fight the good fight' it's a radical call to arms?

Good piece Mehdi. Interesting point about the press playing up her genius student credentials, the designated enemy is always wily and intelligent, never foolish and a bit dim. It's harder to be scared of that.

Only I'd not say Timms is an innocent civilian, since he's a politician with a real voice and actively supported the war. That doesn't mean he should be shanked but certainly a trial would be most welcome.

Leftisforward,

Having visited the site, those are not all Quran teachings, poetic license has clearly been used and inserted via whomever is the author -a blogger somewhere in America. One nutter on a blog site should not tar a whole culture or religion with the same brush.

And no, the Quran is not irrelevant to this woman's terrible actions. However, her understanding of the Quran via her own readings or the teachings she watched, and her subsequent unacceptable actions are not necessarily representative of the Quran either.

We blame the Quran for her terrible actions yet we don't blame the Bible for George Bush's war in Iraq even though both he and Blair claimed to be guided by God. I don't think any of their God's,be they in the Quran or the Bible, would sanction anything that is done in his name.

@Lou
"On the strength of that argument then why are we besieging vast parts of the Muslim world, afterall they are following policies that support their own interests in their own countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan so why the heck are we interfering and dictating to them."

Um simple, surely? Countries by and large follow their own self-interests (or to be precise, the national interest as perceived by the ruling elite). So sometimes national self-interests, and hence foreign policies, coincide and sometimes they clash. Just because someone else is following their self-interest, doesn't mean that we will always respect that if it contradicts our own. Britain isn't freakish in that regard.

Israel is following its self-interest (or what it's right-wing government believes to be its self-interest) by building settlements in the West Bank. But this is against Britain's national interests (which is perceived to benefit from Israeli-Arab peace), so William Hague kicked up a stink about this on his recent visit to Jerusalem - something I actually respect the bloke for. If you read the Israeli press, they have depicted him as some sort of vicious anti-semite for talking about East Jerusalem becoming the Palestinian capital! Iran's self-interest is served by expanding its military capacity. This contradicts the self-interest of other countries (including the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia) which are running foreign policies to counteract Iran's. Britain and France her foreign policy interests that are likely to be closely alligned for the next 20 years - due to this coincidence of interests, they are increasing military co-operation, which actually means Britain and France are even more likely to act together in joint national interest.

The problem with blaming Britain's foreign policy for inciting Muslim anger, is that any number of policies could upset Muslims: even if it weren't for Iraq and Afghanistan and Palestine and Kashmir, there would still be perceived anti-Muslim bias in policies against Somali piracy, Yemeni civil war, or Sudanese genocide. If you read Islamist literature, those things are often mentioned too. In other words, until and unless British foreign policy COMPLETELY coincides with the interests of Muslim countries, there will be Muslim grievances. But that's just an impossible demand. British national interest and foreign policy will not coincide exactly with the interests of the Islamic Ummah, unless Britain becomes an Islamic country - and even then there's no guarantee, since not all Islamic countries agree on everything! There's no love lost between Iran and Saudi Arabia, I can assure you. I'm as big an opponent as your are of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Western support for Israel and despotic regimes in the Arab world. But Muslims will still be angry at the UK if it stops all those things, unless it is also seen to actively support the Sudanese Islamic government against the black Christians in Darfur, and to support Pakistan against India over Kashmir, and to threaten China to give independence to West Turkestan... We can't do all that, if only because we'll just end up upsetting some other minority! But Islam is unusual in its horrifically violent response to what is perceived as oppression, and by the fact that Islamic preachers seem quite happy to order the assassinations of politicians in the country that has given them a home. This ought to be worrying you.

@Benedict

Of course it is disproportionate. The New Statesman should not just be about one subject but cover a broad spectrum and he is political editor not Religious editor. Do you think that 15% is commissioned or it is Medhi's agenda.

Don't come back with a response unless you can tell me the percentage of articles devoted to other religions that Medhi has written.

Jeremy Vine (while crap) is a Christian. But is 15% of his content about Christianity? Would you expect the same focus from the Economist or BBC political editors. Maybe they have expertese in Brewing Ginger Beer that does not mean they should spend 15% of their time writing about it because they are not employed as Ginger Beer editors.

Leftisforward,

I'm not Muslim, don't speak any of the languages but I thinkc it translates as something like - Oh Allah help our brothers in Iraq, in Afgahanistan, Somalia etc etc........... to gain victory.
Rabb al-`Aalameen is a name from the names of Allah and means Lord of all the worlds.

Can anybody point me to the parts of the Quran they think condone or even encourage these sort of actions ?

Thanks Lou, I'd got the gist of that bit, any help with "Allaah humma dhammir Jeremy Cooke, Stephen Timms, wa a’adaka wa a’daai deen"? (Or indeed, why they are so upset with Jeremy Cooke?) RevolutionMuslim is not "just some random site" - it is one of the key places where the Timms' stabber was radicalised.

When Hitler invaded the Soviet Union the PR spin was 'saving western civilisation from communism'.

It was effective propaganda and I'm sure many believed it, but the more mundane motive was to secure German domination of the continent.

And when America invaded Vietnam, the PR spin was to 'stop the spread of communism', but the more mundane reason was to secure American domination of South East Asia.

Except the threat of Islam has now replaced the communist threat as a cover story for imperialism. Now the American/Israeli imperialists say they want to 'save the world from Islam'.

It's effective propaganda, because it piggy-backs onto a general dislike of mass-immigration, but its the same old PR spin, 're-heated and retold' to secure America/Israel domination of the middle east.

Crispy Duck: if you read through the MuslimRevolution post I reproduced above (also available at http://www.revolutionmuslim.com/2010/11/mps-that-voted-for-war-on-iraq.html ) then you'll see the Quranic references being invoked e.g. At-Tawbah 9:36. If you look this one up, the Salih translation is "The Jews say, "Ezra is the son of Allah "; and the Christians say, "The Messiah is the son of Allah ." That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved [before them]. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded?"

I don't support terrorism at all. Whether it's committed by Muslims, Christians, or Jews.

But why is it that we continually define certain types of terror and give such significance to the religion of the terrorists, and not for example their nationality?

Is there such a thing, really, as "Muslim terrorism"?

When, for example, the Israeli Army attacks Gaza, with massive civilian casualities to follow, one never sees these acts labelled as "Jewish Terrorism."

The US invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, resulting in collosal destruction and loss of life, is never, in the western media, called, "Christian terrorism", yet acts of violence by Muslims, or individuals from Muslims countries, are always defined, and seen as significant, as especially "Muslim."

The terrible US drone attacks on Pakistan, ordered by Obama, which kill so many civilians, are never called terrorist attacks, are they? Obama, who is a Christian, is never labelled a Christian terrorist.

It seems they are different rules for different peoples, and different form of terrorism. Good terror, and bad terror, and that's a great comfort to the dead.

leftisforward,

Something along the lines of Allah destroy the enemies Jeremy Cook.......destroy your enemies and the enemies of Islam

I don't disagree with you entirely but I think it isn't as black and white as you do.

I don't think it is right to say that if it wasn't for x they'd be targeting y and if it wasn't for that it would be z and imply that it's all perceived oppression because much of Western policy has been oppressive.

I think the perceived oppressions you talk of, the Somalian pirates for example, have become justifications now for something bigger that the sum of it's perceived parts and I come back to that being Western Foreign Policy which induced a hatred for the West which was compounded by Palestine, Iraq and now Afghanistan.

Sorry - I'm not as erudite as yourself.

Carlos, You may remember the NS used to employ the Catholic writer Cristina Odone, a former editor of The Catholic Herald. A sample of her articles:

Cristina Odone finds everyone doing God: http://www.newstatesman.com/200305120004

Cristina Odone says Catholics won't grass on priests: http://www.newstatesman.com/200209300024

Cristina Odone remembers the Pledge of Allegiance: Every day, US schoolchildren are reminded that theirs is God's country: http://www.newstatesman.com/200302100004

Cristina Odone is weary of the Vatican's sex obsession: http://www.newstatesman.com/200304070015

Cardinal Basil Hume: http://www.newstatesman.com/199904260019

Now it's only the vicars who talk of ideals in capital letters: Justice, Equality and Brotherhood: http://www.newstatesman.com/200006050020

Don't lump me with Cliff Richard, just because I'm a Christian: http://www.newstatesman.com/199912200045

Cardinal Basil Hume didn't want to know about the victims of priestly child abuse: http://www.newstatesman.com/200204290003

I don't criticise her for writing about her area of expertise amongst other things.

I suppose the MuslimRevolution post ain't indicative of all Muslims in the same way white supremacist garbage ain't indicative of the rest of us.

I would be interested though in knowing if mainstream Muslim teachings still still use some of the things that seem a little harsh.I think I read somewhere that the Quran unlike the Bible is still in it's original form.I suppose I'd be interested to know if these parts of the Quran are still taught/discussed.

Would be interested to hear your views Mehdi.

Crispyduck,

No it's not reflective, in fact they are a group of ten members according to this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolution_Muslim

Right on writeon. They're terrorists plain and simple.

It suited the West, whose foreign policy created the monster that they now try to quell, to put them under a banner of religious extremism and propagate a myth, it was only by demonising a whole population - we good, them bad - that they could get away with their illegal wars and invasions, illegal detainment without trial, extraordinary renditions and mass murder of civilian populations. The desensitising and dehumanising of a culture for political ends is abhorrent and should be seen for exactly what it is.

Most terrrorists of Islamic origin aren't fighting for religious ideological reasons, theirs is a political fight and Al Qaeda is a political ideology not a religious identity.

Sven King
You really are a cretin

Mehdi wrote:

"Those who claim that our mosques are breeding grounds for terrorists and extremists should note the two names Choudhry cites as her influencers: Anwar al-Awlaki and Abdullah Azzam. She discovered both on the internet (on YouTube!), not at her local Islamic centre."

Clearly the internet plays an important role. However, the East London Mosque has featured al-Awlaki stuff pretty recently:

"Anwar Al Awlaki (video lecture, exclusively recorded for this event)
plus live Q&A via phone link."

http://talk.islamicnetwork.com/showthread.php?t=16809

I'm sure they aren't representative of all mosques, but it seems somewhat naive to believe that no mosques contribute to this problem.

No Lou, you're not very erudite, are you? At what point will it dawn on you that a religion which explicitly wants world domination, a religion which is quite overt in its condemnation of women to second place, and is utterly intolerent of gays, Jews, atheists and democrats, is NOT compatible with pluralist, secular western society?

What will it take for islamo apoligists to grasp this ever more obvious fact?

" The idea that a violent and "jihadist" interpretation of the Quran is "mainstream" or "reflective" of majority Muslim opinion is absurd, inaccurate and, frankly, Islamophobic. Both jihadists and Islamophobes have one thing in common: they both wrongly believe the Quran justifies terrorism; it doesn't."

But Mehdi, it doesn't matter whether that claim of justification from the Quran is "true" or "false". The fact is that the Quran is being used in that way. By a minority, but a very dangerous one. Your claims that the Quran says what you want it to say, and you are a good muslim, are subjective. The more jihadist interpretation of the Quran is real, and the minority of Muslims who read the Quran that way say it is YOU who is reading it wrong. Religious texts are always open to interpretation.

The Quran CAN BE USED to justify terrorism. That's the point at issue here - it has been, and will be used that way in future.

Obama's failure was to perpetuate Bush's 'war on terror' rather than, as promised, end it.

He adopted the Vietnam 'exit strategy' of sending more troops to Afghanistan, rather than withdrawing those already there.

He's now payed the price and ironically the Tea Party republicans are the time for change, "yes we can" candidates.

Stuart, I feel sorry for you.

You appear to be masquerading as someone who holds a different view to your actual view, but you're such an idiot you haven't quite managed to make either view clear.

Rather than misread, assume, misspell, insult and generally spout utterly meaningless drivel here, can I suggest you take your particular brand of stupidity to somewhere it will be given a fair hearing - Radio 5 Live was developed with complete cretins like you in mind.

There's little point in anyone trying to engage you in sensible discussion, as contrary to what Dr Dolittle claimed, you actually can't talk to the animals. Sadly, you're not allowed to put them down these days either.

Is this young woman's religion really a significant factor here? Why do we think it is in the west?

As a disturbed individual how exactly is she representative of Muslims or Islam?

What concerns me is the stereotyping of Muslims as violent and ready to use terror against us for no rational reason, but because they hate us, and they are Muslims.

Considering how many Muslims we have killed in response to terrorist attacks against us, it's surprising that there isn't far more terrorism aimed at the west. After all, if we launch wars and invade entire countries, which to hundreds of thousands of deaths and massive material destruction, on scale that dwarfs both the 9/11 and 7/7 attacks, and we feel perfectly justified in doing this; then how must many Muslims feel in return? Don't they have a right to feel under attack? Don't they have a right to fight back? Even if they are wrong?

And why isn't our violence against Muslim countries defined as Christian attacks, or even Jewish acts of violence?

It's as if we refuse to acknowledge that we are killing and bombing too. Almost like it isn't happening at all. Or that our killing Muslims on a huge scale, compared to the terrorism aimed at us, is a different class of killing. Killing for a real and good reason. Not like the Muslims, who seem to kill for the pleasure of killing innocent people, without rhyme or reason.

Stuart consider the innocent people in Iraq and Afghanistan who, like you, also don't want to be blown up.

Unfortunately they are in a poor country and are faced with the all the power and might of a very rich Empire.

I agree wholeheartedly with Writeon we need to look at ourselves when we ctiticise others. The conflict in the world is about a whole lot more than religion.