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| National Secular Society condemns the never-ending demands of Muslim theocrats |
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| Tuesday, 27 February 2007 | |
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"It starts with the MCB's favourite definition of 'Islamophobia' – a definition that brands anyone who has doubts or fears about the ideology of Islam as a racist. 'Islamophobia', says the report, 'is the term currently being used to denote an extreme and abnormal fear and/or aversion to Islam in general and Muslims in particular.' Neat, isn't it? If you don’t like Islam you don't like Muslims, ergo – you're a racist. The worst excesses of Islam are therefore beyond criticism by anyone who doesn’t want to be branded as racist." Well, it's understandable that Terry Sanderson should be sensitive about accusations of racism. For earlier examples of Sanderson and the NSS lining up with the likes of Robert Kilroy-Silk and Will Cummins in condemning Arab "limb amputators" and "Muslim foreigners", see here and here. And this admiration is reciprocated by racists. For a recent example of the fascist BNP approvingly quoting Sanderson, see here. Sanderson continues: "Not all Muslims are as attached to their religion as the MCB document would have us believe. A graph at the beginning of the document claims that 85% of children from Muslim backgrounds regard their religion as 'extremely important to them'. There is no indication where this figure came from, though." In fact the MCB document states quite clearly (p.18) that the graph in question – which shows that 99% of Pakistani and Bangladeshi pupils say that religion is important to them – was taken from the 2006 DfES report Ethnicity and Education (pdf here – see p.23). Like many secular self-styled defenders of the Enlightenment, Sanderson in fact embraces a method that has more in common with pre-Enlightenment values, ignoring and rejecting any objective evidence that doesn't fit in with his own dogmas. See also "Was Muslim guidance reasonable?" BBC News, 26 February 2007 Source: islamophobia-watch.com           Readers have left 13 comments.
Dave:
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What an outrageous comment you make in your badly written rant! How dare you conflate the National Secular Society and Mr kilroy silk - they are not at all related and do not say the same thing at all.
To criticise a religion and its followers is most certainly NOT racism, despite your sad attempts to prove it so, repeatedly on your website. And then you conflate the BNP with the National Secular Society, and then on the link given you snidely try and say that Gays are in bed with the BNP! That really is utterly outrageous considering gays would suffer horribly should the monstrous BNP ever gain power I think you merely prove your lack of ability to think clearly and to be able to think outside your particular tribal box- and you re-inforce the notion that a "muslim intellectual" is an oxymoron.
(1)
2007-02-27 09:55:33
Rob:
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Its about time secular extremists were told that we are fed up with being told how to live our lives.
these people are intruding into our everyday lives and trying to force their versions of living our life. they should practice what they preach,if they do not like the viewpoint of relgious people and condemn them for giving their opinions,then by that very reason we do not like to have secular extremists ramming their message down our throats. life is two way street and these secular extremists should remember they are becoming what they claim religious people are.
(2)
2007-02-27 12:22:11
Paul:
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I notice with interest that the writer of this piece does not rebut anything that Sanderson says - merely tarnishes his character by equating him with the BNP & Robert Kilroy-Silk. I very much look forward to seeing a point-by-point rebuttal of all Sanderson's points by a defender of the MCB's policy suggestions, as well as an explanation of why the charge of "Islamophobia" is levelled at any criticism of Islam, however fair or true.
(3)
2007-02-27 13:03:46
Andy:
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The MPAC website seems to be getting more extreme and hysterical by the day. The editors are just pasting in rants from other places without really thinking about their content first.
I assume the Swastika picture above is meant to say that the National Secular Society is something akin to the Nazis. This is a fairly big error in understanding. I guess it was made deliberately to cause some offence - the usual rabble-rousing agenda. All the NSS do is campaign for the separation of church and state. Nothing wrong in that. We live in a free society and they represent a view that many people hold - namely that the state should not fund privileges for religious people. They don't want to ban religion (even if it may seem otherwise when their members' obvious personal dislike for religion sometimes emerges in their public comments). I am not a member of the NSS by the way. However the article above is really over the top, so I felt compelled to comment.
(4)
2007-02-27 14:15:38
John:
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Since when did these fanatics from the secular society become the voice of the British people?
Look at our social problems because of these fanatics from these societies which promote nothing but good morals and ethics. Secularists have achieved to destroy our society. Also, Paul are you from Portland? Paul Boulter Senior Account Executive - Public Affairs Joined Portland in 2006 with two years Parliamentary experience Research experience working closely with MPs Caroline Spelman & Sir Paul Beresford in House of Commons Policy expertise in local Government, Environment and Healthcare
(5)
2007-02-27 16:37:44
Kriti:
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firstly, why should MPACUK use a symbol which is one of the most sacred in both my religion, Buddhism and Hinduism automatically represents all evil because it was stolen and abused?
Secondly, the UK is one of the most muslim friendly countries in the western world. The goverment literally bends over backwards to accomodate your belifes even to the extend soft toy pigs because they might offed. Try being a religious minority in a muslim country for day, i did and soon relised what side the bread was buttered on. My advise, take a reality check oh and please misiterperating using the word "racism". If you guys spent as much time on wining as on community relations, then maybe there would be no need for websites like this
(6)
2007-02-27 17:29:16
RSD:
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Universal education has existed for over a century and a cornerstone of it has been that it has been primarily secular, with provision being made for religion during a daily morning assembly. Parents have always had the right to request that their children do not attend such assemblies, and it used to be Catholics that took this up. Catholics and other non-Protestants were allowed to have their minister / priest attend the school during the assembly, and this occurred where there were high numbers of Catholics.
As all prayer occurred at the same time for all children, the impact upon the operation of the academic elements of a school was minimal. However to require that schools modify their buildings and schedules to accomodate religious groups is unacceptable, unless the majority of parents and teachers agree to structure the entire day accordingly. There was always the alternative of attending Catholic, CofE or Jewish schools in the past, and Muslims have been afforded the same right to establish Muslim schools. Attendance at these schools is a matter of parental choice. To illustrate the potential problem with acceding to MCB demands, some decades ago there was the proposal that all public offices in the Municipality of Jerusalem should close on holy days. All religious groups agreed in an astonishing instance of cooperation and respect. However the proposal did not go ahead once it was discovered that it would have resulted in the offices being permanently closed. Schools are for everyone and everyone has to compromise to make it work.
(7)
2007-02-27 19:55:58
Mohammed Abbasi:
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I have met Terry Sanderson from the NSS and I can tell you he can spot a 'Robert Kilroy-Silk' a mile off - let alone people from the BNP. He is not really anti-religion he more so wants people to have independent lines of reasoning and not mix religion at all with day to day life. But I think that Mr Sanderson needs to realise that religion is a comforter to people especially in todays life. On the issue of the MCB proposal to schools - no I don't agree with it but that does not mean the MCB is wanting it adopted in its entirity - its simply 'guidance' - a suggestion - nothing more, lets not get worked about little things like this. No one is going to tell me - not Terry Sanderson NSS or Abdul Bari MCB how I should live my life - but I will listen to their suggestions.
(8)
2007-02-27 20:09:53
Thoughful:
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The thing I can't undestand is why muslims have to put up with racism. It seems nowadays that any two-bit nobody can criticise Islam and Muslims and make a name for themselves ......I have never hear of this sanderson chap but clearly he seems to think that Muslim families have less rights.
(9)
2007-03-01 19:38:02
ricardo:
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i still can't understand why some of you commenting here think that because you are muslims you are superior and better than anyone else and no one can be allowed to critize you, but you seem quite capable and willing to critize everyone else at the slightest objection to anything islamic. And before you use the word "racism", please look the meaning of the word up before you use it and it might give you guys a bit more credibility
(10)
2007-03-01 21:37:34
Dave:
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Reply to "Thoughtful".There you go again, saying that criticism of islam and muslims is "racism". Well, it isn't, no more than criticism of christianity and christians is "racism".I assume you think that screaming "racist" at someone will shut them up.You haven't quite grasped that this irksome free-speech idea allows criticism of religion, have you?
(12)
2007-03-02 11:05:11
Thoughful:
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Racists actually look for all kinds of reason to justify their racism....... no one wants to shut anyone up because racists shut themselves up because of the fraility of their arguments.
How is the above article by this sanderson chap not racist? It sets off on the premise that muslims families have less rights than others.. all racist would believe and put that into practice whenever they can.
(13)
2007-03-06 18:58:47
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