It is far too easy to deride Anjem Choudhary’s latest brainwave in the redtops, snigger at pictures of his pained, constipated expression and dismiss his Angry Muslim Sideshow as a parody of itself. At the same time, allowing this man unchecked access to the toxic publicity he so craves would be a mistake. It would be British Muslims who would suffer if his devisive shock-tactics were ignored or, worse, unopposed.
Rumbold of Pickled Politics knows very well why Islam4UK must be countered:
I think that the authorities are right to let Islam4UK’s demonstration go ahead, despite its unpleasant nature. But I am also heartened to see that a counter-demonstration has been organised, and not by the likes of the EDL or the BNP. Anjem Choudary’s goal is to become the face of British Islam, thus increasing communal tensions and making life worse for your average British Muslim. Demonstrating against Mr. Choudary isn’t a vote for the war, but rather a refusal to let him dominate the public’s perception of Muslims.
Which is why the British Muslims for Secular Democracy (BMSD) announcement of its plan to hold a counter-demo to oppose Islam4UK/Al Muhajiroun is such welcome news.
One of the most effective oppositions to the communalism of Islam4UK Muslim that has recently emerged is the BMSD. It’s vital that the British public see Islam4UK for what it is and best way for that to happen is when we have sensible Muslim voices like Imran Ahmed’s in the media. The reason why his message ought to be printed in newspapers like the Daily Mail is a point of crucial significance which should not be lost on anyone.
*****
Imran Ahmad is the author of Unimagined: A Muslim Boy Meets The West and a Trustee of British Muslims for Secular Democracy
For millions of ordinary Britons, Wootton Bassett has become a symbol of national pride in the bravery of our service personnel, and of national grief, for the loss of so many young lives.
It is a testament to human decency which, until now, has transcended political or religious beliefs. Now, one man wishes to desecrate that solemn symbol in a vile and outrageous bid for publicity. Anjem Choudary’s plan to parade empty coffins through Wootton Bassett, as part of a campaign to highlight the supposed ‘persecution’ of Muslims by British troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, is deliberately provocative and unspeakably callous.
As a British Muslim myself, I am appalled by his tactics. Appalled, but not surprised. For this is a man whose ideology is as poisonous as it is illogical.
And, like the vast majority of Britain’s Muslim community, I am horrified by his disrespect, offended by his disregard for the grieving, and incensed by his failure to appreciate this country’s commitment to equality, tolerance and compassion.
I came to Britain in 1964, when I was one year old – like Anjem Choudary’s, my family migrated from Pakistan. Undoubtedly, race relations back then were far from perfect.
For us immigrants, Britain was a cold nation in more ways than one. But this amazing country has transformed itself in half-a-lifetime from being casually racist to being proudly anti-racist. (How ironic that Pakistan, on the other hand, remains utterly divided along all kinds of sectarian lines.)
Sadly, in the past few years, a tiny handful of fanatics have sought to undo that culture of mutual respect.
The July 7 bombings, and subsequent failed terror plots, were part of a deliberate campaign to inflame tensions on our streets. That Britain has not risen to this provocation is a tribute to its people and to the values that unite the majority – whatever their differing cultural backgrounds.
Indeed, I am awed by the way that this nation has remained so calm in the face of Islamic fanaticism. It is proof of its maturity and civilisation.
But this has served only to enrage followers of Choudary’s ‘Islam4UK’ organisation, which slowly and deliberately seeks to divide British society along religious lines, hoping that Britons will adopt a hatred of Muslims similar to the one Hitler’s Germany had towards Jews in the Thirties. (Witness the way Choudary yesterday deliberately compared British soldiers to Nazis).
Fanatics like his followers don’t like the idea of peaceful coexistence. They want open conflict. To that end, they have hijacked Britain’s tradition of free speech (which they themselves don’t believe in) to further their own medieval ends.
Britain does not hate Muslims, but these people are trying to make it happen by spreading lies about a supposed ‘war on Islam’ by Britain and America.
Sadly, the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have provided plenty of fuel for their fantasies. So let us look a little closer at those two regions, the source of their warped sense of victimhood.
We know that the Afghanistan conflict was directly due to the attacks of 9/11, which were planned from within the Afghan tribal areas.
Yes, there are many ‘if onlys’ that might have prevented a full-scale conflict with the loss of innocent lives: if only the West had helped rebuild Afghanistan properly after the Soviets were driven out; if only the Taliban had been willing to forego their ancient hospitality code and give up Osama Bin Laden; if only the war for hearts and minds had been fought as thoroughly as the war of bullets and bombs.
But the question right now is: are we willing to surrender Afghanistan once more to the Taliban? Would that not be a betrayal of the Afghan people, particularly the women and children? We cannot leave them to live under the brutality and tyranny of the Taliban again.
What that country needs now is security, extensive reconstruction and social development – including the provision of guaranteed education for girls and full human rights for women.
In Islam, this is what we call the ‘greater Jihad’ – striving for good. Ultimately, that’s what British troops are still fighting for, and still losing their lives for. For Choudary’s followers to oppose their efforts is just ignorant and regressive tribalism.
Which brings us to Iraq. The campaign to overthrow Saddam may have been about many things – about the supposed threat from Weapons of Mass Destruction; about oil; economic security; regime change and so forth. But to believe it was part of a wider ‘war on Islam’ is utterly stupid.
Saddam Hussein was a secularist; he ran Iraq as a non-religious country, to keep a lid on the simmering hatred between Sunni and Shia.
So whatever provoked the invasion of Iraq, a ‘war on Islam’ it most certainly was not. (If that had been the West’s true intention, there are many other Muslim nations which would have been a more suitable target).
As with the invasion of Afghanistan, the Iraq war may have been poorly conducted, with post-war reconstruction inadequately considered. But lumping these two conflicts together and saying they are part of a global campaign by the West to ‘conquer Muslim lands’ is just ignorant, paranoid and deliberately divisive.
But then what do you expect from Choudary and his kind? Some British Muslims are so paranoid, they even believe the security services killed Princess Diana because she was going to marry a Muslim.
Or the latest conspiracy theory, promulgated on Islam4UK’s website: that the British Government did not do enough to save the alleged drug smuggler Akmal Shaikh from execution in China last week because he was a Muslim.
Truly, there is no limit to the absurdity of their beliefs. Yet sadly, their inflammatory tactics have succeeded in garnering disproportionate attention.
A recent parade of homecoming soldiers in Luton was hijacked by Choudary’s followers shouting ‘Criminals, murderers, terrorists, butchers of Basra’, provoking a near-riot with the local community.
Now Choudary is seeking to repeat that same conflict on a far greater scale on the streets of Wootton Bassett. It remains to be seen if he is just a selfpromoting loudmouth or genuinely intends to press ahead with his protest. But if so, he must not be allowed to succeed.
There is a time and a place for legitimate opposition to Britain’s involvement in Afghanistan or elsewhere. It should be expressed through the democratic process by lobbying politicians; not by jeering at our returning service personnel or insulting their grieving families.
The proposed Wootton Bassett march serves no purpose other than provocation, should be treated as a threat to public order, and permission should be denied.
Let’s not allow a fringe mob to sabotage this country’s progress.
24 Comments
My own armchair-psychology theory about the reasons behind Anjem Choudary’s ongoing behaviour is the following:
As is now widely known, he had a very hedonistic life in his younger days, especially at university. At some point afterwards, he “got religion”. For whatever reason — his own personality or the influences he fell under — he has been stricken with guilt about his previous actions and extreme fear about the divine punishment he believes he will receive in the afterlife (the latter is apparently one of the major reasons for OBL’s behaviour too — he’s terrified about what God will do to him if he doesn’t undertake the various actions he’s been involved in), and Choudary therefore embraced the most extreme, ultraorthodox and puritanical interpretation of Islam he could think of.
So Choudary is involved in a massive case of overcompensation as a result of his efforts to save his own neck. Choudary’s repeated references to “hellfire” sets off alarm bells too.
None of this is necessarily unusual, regardless of people’s religious backgrounds and particularly amongst some 2nd-generation children of immigrants who may find themselves in a state of “cultural confusion” at some point (“caught between two cultures” etc etc). The major problem is this: At a critical juncture, Choudary fell under the corrosive influence of people like Omar Bakri as opposed to the equivalent of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. And Choudary’s ongoing contact with Bakri means that the latter is effectively the devil on Choudary’s shoulder egging him on and continuing to poison his mind.
Choudary will not change his attitude as long as he is in Bakri’s clutches, unless he is confronted by someone with a contradictory viewpoint whom he respects even more than Bakri.
Incidentally, I’m probably stating the obvious when I say that I expect Choudary did not go to any of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s huge concerts in the UK in October which were held in tribute to the late Nusrat saab.
Choudary will not change his attitude as long as he is in Bakri’s clutches, unless he is confronted by someone with a contradictory viewpoint whom he respects even more than Bakri.
Bakri’s daughter?
As I’ve bored on about for some time, Andy and I were drinking mates back in tha day.
He wasn’t particularly hedonistic. He was a nice bloke. I miss him.
He was a little bit lazy, and presented himself quite badly – for example, he used to have a sort of orange perm. For that reason, whereas most of his friends did well, and got good jobs, he didn’t.
I do remember that he had very very strong views about the Satanic Verses, and was extremely upset by that book, despite not having read it.
I can’t emphasise enough how lovely Andy used to be. It is a huge pity.
Your Quote !
“We know that the Afghanistan conflict was directly due to the attacks of 9/11, which were planned from within the Afghan tribal areas”.
Rubbish – The war in afghanistan has been engineered so to protect the proposed pipeline that is to be run through the country to export oil. This has been negotiated well before September the 11th. 9/11 has just been an excuse to Invade but the hidden agenda is the exporting of oil through the Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline
Im not a muslim . I am not stupid either. The UK governmet is a puppet of America. Why do sites like this pump out incorrect information. To all Muslims if you want to know the truth about these wars go to http://members.localnet.com/~jeflan/jfafghanpipe.htm
OR http://www.thedebate.org/thedebate/afghanistan.asp
Please dont block the truth OR freedom of speech
Happy New Year to Everyone
Thanks Faisal.
please sign our petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/BWCF/petition.html
Let’s guess.
The 9/11 attacks were committed by the US on itself in order to provide the pretext for a war against the Taliban. And OBL’s apparent claim of responsibility was the product of clever computer graphics.
I made the following remarks on a parallel discussion on PP a few days ago, so I’ll re-post them here:
**************************************************
Mehdi Hassan made a very good point in his article in the Guardian earlier this week (see: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/jan/04/anjum-choudary-wootton-bassett), so I’m going to extrapolate that:
If Choudary really is serious about “supporting Muslims and those who defend them from aggression”, he should undertake an “open coffin” procession in Afghanistan and Pakistan in honour of the huge numbers of ordinary Muslims there who have been killed by repeated Islamist terrorist attacks. In the case of Pakistan, suitable venues for such demonstrations would be Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Waziristan and the NWFP.
If Choudary has concerns about his safety in those regions, then he should hold the processions here in the UK instead.
And if Choudary is deadly serious about honouring innocent Muslims who have been killed, then he should also hold processions in tribute to the numerous Muslims who died in (for example) New York on 9/11, London on 7/7, and Mumbai on 26 November 2008. With regards to Mumbai, he should also bear in mind that the Indian Muslim Council was so angry about the actions of the terrorists claiming to act in the name of Islam and Muslims that they even refused to allow their bodies to be buried on Indian soil.
Assuming that Choudary is prepared to put his money where his mouth is and make such public gestures demonstrating where his alleged sympathies really lie, of course.
(But again, I expect Bakri would veto all of the above even if Choudary was willing to reconsider his attitudes. Choudary himself is obviously problematic, but Bakri — his ‘guru’ — is the one pulling the strings).
Jai
After the ‘Kuffir are animals’ etc comments I can’t take a word Hasan writes seriously. Have stopped reading the NS as well.
He says the Koran says that the Kuffir are of no intelligence and then won’t say whether or not he belives that or to be a muslim you have to believe that. Incredible. And this man is supposed to be a progressive?
TCH,
For obvious reasons I don’t agree with his other remarks, but on this occasion I was referring to his challenge to Choudary to hold an “open coffin” demonstration in Afghanistan in tribute to Muslims there which have been killed by terrorists etc if Choudary is as concerned about the loss of innocent Muslim lives as he claims.
On that specific point, Hassan is correct.
Jai
Yes he is on this issue.
However, ever since he was caught on camera giving such an insulting and extreme talk to British Shia (whilst also taking them to task for a lack of integration – talk about a speech that went both ways!) He is one of those political british muslims who gives succour to the Right Whinging nutcases who claim muslims say one thing to muslims and a quite different one to non muslims. His pitiful defence and inability to say what he thinks was a great big handout to the BNP, Daily Mail, EDL and all those anti muslims types who bang on and on about tariqya (Apologies for the spelling).
So I don’t like him on that score.
LETTER: To the Families of British Soldiers who have died or who are currently in Afghanistan
DATED 3rd January 2010
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon those who follow the guidance.
Following the public announcement of an impending procession by islam4uk (a branch of Al-Muhajiroun) through the Market Town of Wootton Basset we thought it only appropriate that we provide an explanation and a little more about the purpose behind the procession, especially to the family and friends of those who have died there and who may have been led to believe that it is merely an act of incitement or provocation.
We begin by inviting all non-Muslims to Islam, the perfect and most beautiful way of life, a favour from Allah (God) to mankind to take him out of the darkness of worshipping his own desires to the exclusive worship, submission and obedience of Allah alone, without partners and to testify the Messenger-ship of the final Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). We urge you to embrace Islam and save yourselves and your family from the hellfire and not to believe the lies and distortions which the Western media and non-Islamic regimes would have you believe about Muslims and their true intentions. Islam means submission and the Muslim is the one who submits to the will of God in his life. Verily the Messenger Muhammad told us that whoever heard his name from the Jews and Christians and did not believe would be held accountable for that on the day of judgement.
We start by pointing out what many wise people already know i.e. that the British public have once again been lied to by their politicians about the war in Afghanistan. What began as a fight for freedom and democracy and to protect the human rights of the civilians and to find Sheikh Usama Bin Laden (by the use of B52 bombers) has today become a campaign to protect the security of the British public back home and it has gone from being a campaign which could be completed without firing a weapon within 3 years to one which could go on for 40 or 50 years with a heavy cost to the participants.
In actual fact the foreign policy of the USA and UK is not about protecting the rights of Muslims or propagating democracy and freedom nor is it about the threat posed by the people in Afghanistan to the British public at all, but rather it is to establish their own military, economic, strategic and ideological interests in the region. The rich resources of Afghanistan, its position on the cusp between the Indian sub-continent, Southern Russian, Asia and China and its populations call for the Shari’ah are the real reasons why the military has sought to establish a permanent role there, no matter what the cost to the lives and wealth of the indigenous people or indeed their own. Pivotal in this is the desire to prevent Muslims from running their own affairs and establishing an Islamic State if they so wish but rather to maintain a puppet in the area (Mr Karzia) to maintain and protect Western interests.
In order to create an atmosphere where these greedy objectives can be accomplished the Western and even Eastern media have constantly shown atrocities being committed against the ordinary people of Afghanistan and Pakistan, in markets, universities and public gathering places and have then blamed these on the perceived enemy, in order to discredit any legitimate struggle for liberation and in order to demonise them in the eyes of the world and thereby justify the occupation and real intentions. The truth about such bloodshed and mayhem is only now becoming public knowledge after information about the real perpetrators has emerged (such as the CIA related agency Black Water). The billions of dollars paid to the Pakistan regime by the USA/UK alliance and to the Secret services in Pakistan, their army and to the Karzai Afghan regime by way of bribes has led them to slaughter their own citizens with the help of the USA/UK and to then blame the Taliban in an attempt to subdue those seeking liberation to fulfil their right to run their lives by divine law and to protect the US/UK military and economic interests. With additional atrocities being committed by the USA and UK through indiscriminate air raids and other operations the number of ordinary Muslim men, women and children who have been killed has reached horrendous proportions. Not to mention the torture and abuse of basic rights by the occupiers in Afghanistan, such as in Bagram Air Base, the case of Dr Affia Siddiqui being a clear and brutal example.
There is no doubt in most people’s minds that the final conclusion to the current conflict in Afghanistan has already been written. Ultimate victory for those fighting in their own backyard, familiar with the mountains and plains and their supporters who struggle to protect their sanctities from the foreign aggressors cannot be denied. The signs for this are already appearing with incohesive thinking among the British and American chain of command, the crippling effect of the war on their economies back home and the depression of the soldiers realising that there is no real moral or ethic reason for them to murder innocent men, women and children to fulfil their politicians agenda. Blaming a lack of equipment is one of the ways in which politicians have tried to shift the focus. It is noteworthy that unlike among the US and UK soldiers, there has not been one reported suicide or attempted suicide among those resisting occupation.
As a consequence this can only mean much more destruction for the USA and UK sons and daughters sent by their uncaring leaders to their deaths. After all this would not be the first time that this region has acted as a grave yard for empires in history, notably the British and Russians.
It is worth reminding those who are still not blinded by the media propaganda that Afghanistan is not a British Town near Wootton Basset but rather Muslim land which no one has the right to occupy, with a Muslim population who do not deserve their innocent men, women and children to be killed for political mileage and for the greedy interests of the oppressive US and UK regimes.
The procession in Wootton Basset is therefore an attempt to engage the British publics minds on the real reasons why their soldiers are returning home in body bags and the real cost of the war. The conflict in Afghanistan is not an .honourable’ defence of British values and a cause for the British to remain secure, rather the presence of the US and UK forces in Afghanistan is the cause of instability in the region and a cause of insecurity for the British people back home. The parades, the speeches about soldiers doing their duty and the feeling of patriotism has obfuscated the reality of the conflict and the murderous crimes being committed by the occupiers and their agents. The British public is blissfully unaware of what is being done in their name by the Blair/Brown regimes and were the truth known no doubt the pressure to withdraw all troops immediately would be much greater.
It is our desire to end the cycle of violence and the quagmire in which we find ourselves in today in Afghanistan. For the British public to do their duty and force their regime to save their children from death and destruction, from an oppressive and costly campaign and to stop the occupation of Muslim land. We realise that, especially in times of war, we are up against a very sophisticated propaganda machine and no doubt raising awareness about the painful truth of this conflict will unleash a torrent of abuse from the media and government against us, who have their own predetermined agenda, however the world is today also small enough for those wishing to verify the truth to be able to do so via the many news and information outlets.
Mr Anjem Choudary
UK Head of Al-Muhajiroun
A. Dean
That letter is drivel and insulting.
He is a little totalitarian religious fascist. Nothing more.
He cares not at all for the victims of jihadi violence and has declared that he is for the Muslims even when they are the oppressors – which is the case in Afghanistan with respect to the Taliban and AQ.
A. Dean,
Could you please confirm if you are a member of Islam4UK yourself or if you simply posted that open letter by Islam4UK on the Spittoon in order to inform people of its contents ?
I am not a member of Islam4UK & I posted it to inform people of its contents. I disagree with the March through Wooten Basset , but I agree with some of his points in the fact the War can never be won. Our men & women will continue to come back in body bags. Our soldiers have been misled by the UK & USA Government over freeing the Afghan people when in actual fact it is a war related to natural resources. The Taliban are not terrorists they are protecting their own people & Country , jut like we would protect ours if there is an illegal invasion.
Ask the American Indians if they wanted to be invaded OR the Australian Aboriginee ?? They too have been raped of their lands and have become a minority in their own country.
I love my country just as the Muslims love theirs. I want to protect my heritage , religion & culture just as they want to do in their own lands. I am not at war with the muslims it is the present UK & USA Government that is
I am a member of the BNP and we are commited to withdrawing our troops immediately http://bnp.org.uk/2009/12/we-want-our-troops-out-of-afghanistan-not-more-money-to-look-for-bombs/
http://bnp.org.uk/2009/09/afghanistan-is-not-worth-a-single-drop-of-british-blood-bnp-bognor-regis-told/
I am not a racist , my wife is Asian and I have mixed race kids from my first marriage. I am a taxi driver and also have a lot of muslim friends.
I have seen the truth and light through the media lies.
Very interesting.
A Dean
BNP? So not much of a thinker then?
Amazing isn’t it, all these members of neo fascist parties suddenly have asian or black wives/friends/girlfirends etc etc. Remarkable.
“The Taliban are not terrorists they are protecting their own people & Country”.
That must be tremendous comfort to all the Afghan and Pakistani civilians deliberately murdered by them.
You sad little Eichmann wannabees are pathetic. The fact that you fall for the Islam4UK spiel is just further evidence of your lack of intelligence.
via pickled politics: they’ve backed out, surprise surprise – not.
http://www.pickledpolitics.com/archives/7159
as i said over there, it was reported that omar bakri’s opinion was “we have achieved our aims” – they certainly have; grab huge amounts of publicity with minimal effort, remind everyone they’re still there and get a bunch of people riled. i stand by my response:
http://www.spittoon.org/archives/4566
there was always going to be a logistical nightmare, we should have let it go ahead, then we could have seen who was going to carry the other 475 of the 500 proposed coffins once they ran out of members to help.
apologies for cross-posting comments.
b’shalom
bananabrain
com·mon
adj. com·mon·er, com·mon·est
1.
a. Belonging equally to or shared equally by two or more; joint: common interests.
b. Of or relating to the community as a whole; public: for the common good.
2. Widespread; prevalent.
3.
a. Occurring frequently or habitually; usual.
b. Most widely known; ordinary: the common housefly.
4. Having no special designation, status, or rank: a common sailor.
5.
a. Not distinguished by superior or noteworthy characteristics; average: the common spectator.
b. Of no special quality; standard: common procedure.
c. Of mediocre or inferior quality; second-rate: common cloth.
6. Unrefined or coarse in manner; vulgar: behavior that branded him as common.
7. Grammar
a. Either masculine or feminine in gender.
b. Representing one or all of the members of a class; not designating a unique entity.
n.
hu·man·ist .
1. A believer in the principles of humanism.
2. One who is concerned with the interests and welfare of humans.
3.
a. A classical scholar.
b. A student of the liberal arts.
4. Humanist A Renaissance scholar devoted to Humanism.
I see cut and paste is working in BNP La La Land.
To the: The Common Humanist
I note that you also use cut and paste
We are the only party committed to bringing our troops home. Cheap slanging matches should be kept for the establishments cherry picked audiences on question time.
http://bnp.org.uk/2010/01/press-conference-to-launch-bnps-support-our-troops-campaign/
A, Dean! – You should be assisting M.Night Shyamalan in Hollywood! Posting a letter from ALM, and then announcing your affiliation to the BNP. What a twist! Your talents are wasted online. LA awaits, Mr Dean.
Hassan
A. Dean
I am not sure why you are resorting to common ad hominem attacks – other than continuing the time-honoured fascist tactic of conducting debate by bellowing abuse at opponents.
I think we all know the definitions of the terms “common” and “humanist” – evidently you are struggling with the notion that an expression’s meaning is given in its use – and not in its abuse, as you would have it.
I am not interested in allowing you to divert this thread into a publicity-drive for the BNP. However, the BNP is most certainly not the “only” political party to be calling for the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, as you assert.
I am also intrigued to learn what “rich natural resources” (with the exception of lapis lazuli) Afghanistan holds. Perhaps you might enlighten me – as the last time I was in-country amongst the things that were in short supply there were acres of natural gas and oil well heads, mineral mines, coal fields and all those other things one normally finds in countries blessed with natural resources.
Abu Faris
I am also intrigued to learn what “rich natural resources” (with the exception of lapis lazuli) Afghanistan holds. Perhaps you might enlighten me – as the last time I was in-country amongst the things that were in short supply there were acres of natural gas and oil well heads, mineral mines, coal fields and all those other things one normally finds in countries blessed with natural resources.
***********************************************************
already mentioned but here again
http://ringnebula.com/Oil/Timeline.htm
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0e09d8fa-fea4-11de-91d7-00144feab49a.html?catid=181&SID=google