Baroness Warsi and the EDL join hands on grooming

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Baroness Warsi should be respected for her achievements; however on the grooming cases, she is dangerously wrong.

There is no place for sexual abuse in civilised society. Baroness Warsi's comments over the weekend highlighted the excellent response from a number of different community organisations. However, having been largely silent on the issue for so long, to then come out prompted neither by a sense of political leadership nor civic duty, but due to prompting from her father no less; the belated response has been less than satisfactory and is potentially dangerous and reckless.

If we look at the national picture, we know that 93% of the perpetrators of paedophilia in the UK are white whilst demographically constituting 87% of the UK population; this is to be compared with Black and Asian perpetrators being responsible for 7% of national cases whilst they make up some 13% of the UK population (H.M. Prison Service 2007a report).

Now let's see how this compares to the local picture. The Guardian reports that the ethnic breakdown of West Yorkshire as follows: White British 81.55%, Mixed 1.81%, Asian / Asian British 10.21%, Black / Black British 1.90% and Chinese 0.46%. A recent FOI request relating to West Yorkshire reported that there were 53 grooming cases over the last 3 years. Of these, 5 were committed by Asians putting the issue approximately en par with the mix of the local community. However, white grooming cases accounted for 47 of the 53 cases which makes it disproportionately higher for the white community, compared to the local demographic mix.

This tells us a number of things; firstly, that it is utterly wrong to conflate the issue of grooming or paedophilia (or claim it it be a disproportionately big problem) with a specific minority community for reasons of ethnicity, race or religion and belief. If this is going to be done, as arbitrary as it might be and as loathe as one might be to want to accept it; the evidence indicates that the broader problem is overwhelmingly a white male one. Two weeks ago we waded through the commentary rebuking that it was a race issue. Worse still, it is now being touted as a religious one - both by bigots on the far right and the Chairman of the Conservative party.

There is no doubt that a spike in convictions of Asian men - either by targeted policing or a variation in criminal behaviour - does not mean there is a relation between religion and sexual criminality. To suggest this is the case, takes us back to the dangerous hate rhetoric of the 1930s directed at the Jewish populations of Europe. Let us remember that also at that time, Governments were complacent and naval gazing.

It is a damning indictment that it needs to be said that Islam condemns without reservation such criminality and any oppression of people in society. In fact, social justice is at the heart of the resurgent Islamic message. It is utterly a non sequitur to hold a faith responsible for the actions of misguided individuals, who have been acting in complete contradiction to the rules and core values of that faith.

The English Defence League are proposing to demonstrate in Rochdale on 9th June 2012 - citing in a promotional video that they are protesting against "Muslim Grooming Gangs" and that these crimes are "mostly religiously motivated". There could be nothing further from the truth. The Baroness has inadvertently and quite clumsily given her full support to the far right and Islamophobes who are looking to peddle misinformation and hate based on religion. The far right have for a number of weeks, already been suspected of posting on Twitter the home address and name of one of the convicted criminals. Arguably, a public order offence and incitement to violence.

Our political leaders have a responsibility to look at issues reasonably and to address the complex factors which go hand in hand with increased criminality: diminished socio economic standing, social deprivation, moral decline, child poverty, young people who are NEET, general low employment and low educational attainment, low aspiration and reduced social mobility. The black community in the US have long been unjustly labelled as "more likely to be criminal" whilst their accusers have also failed to look at the social indicators that lead to black crime.

Sexual crime is heinous. The UK is home to 122 adult rapes per day, in addition to 60 child rapes each and every day. We also have the unwelcome privilege of being the sex trafficking and teenage pregnancy capital of the world. Tell me we don't have a problem. Scape goating either the Asian community, or worse still, the Muslim community is both reckless and demeans the seriousness of these issues.

Unfortunately, it seems the Chairwoman of the Conservative Party is unable to think outside of her limited field of view; instead feeding into continuing Tory, right wing anti-Islam rhetoric and a xenophobic discourse which fuels the far right. Dangerously so.

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post script - if the name was Wilders, Le Pen or Robinson perhaps those claims would have been seen in a different light. Sarkozyesque. Cynical.

The Evening Standard requested a response and this article was provided on 21st May 2012 

The cabal of broadcasting bias

As I sit here playing snooker on my Galaxy S2, I'm distracted by another news story - actually it's a couple of stories running virtually back-to-back on the BBC.

In fairness, it was actually something that was tweeted a while ago which sowed the seed that now seems to be growing into something of a beanstalk.

Randomly swimming through the word salad that is Twitter, a student tweeter blasts "when we are terrorists, we are Muslims, when we are heroes we are Asians". Presumably unhappy at the Tariq Jahan story or quite possibly any of a dozen grievances.

Whilst the riots were happening, this wasn't the time for finger pointing or point-scoring. No conspiracies, this was neither the time nor the place. Other than from the usual politicians, no opportunism from the rest of us thankfully. A follower on twitter stated "not Muslim values, not British values, just good values". We are entitled to our views but if they were Muslims values, why the discomfort at saying so? Beanstalk. 1 day and 8 frames of snooker later I realised something as BBC breakfast gently simmered in the background on a Sunday morning. A narrative was now running on national television, injected directly into the nation's I.V. drip.

That weekend the BBC reported on a hundred people gathering for Richard Bowes, the pensioner who was brutally killed said to have been challenging rioters. The vigil was organised by local churches in Ealing, West London. We are told they came to pay respects to a man local people are calling a hero. We are told that Richard Bowes was the man who "stood up for what was right in the face of all that was wrong". A serious accolade. Full fat broadcasting from Aunty Beeb.

The organisers prayed for a way forward. Cue the vicar, the very nicely coiffed and neatly spoken Rev Sally who speaks into the mic and calls for people to take time to reflect. Save for the odd face or two (no, literally) an entirely white crowd lights tea candles. Aside from how hard it is to find an entirely white crowd in Ealing, far from being a farrago, this was all very civilised; a nice remembrance service for a man virtually no one knew save for the fact he was completely estranged from his family for some thirty years. Incredibly, I haven't yet heard anything to suggest the late Mr Bowes was even Christian, or let alone a believer in God. However you have to be deeply impressed by the sentiment and the effort. I was certainly interested to see Christianity so prominent in the story - front and centre. This wasn't a multi-faith organisation or interfaith group, nor even a secular community group, it was one faith group, seemingly running with the ball.

We shouldn't allow ourselves to indulge our cynicism. It's not opportunism, after all they are doing something good, and that's good, surely? After all, the national news has been simply awash stories of Hindu groups deep in prayer vigils, rife with examples of non-sword brandishing Sikhs at Gurdwaras holding remembrances for Muslims. We were simply overwhelmed with reports of what the Buddhists and Baha'is were up to.

It's not as if there is a monopoly on reporting of religious and charitable acts, right?

Christianity, so often seen as charitable, giving, generous. And so often it is. And so often I love it. And I love my believing Christian brothers and sisters too. And I love Churches, that musty smell, the sheer reverence and the echo. It's the 7 year old in me; who doesnt like a cold stone Cathedral with an awesome echo? Setting aside the Christianphile in me and turning to perhaps the cynic in me, it all seemed a little.. well... opportunistic. Feeling a little Poirot, I wondered who exactly was it, that was capitalising? Was it the BBC, the church group, perhaps those pesky candle-lighting do gooders in that park in Ealing?

'Mildly overbearing but very genuine Christian groups remembers possible hero'. Big deal.

But Christianity is firmly set at the chosen religion of Europe. Even if they stop believing in God. Even if Christianity stops being a religion. It's a very difficult concept to get your head around but probably one of the more likely rational alternatives for our shared future. Long gone are the days when the plebs would tremble in fear at the name of the Church. If it's a Crusade you better gird your loins and start marching. If it's the Inquisitors, you better do as you're told. I'm being obtuse obviously but the point is that Christianity is not the force it used to be. And as a Muslim, let me tell you, that is a crying shame and a loss to us as a nation and as a peoples. Churches are emptying. Coffers bare. The Church has been rocked by wranglings on female, gay and lesbian ministers, priests who don't believe in Christ (or even God), corruption and a failure to deal with institutionalised child abuse. As a result, the Church (average age 46) is in crisis. Amidst a growing multicultural society, we see a growing and confident Islam (average age 26). Within a couple of generations it seems there may well be a paradigm shift - not perhaps one the far right would have us believe but nonetheless a rapid, gradual change.

This week, the whole nation was beholden to the absolute dignity and humility with which Tariq Jahan responded to the brutal killing of his son in Birmingham. It is perhaps only as a parent that you can truly feel the agony, that crushing sickness in the pit of your stomach, when a father speaks about losing a beloved son. His sense of loss. About his hands drenched in his son's blood as he administered CPR, so utterly hopelessly. No pulse but a weak heartbeat - that tiny flicker of light more than enough hope for any loving father. All this on an otherwise quiet corner of England, outside a mosque in Birmingham one balmy August night.

In that situation, who is capable of asking not for retribution but for peace? Who is capable of restraining words of anger and frustration, instead to speak in calm tones about unity and understanding? As vultures hovered overhead waiting for that inevitable sign of weakness, an opportunity to attack, to plough a blood-soaked English field to inflame racial tensions; something remarkable happened.

One man spoke out. He spoke of one community, not many. Not divided but united.

'Blacks, Asians, whites; we all live in the same community,

Why do we have to kill one another? Why are we doing this?

Step forward if you want to lose your sons. Otherwise, calm down and go home. Please.’

And no sooner had those words left his lips than peace fell on our streets. Quite literally. As the mourning father's face adorned every newspaper in the land, young people everywhere sat down quietly and contemplated. It wasn't worth it. Looters, murderers: I am not one of them.

It was perhaps too soon to think of this as a watershed moment in contemporary British Muslim civil engagement but we had broken new ground. For all those who accuse Muslims and immigrants, here was a man whose soul had been ripped asunder, completely exposed raw for all the world to see. And he preached peace. And he was dignified. And he was humble.

But look deeper into this story and what do we find? Tariq Jahan is a devout Muslim. His response - the language of peace and his demeanour - came from an utterly and unashamed Islamic disposition:

‘I’m a Muslim. I believe in divine fate and destiny.

And it was his destiny and his fate, and now he’s gone.

And may Allah forgive him and bless him.’

Hours later he spoke to a gathering of hundreds of Muslim men and youth in Birmingham.

'Assalam alaikum (peace be with you).

Brothers... thank you for coming out and the flowers and cards...

You know as well as I do, we are following the tradition of this country of flowers.

But what I would ask you as Muslims, is to go home,

read your namaz (daily prayers),

say some dua (supplications) for the three brothers.

At the same time, look at your lives. If you can change your ways,

it would benefit all of us here'

The crowd spoke in complete unison: "InshaAllah" (God willing). He continued

"Pray for them. If one of you change your ways because of them,

the reward they get (in the afterlife) is from you"

These words enshrine Islamic values by which Muslims are expected to live by, and generally do, arguably more vehemently than any other community. The three young men were Muslims and as such, young or old, rich or poor, in Islam they are considered brothers to one another. To pray and to know we will be held to account for our deeds and actions in the next life, is the essence of Islam. Far from being the rantings of a deluded man believing in superstition, these were real values, real principles, of honour, justice and goodness. That in the face of absolute tragedy we can be better versions of ourselves is a beacon in the night to many and pushes back with something that is better.

But some amongst us are spiteful. They hate. They peddle disunity. They want neighbour to turn on neighbour and brother to turn on brother. For the avoidance of doubt: the EDL, so-called patriots, the George Queen and Country brigade, BNP, neo-cons, Melanie Phillips, Douglas Murray, in fact all you mischief-makers and peddlers of hate who look to rip apart our communities for gain, a quick paycheck and to sate a barbaric appetite for the flesh of your brother. You need to look in the mirror. You take your lead from those who do not turn the other cheek, but would rather extinguish the lives of countless millions to payback the deaths of thousands to create payslips running into trillions. You bravely hide in purdah behind the misnomer that might is right; so very wrong you are. To you, belief and serenity, contemplation and prayer, is timidity and it is weakness. In reality, there is no stronger than one who holds his tongue whilst angry, than one who forgives and prays for his enemy, for the one who does not not retaliate but pushes back with something which is better.

Resisting the influence of Islam is not the last bastian of civilisation. I promise you all, it is the resurgence of it. Literally. It will also be the saving of Christianity in the West.

We have seen our streets running red with the blood of Muslims, sons of immigrants, defending our nation. Arguably inflammatory but unquestionably accurate. We have seen a Muslim Malaysian student brutally attacked and robbed by people helping him to his feet on the streets of Barking, smile lovingly whilst continually nursing his broken jaw throughout a press conference, talk of forgiveness, understanding and his pity for his assailants. These Muslims have undoubtedly been shining beacons of humanity and a guidance to many on being gracious, humble and courteous in the face of terrible situations.

Despite all of this, the media, press and commentators so-often critical of Islam simply cannot bring themselves to say anything positive about Islamic values. That the contribution and dignity of Muslims is due entirely to their faith. That they are an example to us all. It's simply a step too far. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the West, without exception. Isn't it time we learnt to say openly what so many converts to the religion realise. That Islam is not the ugly scourge on society that the media and far right portray, it elevates us out of the dark, gives us dignity and honour. It makes us.... better.

As you might expect, praise for these upright Muslims was overwhelming in the Twittersphere.

With one notable exception. The usually erudite Sunny Hundal of Pickled Politics and Liberal Conspiracy was all over the the news and radio last week. I'm all for diversity as long as people speak well on issues, or represent their constituents properly. Over 5 days of rioting and whilst Muslims were making the ultimate sacrifice, I was curious how come he hadn't tweeted about Tariq Jahan. Mehdi Hasan went to see the man and wrote one of the best articles you will see for some time. Before that underwear gets all convoluted, it's not a thought crime if you don't. But if a commentator makes hundreds of tweets covering every matter under the sun, you would have expected at least one tweet about the man who covered every front page and was on every news story. Or surely then about the Malaysian student? 20 million people had seen the video. Or how about the Muslim response to the riots - even Sky News and the BBC had reluctantly made mention. Precisely how many times did Sunny overtly speak well of 'Muslims'? I'll tell you. Not once. And when challenged on this he fell unusually silent. For one amongst the most verbose of commentators, an Asian one at that, who speaks on every issue large and small; his silence on saying anything positive about Muslims or the values which caused them to defend our communities and our nation was utterly deafening. And probably damning.

I have been moved to tears by the stories of our Sikh brothers standing guard outside mosques, or pursuing justice for Muslims but still there are so many unfortunately raised in households rife with Islamophobic sentiment, rhetoric and propagandising. They start young. I should know.

A week after Sky News reported that Muslims were not generally involved in the riots and were in fact leading the charge on protecting the capital after night prayers during Ramadan, by last Sunday we had reached the "three Asians die while guarding shops from looters" point. Six days later, I find myself up watching the paper review on BBC breakfast once again. Impotent magistrates and Damian Green's idiocy that foreigners found guilty of looting should be deported. The fact that only 150 of 2,800 were born abroad is a pointwell made by Tim Walker from the Telegraph. He then proceeds to commit the cardinal broadcasting sin.

He said that many papers had been quick to criticise the Muslim community in the past whereas now

"the Muslims seem to be the heroes...

so many seemed to be protecting property in the holy month of Ramadan..."

Cue screams and 100db hysterical shouts from producers down the ear pieces of Charlie Statham and Naga Munchetty. With a swift, well rehearsed aplomb (a perfection of comedy timing to the trained eye) Charlie Statham interrupts to move the story on. For the love of God Charlie, would it have killed you to let him finish his sentence? Dimblebot would have been so very proud -almost 33rd degree master timing. In my mind, I chuckled at the imaginary ticker tape running across the bottom which said

"the BBC apologises for speaking positively about Muslims... normal service to resume shortly".

And still no comment from any of the main stream media on 4 days of Israeli air strikes on the poor people of Gaza. And still the Equality Act allows broadcasters a loop hole to discriminate and show bias in broadcasting. My arguments with Mentorn's Jill Robinson on the biased 'mix' for the Big Questions is something for another time.

Next a story about a sausage dog which had been given away.

Illegal ball potted. I really should stop playing and get to the mosque.

The Image of Islam - Part II

So then, you think WMDs and Islamophobic propaganda are a new phenomenon? Think again. Misrepresenting Islam and Muslims in the West is a long practised dark art.

Let's not get started on who the practitioners are. A complete allegory for the situation we find ourselves in today is no better found than when we look at the Crusades.

Fearful of the rising power of the Islamic Empire in the East, which had by now absorbed almost all of the Eastern half of the Holy Roman Empire, with Baghdad and Constantinople at the heart of the region; Western forces justifiably paranoid of the threat of Islam, concocted a plan between the Vatican and the heads of the European dynasties. Mission Impossible. To boldly go on a mission to (re) capture Jerusalem and to ‘Christianise’ the Holy Lands. Did I say Christianise... I meant deliver salvation of course.

Historical revisionism! I hear you cry. What we can't deny is that Pope Urban II claimed that the Prophet Muhammad was the 'antichrist' (and not the head of Thorn Enterprises, the really nasty type). What we also can't deny is that the ensuing military campaigns sent murderous hoards from all corners of the Europe to the Holy Lands. An interesting mix of religious fervour but one nonetheless one compatible with rape, pillaging, plundering and mass murder en-route. The examples are legion and easily accessed. But how exactly can anyone garner support for such a campaign? Its easy really. Absolute power combined with propagandising the people of the West into believing that the Jew and the Christian were being subjugated and slaughtered at the hands of the Muslim barbarians.

"During the time that a crusader bore the cross, he was free from suit for his debts, and the interest on them was entirely abolished; he was exempted from taxes, and placed under the protection of the Church, so that he could not be pleaded in any civil court." 

[Crimes of Christianity, Chapter IX - The Crusades, G W Foote & J M Wheeler]

Imagine the scene when Richard the Lionheart finally arrives at the hills surrounding Jerusalem (at the generosity and allowance of Salah' Uddin). It is reported that he wept. There were no massacres and no persecution of Jews and Christians - they were living side-by-side in peace under Islamic Rule. No WMDs. No link to Al Qaeda. Dodgy dossiers and corrupt intelligence.

What history tells us it that for those who believe, the Holy Lands are Head Office for God's prescribed religion; the cradle of humanity; home of the Prophets and where the Holy books were delivered. So why is it that so many miss the blatantly obvious? The fact that the entire region has been until very recently, overwhelmingly Muslim. It was only in the early part of the 20th century, that UK and US sponsorship provided a zionist foothold and platform for the Israeli state and a surge of Christians into the Levant.

Yes, shock horror. Muslims can and do co-exist with adherents from other faiths and of none. It's nothing new. This system of peaceful living is supported in the Qu'ran in many places. Arguably, Islam is the religion which most promotes a secular society - there is no compulsion in religion. Each to their own. The biggest injustice is however the fact that the right wing and fascist neo-cons can rest easily on their laurels; between Shariah, terrorism, oppression of women and many other mischiefs; the Muslims have more than enough on their hands untangling millennia old lies.

From the time of the holy Prophet, through the Umayyad, Abbasid to the Ottoman Empire the existence of Jews and Christians was not only tolerated but advocated under Shariah law. It is worthy of note that these categorisations are 'labels' propagated by Western historians: they all relate to one simple nation, the Islamic nation but not we should add - the Ummah. The notion of an Islamic entity is a recent development, going back to the time of the holy Prophet (pbuh), the Ummah was also said to include non-Muslims. It was the community in the broader sense, and with Muslims if they are doing their jobs properly, taking a social, economic, political and transformative lead.

Even after the Crusades, in spite of the mistreatment at the hands of the so-called Christians, the Islamic Ottoman Empire continued to actively adopt policies of lenient behaviours towards those with different faiths. The Ottoman Empire was often as a refuge for the Jews of Europe escaping persecution from Christians, whilst the Muslims relationship with the Orthodox Church was also peaceful. ‘Qanun’ law for the Christian and Jews ran alongside Shariah law but often Christian women opted to have their grievances heard under Shariah law as it favoured the position of women with regards to compensation, inheritance and legal rights of possession.

Islam was the key influencer behind the advent of science, agriculture, politics, education, the Renaissance and was a driving force behind the European resurgence which leads directly to the European ‘coffee house’ idealists, Newton, Greys Anatomy and to the Industrial Revolution. Spain went from being an arid desert to becoming the fruit garden of Europe under Islamic rule. Women were given the right to vote, inheritance and proprietary rights under Islam 1200 years before the West recognised any part of this issue.

In spite of this, throughout European (and now American) history, there has been and continues to this day a complete denial of the Islamic influence in the context of World history. Children in western schools are simply not taught of Islam’s influence on history, the enlightenment through Islamic jurisprudence or even a simple context to Islamic influence in the world. In the UK, the issue of Palestine and the Ottoman Empire being pulled into WWI is completely and surgically excised from the educational text books.

Islam is simply edited out from history. Unacknowledged. School kids never had a chance. We cannot even argue that it is a revisionist position as the history books never tell the full story in the first instance. In the libraries of the West, throughout the 19th and 20th centuries there was a massive upsurgence in anti-Islamic publications. There are little or no books by Islamic authors of noteworthiness published and held for posterity in the majority of public libraries in the West.

The demonisation of Islam is not a new phenomenon but it is the biggest and most reprehensible misrepresentation in history. This started when the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) first took the message of Allah out to the masses. As I have stated, it started even before this – it was a battle against belief, not just Islam, although Islam is the purest form of the religion of the Prophets. A Muslim is one who submits to the will of Allah; Muslims regard all the Holy Prophets (pbut) to have submitted to the will of Allah, they were all persecuted for their beliefs.

Today we have the global media network, main stream media, corporate oligarchies and capitalist free markets economies. All perceive a threat by the advent of Islam. We have no conclusive proof of who committed 9/11, why the towers were ‘pulled’, why airplanes were modified, why steel melted at 800 degrees not 2,300 or the relevance of 'Operation Northwoods’. The pleas of the families for an inquiry are denied and the evidence has in the majority, been completely destroyed. However, any straw poll will almost entirely state it was the Moozlims.

The Muslims of today are being put under an intolerable amount of suffering; they face persecution and oppression the world over in almost all of the high-Muslim population countries. Imperialistic forces continue the age old tried and tested tradition of divide and conquer. Hand in hand with a war of words, a battle for the hearts and minds of the West, a continuing aggression against the Muslim world. Israel, arguably a terrorist state, is overwhelmingly core funded through the US and holocaust reparations. We need not list Israeli atrocities other than to say that according to the Book of Moses, the Jews are utterly prohibited from oppressing another people, having been oppressed themselves. They are meant to wander without a land. They are in the main European, Ashkenazim, Khazar, non-Sephardic and non-Semitic Jews.

Despite all of this, we have to be optimistic. After all, it's fixable. Whilst some argue fatalistically that we are hurtling towards the end of days with no respite in sight, I am not amongst them. Ultimately to even begin to understand why the image of Islam is so misconceived, we need to look at the greater context.