"These are very bad times to be a Muslim living here. We have lived harmoniously in this country for decades but since 9/11 we have been under suspicion. We have done nothing wrong."
Not everyone agrees. In the wake of the bombings, the Muslim community faced charges that it had not properly integrated into the country, leaving young Muslims trapped between two cultures.
Russell Razzaque was in his late teens when he first experienced the radical interpretation of Islam. The writer and filmmaker believes that this historic lack of integration has helped militants spread their word.
"Growing up in a Muslim home is a completely different world to a Western home," he said. "Then, when you get older and step out into the Western world, it is like stepping out into a different planet.
Nice to see the blame being put where it belongs for a change.
Razzaque was approached by extremist groups when he was at university and hassled when he did not go to their meetings.
So, why didn't he report it to the police?
"They always know what age group to recruit and they are very effective. It's like a hidden world but it is so prevalent."
If it is so prevalent why didn't you report it to the police?
These are two major things the Muslim community has done wrong - failing to integrate and inform police of recruitment attempts by extremists.
Now he's going to make another big mistake that most Muslims make - side with the terrorists.
"We (Muslims) have grown up here and been educated here," Hasan said. "We are in every walk of society yet no one listens to us. No one will listen to my concerns," he said, expressing anger over the government's role in the U.S.-led war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Muslims decided of their own free will not to integrate into British society and now they complain that no one listens to them. Since Muslims obviously reject the British way of life, why should anyone listen? You can't have it both ways, rejecting a culture and wanting it to listen to you at the same time.
Mahmud Ahmad, 27, said the violence in Iraq was all the more distressing because he related to the people there.
"I relate to them because that is all I am, a simple Muslim struggling in life. It doesn't make me any less British if I relate to people in Iraq or Palestine."
Where was all the Muslim "relating" when Saddam was putting hundreds of thousands of Muslims in mass graves? Or, when the Taleban's murderous regime was in charge in Afghanistan? Muslims did nothing to help fellow Muslims then. Suddenly when America and Britain step in to help, Muslims are ashamed they did nothing and they vent their shame on us.
Why do Muslims "relate" so much to these issues and yet are completely silent when their Muslim brothers blew up innocent people in the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993, long before Afghanistan and Iraq? Or, remain silent over 9/11, 3/11, Bali and now London. Where are the mass protests and demonstrations against Muslim terrorists like bin Landen and other al Qaeda leaders?
This is a Muslim problem, made by them and fostered by them, plain and simple. They choose not to integrate, inform police of recruitment attempts by extremists and not to protest the terrorism being carried out in the name of Islam. Muslims made these choices of their own free will while rejecting our society at the same time.
And now they say we have to fix it.
Unlike the black community in America, there are very few role models for younger Muslims to look to.
"Muslims who look to their parents see them as more Pakistani Muslim or Bangladeshi Muslim than British Muslim," Jaffrey said.
The helpline chairman said the government had to act.
Muslims reject British society, fail to integrate and fail to provide role models for their young but want the British government to fix the problem.
Razzaque, here are a few tips for you.
Start by taking ownership of the problem, it is a Muslim problem or more specifically it is a problem with Islam. Islam teaches Muslims not to integrate, to hate Jews, Christians and homosexuals.
Next, call for the reform of Islam to remove the hate and intolerance. And speak out against the proposed religious hate law that will stop any criticism of Islam.
Have mass protests and demonstrations denouncing terrorism and terrorists like bin Laden - by name. Don't use these protests to protest against the govenment like Muslims did in the wake of the London attacks.
Purge your mosques of the radical elements.
Purge the so called moderate groups that represent you, like the Muslim Council of Britain, of the radical elements. Call for the removal of the MCB's secretary general, Iqbal Sacranie.
While this is a Muslim problem it affects us all and there are plenty of us willing to help. But to achieve lasting success the process has to start with Muslims.
Clearly, the problem is Islam.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment