Mehdi Hasan

Mehdi Hasan’s polemical take on politics, economics and foreign affairs

In defence of Baroness Warsi: the sequel

The Tory peer is spot on about bigotry and Islamophobia.

By Mehdi Hasan Published 20 January 2011 12:31

In my last post on Sayeeda Warsi, the Conservative Party chair and peer, I wrote:

I have a soft spot for Baroness Warsi. Before the Islamophobic and racist trolls arrive "below the line" to claim it's because she shares my faith or ethnicity, let me clarify: it has nothing to do with that.

But let me be clear in this post: I am delighted by her latest intervention precisely because I share her faith and am a co-religionist. Why wouldn't I be? Like every other Muslim I know, I've been waiting years for a leading politician to speak out against the growing, depressing and nasty anti-Muslim bigotry that has disfigured our public and private discourse. If that politician happens to be a Muslim herself, as Warsi is, then so be it. (And there's a lesson here for British Muslims of the Hizb ut-Tahrir/segregationist variety, who argue that Muslims should stay out of politics and public roles. The words "ostriches", "head" and "sand" come to mind.)

So what will Warsi be saying, in her speech at Leicester University tonight? From the Telegraph:

Islamophobia has "passed the dinner-table test" and is seen by many as normal and uncontroversial, Baroness Warsi will say in a speech on Thursday.

The minister without portfolio will also warn that describing Muslims as either "moderate" or "extremist" fosters growing prejudice.

. . . Lady Warsi will blame "the patronising, superficial way faith is discussed in certain quarters, including the media". The peer will describe how prejudice against Muslims has grown along with their numbers, partly because of the way they are often portrayed.

The notion that all followers of Islam can be described either as "moderate" or "extremist" can fuel misunderstanding and intolerance, she will say.

"It's not a big leap of imagination to predict where the talk of 'moderate' Muslims leads; in the factory, where they've just hired a Muslim worker, the boss says to his employees: 'Not to worry, he's only fairly Muslim.'

"In the school, the kids say: 'The family next door are Muslim but they're not too bad.'

"And in the road, as a woman walks past wearing a burka, the passers-by think: 'That woman's either oppressed or is making a political statement.'"

The baroness will also be offering some "home truths" to sections of the Muslim community:

. . . she will also suggest that some Muslim communities must do more to make clear to extremists that their beliefs and actions are not acceptable.

"Those who commit criminal acts of terrorism in our country need to be dealt with not just by the full force of the law," she will say.

"They also should face social rejection and alienation across society and their acts must not be used as an opportunity to tar all Muslims."

On a side note, I'm amused that her comments have attracted such headlines -- it was the lead story on the Today programme, no less! -- when she made exactly the same points to me in an interview in the New Statesman last year:

She is surprisingly frank and forthright about the rise of Islamophobia in Britain. Citing the conservative commentator and columnist Peter Oborne, who has written extensively about the demonisation of Muslim communities, she tells me: "When Peter says that anti-Islamic sentiment is the last socially acceptable form of bigotry in Britain today, that's absolutely true." She adds: "If you have a pop at the British Muslim community in the media, first of all it will sell a few papers; second, it doesn't really matter; and third, it's fair game.

"If you go back historically -- [and] I was looking at some Evening Standard headlines, where there were things written about the British Jewish community less than 100 years ago -- they have kind of replaced one with the other."

But I couldn't resist blogging on her latest comments for one very simple reason. Prove me -- and her -- wrong. Prove that there isn't Islamophobia or anti-Muslim bigotry by keeping the comments below the line, on this particular post, civil, tolerant and non-bigoted. I suspect the trolls won't be able to. And, in doing so, they'll prove Warsi's point. How deliciously ironic . . .

Ready, steady, GO!

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Tags: Islam Conservatives

More from Mehdi Hasan

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112 comments

Thu, 2012-09-06 17:07 — KINGBILLY (not verified)

Can I suggest you read Danny lockwoods book about the town where Warsi comes from.
Its title "The Islamic republic of Dewsbury"

What goes round comes round, she left her husband and took an innocent ladies husband from her own community .

Thu, 2011-01-20 19:29 — Villan (not verified)

I am worried about this speech, its content and its intent. This is a cabinet minister making a public statement about how one small minority is being demonized, as though other minorities are not. Imagine the furore if a minister were to comment publicly on issues affecting Christians and claiming that they had been the victims of positive discrimination in the workplace. He or she would be reprimanded at the very least, if not summarily sacked.

It seems to me that Warsi, who is danger of bring the old Monty Python sketch about the four Yorkshire men back into vogue, and seems to in the cabinet because she ticks a lot of boxes at once, is wheeled out every few weeks to remind us that she is there. If she cannot avoid racially biased and exclusive speeches, perhaps a period of silence would be in order?

Thu, 2011-01-20 23:42 — Fruininut

The sad truth is that there is no rational debate with devils,they will win by any means possible fair or more likely foul. !

Sat, 2011-01-22 12:15 — Sleuth

Islamophobia is in common use as is the more dubious term West, if one remembers the West included Apartheid South Africa did it not? But S.Africa would seldom be regarded as part of "the West" now:just possibly as "moderate". In present day England one has to recall the demonisation of the Huns (aka Nazi Germans) during 'only' 4 years of war, and the much greater demonising of the 'sub-human Japs' during the same 4 years of WWII, and then one cannot but see how over 10 years war waged against Islamic Afghanistan with no victory but a humiliating defeat facing largely Christian USAS (= US And Satraps) would give rise to propaganda (in war-time-propaganda the first casualty is truth)which though muted here in London is quite gruesome in the United States, with honourable exceptions as always.

Sun, 2011-01-23 16:11 — Truth Be Told (not verified)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYBsDwjezQI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgI1aph7AsE&feature=related

can someone please answer after watching those videos, What the Jews think of themselves & WHAT are they TEACHING their CHILDREN about about their fellow humans!!

Why the British & US foreign policy always blindly support Israel even if they kill the innocent civilians in Palestain on a DAILY basis??? WHY ?? Why our governments support that terrorist state BLINDLY?

If the US & UK could stop their blind support and could overcome the very strong Jewish influence to go to war & their always kill people attitude; then today we woldn't even come to the point of suicide bombing and worldwide terrorism.

These terrorist are always having their home-made recruits here in UK & In US & i think they themselves were born because of the injustice that's been done to some group of innocent people around this world.

Killing innocent people regardless of their religion (Jew, Christan, Hindu Muslim and so on) is ofcourse wrong and I know it is prohibited in all the major religious books. Doesn't matter what the tiny number of sick terrorist bustard comes up with their sick explanation of killing innocent people; they clearly going against their own religion. Also those sick bustard politicians who lied to the public and went into illegal wars; now killing nearly millions of civilians; by which again the terrorist are having easy recruits!

In my opinion, Hezbollag, Hamas & organisations like them wouldn't even exit in this world, if we (the world) could stop the UNJUSTICE & killing of innocent people on a DAILY basis which has been happening for the last 60 years by Terrorist country Israel.

Sun, 2011-01-23 16:16 — Truth Be Told (not verified)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYBsDwjezQI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgI1aph7AsE&feature=related

can someone please answer after watching those videos, What the Jews think of themselves & WHAT are they TEACHING their CHILDREN about about their fellow humans!!

Killing innocent people regardless of their religion (Jew, Christan, Hindu Muslim and so on) is ofcourse wrong and I know it is prohibited in all the major religious books. Doesn't matter what the tiny number of sick terrorist bastard comes up with their sick explanation of killing innocent people; they clearly going against their own religion. Also those sick bastard politicians who lied to the public and went into illegal wars; now killing nearly millions of civilians; by which again the terrorist are having easy recruits!

In my opinion, Hezbollah, Hamas & organisations like them wouldn't even exist in this world, if we (the world) could stop the UNJUSTICE & killing of innocent people on a DAILY basis which has been happening for the last 60 years by Terrorist country Israel.

Sat, 2011-01-22 12:50 — Luddite (not verified)

What does Islamic-fascism have in common with socialism? to those of you that are confusing confronting religious fascism with racism think long and hard about what you are actually defending.

Sat, 2011-01-22 12:55 — Luddite (not verified)

Muslim Hater
21 January 2011 at 19:50
I **** on the qur'an and **** down the throat of Mohammad!
I'm all for freedom of expression but is this appalling comment acceptable.

Thu, 2011-01-20 20:44 — David Vinter (not verified)

Islamists might be more popular if they stopped their wicked 'Halal' method of animal slaughter for a start!

Thu, 2011-01-20 20:46 — Apster Hack (not verified)

Hello, here is Baroness Warsi's speech in its entirety http://bit.ly/dSfXTP

It's alright you know - she says some good things. Funny how everyone had a million comments to make about Warsi and the rights and wrongs of her speech before they even heard it.

I invite you to read through it now properly if you haven't already.

Fri, 2011-01-21 16:35 — south pacific

Why do Muslims want to live in the WEST??

If you feel you are not liked just move to a Muslim country, there are plenty around.

Trouble is that if you open your mouth there you get a baton on your head.
That's why they prefer the WEST. There you can complain about being persecuted without generally being beaten about the head.

I am not religious, I am a skeptic. Religious people call those without religion atheists.

Since I am a skeptic should a feel persecuted if I am called an atheist??

Well I don't give a sh.. what I am called as long as they don't try to convert me. Then I can get real nasty.

Thu, 2011-01-27 22:26 — Hepworth (not verified)

All these comments, pro or anti miss the point.
This is Britain. It can never be a Muslim country.
If (God forbid) It came to civil war The albeit latent Christians would come to the fore find their spirit.

Thu, 2011-04-28 11:29 — JoeT (not verified)

Looks like Mehdi Hassan has been chosen as one of those that should be granted a baronetcy:
http://www.shaykhabdalqadir.com/content/articles/Art119_27042011.php

Sun, 2011-01-23 18:06 — Howard Liebman (not verified)

My response to Mr. Hasan is to quote from him with only a few minor modifications: "Like every other [non-] Muslim I know, I've been waiting years for ... leading ... [Muslims] to speak out against the growing, depressing and nasty anti-[Western] ... bigotry that has disfigured our public and private discourse", to say the very least.

Thu, 2011-01-20 21:40 — Eddy S (not verified)

many muslims believe that we are a promiscuous society, that the west is weak and lost. it may or may not be true - but islam is not the answer.

Sun, 2011-01-23 18:50 — Truth Be Told (not verified)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYBsDwjezQI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgI1aph7AsE&feature=related

can someone please answer after watching those videos, What the Jews think of themselves & WHAT they are TEACHING their CHILDREN about about their fellow humans!!

These terrorist are always having their home-made recruits here in UK & In US & i think they themselves were born because of the injustice that's been happening to some group of innocent people around the world.

Killing innocent people regardless of their religion (Jew, Christan, Hindu Muslim and so on) is ofcourse wrong and I know it is prohibited in all the major religious books. Doesn't matter what the tiny number of sick terrorist bastard comes up with their sick explanation of killing innocent people; they clearly going against their own religion. Also those sick bastard politicians who lied to the public and went into illegal wars; now killing nearly millions of civilians; by which again the terrorist are having easy recruits!

Thu, 2011-01-20 21:54 — michaelpetek

I'm sure Islamophobia has passed the dinner table test with Aasia Bibi, in so far as the only dinner table she ever sees has Pakistani prison food slammed onto it every day.

Fri, 2011-02-04 08:18 — felix (not verified)

Islamaphobia,an irratinal fear of Islam...mmmm lets see...

a non Muslim is a kuffar

...Kuffar is a highly derogatory Arabic term used to refer to non-Muslims,Separate laws govern Muslims and kuffars in an Islamic state with kuffars being viciously suppressed. For example: the blood payment to the family of a murdered Muslim man in Saudi Arabia is 1,000,000 Riyals; the payment to the family of a murdered Hindu woman is 3,333 Riyals.

Against kuffars make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war to strike terror into the (hearts of) the Enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others beside, whom you may not know, but whom Allah does know. Whatever you shall spend in the Cause of Allah, shall be repaid to you, and you shall not be treated unjustly. (Qur'an: 8:60)

something we can all look forward to!
Baroness Warsi

Thu, 2011-01-20 22:04 — nikchadd (not verified)

Ref Warsi's comment, "In the school, the kids say: 'The family next door are Muslim but they're not too bad'.

One of the kids in my wife's class of year 1 infants said to her when she expressed a fondness for curry, "but Christians don't like Muslim food". My wife is not a Christian. The child's assumption was racist (White = Christian) and prejudiced (Christians don't like curry). What other views does the child hold I wonder?

Am I a bigot for stating the fact that neither side of this divide is free from blame?

Fri, 2011-02-04 08:20 — felix (not verified)

irratinal...OOPSS TYPO irrational

Sat, 2011-01-22 16:31 — Alex (not verified)

Child worker, what are you on about? Are you so thick that you could not understand my point?

Think before you write brain trust.

Mon, 2011-07-18 08:20 — Galilea

There is nothing wrong with hating the religion- that can be a very rational hatred, or fear, given the actual purpose of a religion in the first place. But Christianity is also horrific and open to a lot of criticism, so what's the difference? The difference is that Christian stupidity is white stupidity. The problem isn't Islamophobia as such, but racism. http://www.dentaljournal.org/

Mon, 2011-07-18 09:04 — swatantra

Warsi takes a sensible view of the place that Islam, or any religion for that matter, should hold in modern everyday Britain. And she does make an attempt to separate ones personal religion from interfering with the rights of others, fellow Britons.
The moral being : Don't wear your religion blatantly on your shirt sleeves or or around your neck, because such blatant exhibitionism will offend others of different faiths. All you need do is quietly celebrate your religion with others of your faith, or alone if you choose, for your own comfort and peace of mind.
Warsi takes a pretty healthy view of religion, which many religious communities here should take heed of.

Fri, 2011-01-21 18:06 — Luddite (not verified)

Pat Condell look him up on YOUTUBE...

Thu, 2011-01-20 23:03 — Hugh Markey (not verified)

Pastor Martin Neimoller's well-known warning - 'First they came for the Jews..' seems appropriate at this moment.
Not a word of doubt was expressed by the majority of ethnic groups when the Irish in the United Kingdom were being targeted as potential terrorists.
IRA - the initials stand for Irish Republican Army. Everyone knew what was meant. As far as I can recall only those who were of Irish descent were incarcerated.
Of course, it is a difficult situation. Sorting out Sunnis from Shiites, Christians from Moslems, etc is easiest when the individual is treated as part of a group. Take the former Yugoslavia and Albania! We don't want national groupings based on ethnicity.
Tolerance

Thu, 2011-01-20 23:11 — Left Is Forward (not verified)

The world will be a better place when there is not a single Muslim left on its face.

That is not an islamophobic statement - it is part of the urgent need to nurture and build a post-enlightenment, rationalist, progressive, fair, equitable, and socially liberal world.

It is not an argument for ethnic cleansing or cultural supremacy (the Christianity of Europe and America has been just as dangerous and deadly, and equally deserves to be destroyed) but an argument for rationality and progressive at the expense of outdated superstition.

Nobody should ever be killed because of their beliefs about a work of fiction that is over a thousand years old. The faster Islam vanishes into the history books, the faster this better world can be created. Mehdi's attempts to cast a "rational" version of Islam is self-contradictory - believing in invisible all-powerful sky-lords is by definition irrational thinking.

Arguing about whether said sky-lords want us to kill somebody else for "inaccuracies" in their beliefs, or whether said sky-lords just want to punish the miscreants in hell at their own leisure once the infidel clogs have popped, is not a rational discussion at all. It is a silly, stupid childish argument; and while it is being rowed over, real people are being killed and persecutes because of imaginary beliefs. The solution is to prick the bubble of faith, and see how thoroughly it disappears once burst, rather than have obscure theological discussions about what kinds of heresy are punishable and which are tolerable in the eyes of our imaginary invisible overlords.

The Post-Christian West, apart from a few die-hards like the evangelicals and the Pope (both of whom you regularly criticise) has seen the light.

Mehdi, do you honestly believe Muslims are too stupid and backwards to? Or don't you think that the British-Pakistani, British-Bangladeshi, and British-Arab communities, with their long histories, rich cultures and previous success at promoting science and rationality in philosophy, can also grasp the light and pull themselves up towards a brighter future, free of fear and superstition?

Islam need not be a stain the history of your people - it will be remembered for its negative points (the illiberalism, the suppression of women, the execution of those who turned away from the faith) but also for its brighter patches (the propagation and expansion of Classical knowledge through the European Dark Ages, the art and poetry, the uplifting sense of brotherhood between peoples thousands of miles apart). But now its core beliefs (God, Heaven, Hell, Creation, an infallible Holy Book, an "eternal" Law frozen in times long past) are no longer even vaguely tenable, and fail all tests of rational scrutiny (ironically something Islamic philosophy promoted), moving on will bring credit not shame - and allow you and your people to escape the shackles of myth and history.

Thu, 2011-01-20 23:15 — Julia Harris (not verified)

More needs to be said about how Islam targets Gays...Women, Infidels...that is a far far far greater problem...nothing is said????

Varsi starts to compare Antisemitism towards Jews with that of Islamaphobia..

The difference is that the main proponents of Antisemitism towards Jews are infact Muslims....

The fact is Jews have contribited in a far greater way then sponging Muslims and have been victimized for the success, whereas Muslims are seen to be feared for there crazy ideology that seeks to overwhelm and destroy our freedoms.

In 2007 Islam and Judaism's holiest holidays overlapped for 10 days.
Muslims racked up 397 dead bodies in 94 terror attacks across 10
countries during this time... while Jews worked on their 159th Nobel Prize.

There is a real threat from Islam in the west - i.e Keep Sharia out, its backward and regressive, it has nothing to offer the UK or any progressive society.

I know Jewish schools and places of worship all have very high security - not for the hindu's, not the siekhs, not the christains, but yes the mulsims.

Fri, 2011-01-21 00:07 — Lao Tzu's best friend (not verified)

Good article - I agree that the prevailing paradigm is generally (often non-specifically) critical of Islam, largely fuelled by ignorance and media exaggeration/distortion.

The supremacist rhetoric that is evident in the Western tabloid press is very disturbing, even to a Non-Muslim.

It strikes me that this state of affairs is tremendously useful to the prevailing power structures who, keen to wage unpopular resource wars in the Middle East, find far less resistance in their own population if the "enemy" is constantly demonised. Traditionally called war propaganda, today it's known as Psychological Warfare, and demands a hefty slice of the defence budget of most industrial nations.

To the bigots: read some Chomsky and wise up.

Sun, 2011-01-30 15:20 — One of the forgotten (not verified)

I am sorry I cannot take the views of Mehdi Hasan any longer, goodbye New Statesman I shall never read you again, you cannot be taken seriously whilst this man with his double standards is working for you.And by the way Mr Hasan you have not answered Sameer's comments of Jan. 20th yet. As for the rest of the Guilt ridden post imperialist middle class sheep who read you he will lead them all to the slaughter like the lambs you are.

Sat, 2011-01-22 20:54 — child support worker (not verified)

@ Alex

Someone who purports to be of superior intellect should be able to use proper punctuation.

Fri, 2011-01-21 01:02 — removeRacism (not verified)

unfortunately the common people of this country, and anywhere else for that matter, are completely taken on a predetermined 'mostly doomed' course by the biased media and powerful corporations behind it.
Islamophobia is a type of Racism and a tool for bigots of this age. Not long ago it was poor Jews suffering at the hands of these racists. Muslims are 21st century Jews!?

Fri, 2011-01-21 01:26 — Julia Harris (not verified)

The very concept of "Islamophobia" was invented by Islamic supremacists in order to claim victim status for Muslims and deflect attention away from the global jihad and Islamic supremacism. If self-proclaimed moderate Muslims really wants to cure "Islamophobia," here is an easy way. They can:

1. Focus their indignation on Muslims committing violent acts in the name of Islam, not on non-Muslims reporting on those acts.
2. Renounce definitively, sincerely, honestly, and in deeds, not just in comforting words, not just "terrorism," but any intention to replace the U.S. Constitution (or the constitutions of any non-Muslim state) with Sharia even by peaceful means. In line with this, clarify what is meant by their condemnations of the killing of innocent people by stating unequivocally that American and Israeli civilians are innocent people, teaching accordingly in mosques and Islamic schools, and behaving in accord with these new teachings.
3. Teach, again sincerely and honestly, in transparent and inspectable ways in mosques and Islamic schools, the imperative of Muslims coexisting peacefully as equals with non-Muslims on an indefinite basis, and act accordingly.
4. Begin comprehensive international programs in mosques all over the world to teach sincerely against the ideas of violent jihad and Islamic supremacism.
5. Actively and honestly work with Western law enforcement officials to identify and apprehend jihadists within Western Muslim communities.

If Muslims do those five things, voila! People like me will no longer suffer from the illness of "Islamophobia"!

Mon, 2011-01-24 01:48 — Julia Harris (not verified)

Truth be told - you muppet, you think by posting spurious clip your going to deflect peoples attentions from the Global Jihad and Islamic supremacists - your sadly wrong

Fri, 2011-01-21 01:28 — Left Is Forward (not verified)

Comparing Muslims to Jews is stupid. Judaism is both a religion and an ethnic identity - so there are atheist Jews and even Christian ones!

Fascists and anti-semites persecuted ALL Jews, including the atheistic ones.

Islam is just a set of religious beliefs, albeit with an associated cultural identity. It isn't a nationality, and it isn't something which is a permanent feature of all Muslims. When they engage their minds critically, they can escape the religious madhouse (and be in no doubt, religious delusions are a form of mental illness, just as believing in an invisible imaginary friend is).

I can't wait for the day the Roman Catholic Church is wiped off the face of the earth, because nobody is stupid enough to believe it anymore. People can still read the Vulgate for literary value, appreciate the art of Botticelli and Caravaggio, the architecture of St Peters, and the writings of Augustine.

Similarly, post-religious ex-muslims can still remember with pride the way their culture brought forward science and technology during the European Dark Ages, and delight in the poetry of Omar Khayyam, and the architecture of the Great Mosque of Djenne.

But they can do so free of the bigotry, intolerance, irrationalism, and constricting pseudo-morality of religion. For that reason, as a left-wing rationalist progressive - who has the best of wishes for all muslims everywhere - I hope that they all learn to escape the shackles of superstitions. Let Islam perish, and rejoice. I long for the day there is not a single believing Muslim left on this earth, and all the ex-Muslims are left happier and freer as a result. This wish is neither racist not bigotted nor islamophobic, but would be the best thing for all who are trapped in religion's clutches.

Fri, 2011-06-03 08:11 — chris emmanuel dsouza (not verified)

Islam makes very large claims for itself. It states to be the last and the final word of god (Revelation)."Islam is the solution" is a very popular slogan doing rounds with the offshoots of Muslim Brotherhood. They say Islam is the TOTAL solution, it takes care of everything, Banking, Political Economy, Human Relations, Sex, Treatment of Women, Law, and everything, its a total and complete solution for all human problems, and sooner it is imposed on every human the better it will be for mankind. Now, what is so creepy about the term "TOTAL", its the first five letters of the cynical term TOTALITARIAN!

When islam and its apologist like Mehndi, accept such ridiculous and sinister claims of islam, they should also accept the fact, that such stuffs about nay ideology are bound to lead into mockery and ridicule. Mehndi cannot be under the impression that Islam is immune to criticism (We know that he's a devote believer), but to reciprocate English society by antagonizing and smearing, a very strong and legitimate fear of islam. Britain, which is well adored for its tolerance, multi-culture and generosity especially towards muslim communities and nations all over the world, suddenly seems to be snapped under its own web, that it created in the 60's and the 70's.

Let us assume for a time being, that what Warsi and Mehndi do lecture us about, as evenly right. And Islamophobia is growing in English society at a alarming rate. But, Mehndi must stress the fact why that is? And there two important observation, on the irrational or rational fear of islam.
a) Islam like many other religions has a unique blend of supremacist ingredients and apolitical instincts within its facets. Islamic organizations in Britain and most parts of western europe have demanded separate schools for boys and girls, segregation of men and women in community halls and swimming pools. They are also accused of honor Killings (abuse) and torture of muslim women and forcible covering of the hair and face. And any form of interference by civil right groups and media, to bring these absurd practices into light have resulted many so called 'Moderate' muslims to phrase it as 'ISLAMOPHOBIC' on the part of European society. Its important to clarify the definition of Mehndi, in his own terms, cause, if at all an Englishmen, find Niqab(face covering) of a 16 year old female child, as uncivilized and harsh ritual, then whether that leads to mehndi's definition?

b) Irrational or legitimate of fear, ironically, is not just with the White or Non-Muslim British civilians, but it rather exists and rising among Liberal Progressive muslims (Especially Indian) in the British society, which Mehndi does not take into account. The liberal Muslims who do not concede to the 'particularisms' and 'myths' about islamic teachings, who like to eat and drink freely, who do not dictate their women on veiling or working, and who are least concerned about the islamic cause of 'Holy Jihad' and 'Holy Dawah', around the world, are deeply concerned and horrified at the site of exploding Islamic fanaticism and radicalization of youths in the British society. The kind of Islamicness, was never prevalent or heard in the good old days of Liberalism and Cold War!

Mehndi Hassan, is a preposterous figure in the British Left Media. Who for instance, condemns Atheists as sub-humans or not complete human beings, and should face Allah’s wrath. Well, Atheists are least effected by that babyish remark. moreover, Mehndi does think Iran is a free democratic state and Women are emancipated to a high level (Afterall, According to his understanding), ?He hasn’t yet tagged, Paksitan (the few Islamic Democracies in the world) as a rogue state and a terror hub, instead has accused US drone strikes in Terror camps in Pak's tribal areas and also alleged India to be a barrier for Paks progress. Well let’s see, where this monster (with a innocent face) will lead this fight into. Mehndi should be fearing about minorities and their rights in Muslim majority countries, like Egypt and Pakistan, where they are persecuted on regular basis, and not once in his columns does he mention a word of the barbaric blasphemy law, which plays as a tool in the hands of fundamentalist jihadists in pak to terrorize civil society. Mehndi should be ashamed of himself, as a political editor of such an honorable Journal.

Fri, 2011-01-21 01:35 — Julia Harris (not verified)

Muslims killing Muslims - its like talking about the weather, noone gives a stuff...but Islamphobia...oh its hurts so much...

2011.01.19 (Paktika, Afghanistan) - Thirteen children and six women are among twenty civilians taken out by Taliban roadside bombers.
2011.01.19 (Peshawar, Pakistan) - Children are among the casualties when fundamentalists bomb a school that teaches girls.
2011.01.18 (Tikrit, Iraq) - Sixty-six innocents are cut down by a religious radical with a ball-bearing packed suicide vest.
2011.01.18 (Hangu, Pakistan) - Four men are brutally executed by Tehreek-e-Taliban radicals.
2011.01.18 (Bala Murgab, Afghanistan) - An Italian soldier is shot in the head by a terrorist wearing a friendly uniform.
2011.01.18 (Pattani, Thailand) - A 43-year-old Buddhist woman is shot in the head by militant Muslims.

Sat, 2011-01-22 23:57 — thaaqib (not verified)

@Julia:

The above already happen to the point that in countries like Syria, Libya, Lebanon etc. many youths are stopped at airports simply because of their beard lengths. You need to read around a lot more what organisations like MPACUK are encouraging

"
1. Focus their indignation on Muslims committing violent acts in the name of Islam, not on non-Muslims reporting on those acts.

2. Renounce definitively, sincerely, honestly, and in deeds, not just in comforting words, not just "terrorism," but any intention to replace the U.S. Constitution (or the constitutions of any non-Muslim state) with Sharia even by peaceful means. In line with this, clarify what is meant by their condemnations of the killing of innocent people by stating unequivocally that American and Israeli civilians are innocent people, teaching accordingly in mosques and Islamic schools, and behaving in accord with these new teachings.

3. Teach, again sincerely and honestly, in transparent and inspectable ways in mosques and Islamic schools, the imperative of Muslims coexisting peacefully as equals with non-Muslims on an indefinite basis, and act accordingly.

4. Begin comprehensive international programs in mosques all over the world to teach sincerely against the ideas of violent jihad and Islamic supremacism.

5. Actively and honestly work with Western law enforcement officials to identify and apprehend jihadists within Western Muslim communities"

Fri, 2011-01-21 01:40 — jane (not verified)

It's ironic that Muslims can overlook the most vile hate speech and hate crimes by Muslims towards gays and Jews... then turn around and claim "fear" of political Islam (which is a facist ideology) creates a climate like "Nazi Germany for Muslims". No, Muslims create a Nazi Germany like enviornment for gays and Jews

Fri, 2011-01-21 02:01 — EdWelthorpe (not verified)

Why do so many commenters think Islam is a race?

Pro-Vatican bloggers call us Romophobics when we criticise the spread of HIV and sexual abuse. Liberal language is used by almost everyone these days. To cut through it simply ask:

1. Is this doctrine coded into the human DNA? No.
2. Is it a choice people freely make every day? Yes.
3. Is it 'more complicated than that'? Not for any adult you'd take seriously.
4. Regardless of whether this doctrine is a minority in your country or not, does it have a history of forced conversions and destroying diversity? Yes.
5. Does it contain elements you find morally offensive? Yes.

And so on. It is not about race, nor is it a right wing thing.

Thu, 2011-01-20 17:57 — Des Demona (not verified)

@ EnragedBrit
Now, to me that, is pretty clear cut bigoted.
Well done on lowering the tone there. Mind you, I think that's pretty much the first in the thread so hey - not bad.

Fri, 2011-01-21 02:37 — SAS

Baroness has got to be incredibly courageous to speak her mind on this issue - before labelling her, or British Muslims as ``extremist'' her critics could do worse than to ask what Britain has been doing in the Middle East for the past few years - illegally invading Iraq, supporting the illegal occupation of Palestine, as well as widespread human rights violations and the curtailing of civil liberties in the name of the so called ``War on Terror''.

If so many Britons are willing to support the most gross abuses of their government, one wonders exactly who is being ``extremist'' now ?

Mon, 2011-01-24 11:12 — Gederts Skerstens (not verified)

No European Nation has to debate any of this for more than 30 seconds, any more than Middle Eastern Nations debate anything at all.
Europe already has its own Culture. No further inputs required. Like Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Indonesia or China aren't seeking to accommodsate other cultures.
There's nothing to discuss. Europe speaks freely, doesn't mangle its women, mutilate felons or saw the heads off Infidels. We've got our Culture after centuries of effort. People risk their lives getting to it.
So, no compromises, no accommodation. Not even an amputated finger instead of the whole hand, a clinical "nick" instead of genital mangling, or stoning only until brain damage or blindness instead of death. Nothing. Not segregated swimming pool sessions for the Burka Belles. Nothing at all. Unsuitable for the Faith? Yemen becons.

Fri, 2011-01-21 04:23 — hyde_park_floozy (not verified)

she seems pretty cool in some ways actually, as a dark skinned woman who has risen to the very top, and i loved the way she wore colourful ethnic garments into downing street! i think there are far worse targets on the right we can zero in on...

i would like to see her speak out more though about the practices in some benagli and pakistani communities that think it's acceptable to keep women prisoners in homes, and beat them if they ever defy the men in their lives

Fri, 2011-01-21 20:50 — Muslim Hater (not verified)

I piss on the quaran and shit down the throat of Mohammad!

Fri, 2011-01-21 21:03 — Tom (not verified)

Anyone able to come up with a good reason as to why we shouldn't use the term 'moderate Muslim'?

I guess the term moderate might be inappropriate for someone like her with a track record of homophobia:

http://crustydub.wordpress.com/

Sun, 2011-01-23 01:39 — not important (not verified)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYBsDwjezQI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgI1aph7AsE&feature=related

can someone please answer after watching those videos, What the Jews think of themselves & WHAT are they TEACHING their CHILDREN about about their fellow humans!!

Fri, 2011-01-21 08:09 — Luddite (not verified)

Anybody who follows the teaching of a medieval sociopath does not deserve respect. All religion is hocus-pocus, or have some on the political-left forgotten that fact.
Lets not forget, religion is an invention of men by the manipulative and the powerful to control the weak and the gullible.

Thu, 2011-01-20 12:47 — Jim Costello (not verified)

Mehdi Hasan on discrimination

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhPeyxJ7vGU

Thu, 2011-01-20 12:40 — Jim Costello (not verified)

Islamophobia is so rife that the government has the unelected Warsi in the Cabinet to make them look diverse, and to help them appeal to the Muslim vote.

The reason it grabs headlines is due to the imprecise nature of what constitutes 'Islamophobia'. According to Warsi, believing a woman wearing a burqa may be 'oppressed' is Islamophobic.

That is just depressing on so many levels.

Thu, 2011-01-20 12:41 — thatcherschild (not verified)

Mmm,a recognised homophobe complaining about Islamophobes, now thats ironic.
If this woman was an elected member of Parliament I would consider taking her seriously.
Last time I looked the UK was secular, I would fight to the death to keep it that way.