Rolled-up Trousers

Imams handcuffed off a US flight speak out on CNN

ZAHN: Welcome back to our special hour, "When Faiths Collide," with the latest developments in a "Top Story" that's raising very raw emotions about religious tolerance and racial profiling.

You might remember, just last week, six Muslim clerics were forced off a U.S. Airways plane in handcuffs, suspected of terrorist intentions. Well, today, four of them boarded a plane to New York to tell their side of the story. They will join me in a moment for an exclusive interview.

First, though, Dan Simon has more on a story that's still raising uncomfortable questions tonight.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They called it a pray-in, a not-so-subtle jab yesterday directed at U.S. Airways, which removed six imams from a flight last week in Minneapolis, after three of them were seen praying in the airport terminal prior to boarding.

IBRAHIM RAMEY, MUSLIM AMERICAN SOCIETY: We are here simply to declare to you and to declare to the nation that prayer and religious identity are not sufficient grounds for removing individuals from aircraft.

SIMON: U.S. Airways says prayer had nothing to do with their removal. The question, though, did the airline have legitimate reasons to take them off, and prevent them from flying the following day?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm asking you to please leave our ticket counter right now.

OMAR SHAHIN, REMOVED FROM AIRLINER: I am going to leave. I am...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. I have given you a number that you can contact.

SIMON: CNN has obtained the police report, which includes the handwritten note written by a fellow passenger, who claimed to have seen -- quote -- "six suspicious Arabic men on plane. All were together saying, Allah, Allah."

SHAHIN: We did not chanting "Allah, Allah," or anything else, while we are entering the plane or inside the plane.

Abdul Kahar deserves our support

Victoria Brittain writes today about the plight of Abdul Kahar, who was shot in the police raid on his house back in the summer.

His courage is speaking out after his release without charge against what happened gave us a window into the anatomy of a terror raid - what happens and the aftermath.

Unfortunately, Brittain reports that Kahar regrets ever complaining publicly at all due to what happened to him next. The subsequent accusations - again without charge - of child porn, have left him even more of a broken man:

The Blog Digest

Quick plug for Justin McKeating of Chick Yog fame's new book which is out this Friday. It's called the Blog Digest 2007 which is a self-explanatory title, except that it includes a pick of the posts from British blogs in 2006.

I've already got a copy through the post courtesy of the fact that one of my posts is featured. This one about the cartoon malarkey. Strange to think that a quick ten minute posting would later become my first piece of work published in a book. But that's blog land.

The book's an excellent read, and a great synopsis of the year that's gone by. The blogosphere has definitely churned out very decent comment, and I'd be interested to see if anyone could codify opinion from the MSM in the same period which would be as good as this.

Latest podcast featuring myself can be found here. Topics this week include the seeming state assassinations in Lebanon and London, and the Muslim who performed a slaughter of a swan in a lake. You can also subscribe to the feed here.

I'd also like to draw attention to the fact that Babar Ahmad's long and winding road in the British legal system looks like drawing to an end tomorrow - and most probably with him being extradicted to the US. More with Saracen.

Podcasting

I'm taking part in a weekly podcast run by the iWitness on Muslim affairs. You can find it here.

It's just starting off at a pilot stage, so any feedback welcome.

The iWitness have just relaunched their site as a group blog format. I will be posting a bit there now too so you may want to check it out. Here's something on the BA cross controversy for starters.

Anti-racists need to wake up

We’ve had New Labour, the New Conservatives and now we have New BNP.

The country’s Nazis have apparently transformed themselves. Chairman Nick Griffin said in his recent retrial that the party could no longer be described as racist.

This is principally because they’ve moved on from racist abuse to attacks based on the religion and customs of their victims. Islam has become their fig-leaf for attacking minorities. Islamophobic blogs agree this means that the party is now post-racist.

Personally, I can’t see how labelling a group of people as “coakroaches” and saying “show these ethnics the door in 2004” isn’t construed as inciting hatred, but that’s me. That was Nick Griffin’s colleague Mark Collett, speaking at the same meeting where the BNP leader made his infamous “wicked, vicious” description of Islam.

Much has been made of these words, but taking the words alone, I’ve got no problem with people criticising Islam. I don’t agree with it, but am always up for the debate. What is important is not what people say in itself, but why they say it. In the same speech, Griffin cited the paedophile drug rapes that had taken place recently in Keighley and claimed that the “good book” of the Muslims had sanctioned it.

Now tell me, if someone told you that Group X was going to coming to rape your daughters, would it inspire anything other than loathing in you for Group X? If Griffin had been speaking about a handful of criminals in gangs then either he was on the money and these people should be arrested, or it was a libellous and slanderous. When he paints an entire community this way, he is inciting hatred.

US soldier admits raping Iraqi girl and killing her family

One of four U.S. soldiers accused of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl last spring and killing her and her family pleaded guilty Wednesday and agreed to testify against the others.

(...)

• BSSC exposes Telegraph journalist Con Coughlin
• PP on Blair being the problem, not Muslims
• Nether-World: Palestinian takes UK govt to court over arms to Israel

More today from John Sentamu on how Christians take "knocks" from the BBC:

"They [BBC] can do to us what they dare not do to the Muslims," he said. "We are fair game because they can get away with it. We don't go down there and say, 'We are going to bomb your place.' That is not in our nature."

Aside from the fact I can't remember any bomb threats by Muslims on the BBC, I can remember the BBC having to employ security guards for their executives, and deny others were in hiding, after the Christian Voice railed against them for showing Jerry Springer: The Opera.

Senior CoE hits out at veils

Archbishop John Sentamu, the second most senior Anglican, in today's Daily Mail:

"Muslim scholars would say three things. First, does it conform to norms of decency? Secondly, does it render you more secure? And thirdly, what kind of Islam are you projecting by wearing it? "I think in the British context it renders you less secure because you stick out and it brings unwelcome attention.

"On the first question (of whether the veil conforms to norms of decency) I don't think it does conform." The Ugandan-born 57-year-old archbishop said he removed his cross when visiting a mosque or a synagogue and covered his head in Sikh temples "because I am going into someone else's home."

"And I can't simply say: 'Take me as I am, whether you like it or not'.

"I think the thing is in British society you can wear what you want, but you can't expect British society to be reconfigured around you. No minority can expect to impose this on the public or civic life."

Right, because he takes off his cross when going into a mosque (without being asked to), Muslim women shouldn't wear the veil anywhere in Britain. As if the country is a giant church, his home, that he runs in an incredibly intolerant fashion.

I've got to say that I've heard quite a bit from Dr Sentamu in the last few months. Generally I think he has talked sense. But this latest outburst from him, comes also on the back on the Bishop of Rochester Michael Nazir-Ali's comments about Muslim "victim mentality". That's just in the last week - there has been a longer chain to this.

What's going on at the Church of England? What does the Archbishop of Canterbury make of it all? Isn't it time senior Muslims and organisations asked questions of Rowan Williams?

Blair playing to "tabloid agenda" in terror fight

The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust:

"The key to successfully combating terrorism lies in winning the trust and cooperation of the Muslim communities in the UK. However, the government’s counter terrorism legislation and rhetorical stance are between them creating serious losses in human rights and criminal justice protections…they are having a disproportionate effect on the Muslim communities in the UK and so are prejudicing the ability of the government and security forces to gain the very trust and cooperation from individuals in those communities that they require to combat terrorism.”

At virtually the same time, 90 days detention without charge is back on the agenda, thanks to Gordon Brown and Sir Ian Blair.

The Terrorism Act 2000 brought into law provisions enabling you to be held without charge for seven days. In 2003, this was increased to 14, and this year it went up to 28.

In times gone by, getting arrested was a big deal. Not something that the state could do while they built up a case against you. Arrests came on the basis of real suspicion and a body of evidence. I can't understand the argument that detention without charge is necessary in order to gather evidence against a suspect - how can you arrest someone if you haven't gathered evidence against them?

Difference between terrorism and fundamentalism

Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller, head of MI5, placed her own role in fighting terrorism as one of a package of measures. She concluded her speech this week by saying:

That brings me on to my final point. None of this can be tackled by my Service alone. Others have to address the causes, counter the radicalisation, assist in the rehabilitation of those affected, and work to protect our way of life.

(...)

My Service is dedicated to tackling the deadly manifestations of terrorism. Tackling its roots is the work of us all.

She also spoke about the role of foreign policy:

Muslims thrown off Luton-Glasgow Easyjet flight

COPS marched four Asian men off a plane after a passenger said their behaviour made him nervous.

The men — in Islamic robes — were arguing in a foreign language and then all went to the toilet, one after the other.

A fellow traveller on the Luton to Glasgow easyJet flight demanded they be kicked off — just as the plane was to taxi to the runway.

Cabin crew alerted the captain and cops were called, who took the men, all in their 20s, off the plane.

Everyone else on board was then ordered off with their hand luggage while the crew searched the cabin.

The jet took off an hour and ten minutes late at 10pm on Wednesday.

Another passenger said: “A Scottish bloke in his 20s who was sat beside them clearly thought something was up. He was arguing strongly that these lads were up to no good and should be taken off.

“Considering they had just got on a minute before, their behaviour was pretty bizarre. I think other people were worried.

“The men were all wearing jackets over long Islamic robes. They had beards and looked like Muslims.”

From the Sun, hat tip Islamophobia Watch

Ian Wright promotes Israel

Wright was guest of honor at an Israeli tourism reception held at Arsenal Football Club's Emirates Stadium in north London.

Wright... said he "could not wait" to visit Israel and pledged to promote the country as a tourist destination.

"When I was asked to get involved [promoting Israeli tourism] I thought it was a great opportunity for me and I'm really pleased to be involved with it," he said.

At the reception, Herzog assured Wright that his stay in Israel "will not be forgotten for years to come and will be special for both you and us."

"I'm really pleased about this as I was going to pay for it myself," Wright replied, to huge laughter. "When you listen to someone like Rio Ferdinand [the Manchester United star] telling you that it's humbling, uplifting and emotional to visit, especially the historical places like the Wailing Wall and the Via Dolorosa, it makes you really want to go."

Israel's cooperation with Arsenal has raised the profile of the country as a destination for British and European tourists, Herzog said.

Obviously they didn't do it on purpose

Peter Allen was not having a good day on Five Live Drive yesterday. The BBC presenter was having a discussion at around 5.30pm about council tax proposals in Scotland, and concluded that the debate was important because the plans could come to "this country" soon. Good to see the English Broadcasting Corporation alive and well. What do we Scots pay our licence fee for?

Ten minutes later he was presiding over a report on the situation in Palestine. "Obviously they didn't do it on purpose..." he said to the correspondent in the Middle East about the Israeli shelling of Beit Hanoun that killed 19 people.

Why are we always expected to believe that Israeli killing of Palestinians is an accident? 90 have been killed in bloopers this week. Palestinian MP Jameela al-Shanti wrote in yesterday's Guardian that her house was also, presumably accidentally, bombed. Her sister-in-law, responsible for eight children perished in the attack. This must have all been a big mistake too:

David Davies MP is an idiot Part II

From today's Daily Express (ht):

"A High Court judge sparked outrage last night after he gave lawyers the green light to wear veils in court. The ruling was made after a Muslim solicitor twice refused an immigration judge's request to reveal her face – despite him explaining that he could not hear her speak. Mr Justice Hodge, who was asked to issue guidance over the case, yesterday defended the right of lawyers to wear the niqab and said it was 'important to be sensitive'. His decision was widely condemned by critics, who claimed he had caved in to Islamic hardliners....

"David Davies, Conservative MP for Monmouth, said the decision caved in to Islamic pressure. He added: 'British courts are there to determine whether the truth is being told. How can they do that if they cannot hear? Allowing people to hide their faces in a court where all should be laid bare in the search for truth and justice is not good enough. If we were in a Muslim court we would be expected to abide by their rules on dress. So why is it that this lady can work in a British court and wear whatever she likes?'"

Ermm because the judge in said British court decreed she could in, ummm, the very case you're commenting on Mr Davies.

This is the same MP that called for a Zakir Naik event to be cancelled.

Baldy and Crazy

Imran Shahid, Zeeshan Shahid (Baldy and Crazy) and Faisal Mushtaq went down for a long time yesterday for the sadistic murder of Kriss Donald.

I've always had a sick feeling in my stomach and my heart when hearing the details of his tortuous death. Even sitting in TV studios before interviews yesterday, tears came to my eyes hearing the reporters on the VT again describing how Kriss, who'd already been stabbed 13 times, was writhing around on the grass trying to put out the fire all over his body that the gangsters had lit by dousing petrol all over him.

You have to salute his mother Angela for showing maximum dignity during this whole affair. Even in the aftermath of his death, when it would have been so easy for her to lash out, she told the BNP to get the hell out of Pollokshields when they came looking for revenge.

This was a racially aggravated crime, but this was no simple case of racial supremacists. They did pick Kriss out because he was white, in a grotesque form of collective punishment, but their reign of terror in Pollokshields had victims of all colours.

Helping Tayside Police

I spoke at a fantastic public meeting on civil liberties in Dundee on Monday. It was called in light of the recent activities of special branch in Dundee (see letter that was written to them detailing the concerns - Download SBCCU3.pdf).

Fellow panellists Aamer Anwar and Tommy Sheridan pulled out at the last moment. No matter, because they would have had a tough job being as good as their stand ins. Richard Haley from SACC was tub-thumping and witty, while in Esther Sassaman, Dundee have acquired a sassy fresh activist from the US. Shona Robison MSP also spoke and showed some much needed leadership on the issue, while Carlo Morelli from the University and Colleges Union spoke against the monitoring of "Asian looking" students.

The room was packed out, people standing at the back and sitting in the aisles. During the Q&A members of the public also narrated their own experiences of police intrusion. One of them wanted to know who the Courier staff reporter there was. He identified himself and stood up like he was going to take a bow, only for the questioner to berate him about another story the paper did. I felt sorry for him and Sumiya, who was chairing the event, intervened. Now I wish she had let him continue.

Because after the event, the Courier has tried to create division by claiming on their front page headline that I urged "non-cooperation" with the police. However, they pointedly failed to bring forward a single statement where I did any such thing (the next day they did eventually get around to including my opinions on cooperation with the police).

Confusion amongst Muslims abounded as a result, with some community leaders apparently coming out and condemning me (ignoring the Quranic commandment of verifying info). All the mosques in Dundee have now though signed a letter denouncing the Dundee Courier's journalism and backing the public meeting on Monday - Download Courierletterofcomplaint1.pdf

Tayside Police joined in to express their "disappointment" at my supposed comments. The smokescreen diverts us away from the main issue. The police know that I don't back non-cooperation - I had a meeting with them that very afternoon. We said relations have to be strengthened, particularly as no force in Scotland has as bad relations with their Muslim community as Tayside Police do with theirs. A number of proposals were made, and we said we'd review the situation in three months.

Got this reply from the BBC regarding my complaint that they used a backdrop of the Dome of the Rock for a purely Israeli political story:

I was sorry to learn you feel it was inappropriate to use a shot of the Dome of the Rock as a backdrop during reports from Jerusalem.

We are well aware of the controversy surrounding this area.  In the past we have regularly reported on it and pointed out that Israel has occupied East Jerusalem since 1967.  It annexed the area in 1981 and sees it as its exclusive domain.  Under international law the area is considered to be occupied territory.  We were not attempting to make any kind of political point with the backdrop.  Quite simply Richard Miron was reporting from the area and this was simply used a backdrop to where he was reporting from.

Rangers fan thrown out of Ibrox for waving Palestinian flag

Press release:

A Rangers fan was thrown out of yesterday’s UEFA Cup clash with Maccabi Haifa for waving a Palestinian flag.

22-year-old Kashif Khaliq, an Ibrox regular for 6 years, was escorted out by a police officer at half-time. His complaints that Israeli flags were also being waved fell on deaf ears.

Khaliq said: “I first brought the flag out after Rangers scored in the fifth minute. One of the fans nearby complained so I put it away in my pocket.

 “Thirty minutes into the match another supporter came from further up the stand and shouted “Why the f*** were you waving that flag, it’s against our beliefs.”

 “At half time I was taken out of the stands by a police officer who told me I had to leave because I had the flag. I protested that other fans were waving Israeli flags, but he said that they couldn’t do anything about it.

“I feel angry that I wasn’t even given the opportunity to stay in the ground with just the flag being confiscated. I was separated from my friends who were then left behind wondering what had happened to me.”

BBC change headline

You saw the complaint here first folks.

The BBC have now changed the headline of "Paris airport bars Muslim staff" (click on image, right) to "Paris airport bars 72 employees".

Jack Straw drives a bus

Manchester Evening News:

A MUSLIM woman was prevented from getting on a bus in Greater Manchester because she would not remove her veil.

The 22-year-old Manchester University student from Oldham says other passengers laughed when the driver refused to let her on because he could not check her identity with her bus pass.

The Asian News:

AN EIGHT-year old-boy was left terrified by racist thugs who punched him in the face and pulled off his mosque cap.

Mohammed Tamazul was attacked whilst on his way to his uncle’s home on Stockport Road Levenshulme, Manchester where friends and family gathered for special evening Ramadan prayers.

As he made his way Mohammed noticed three teenage boys following him on mountain bikes.

One of them got off and asked if he was Muslim.

Gonnae lay off the Muslim stuff?

The Muslim stories have calmed down a bit.

But the BBC for one have persisted, with the story of the 70 airport workers in Paris who have been suspended for suspicion of terrorism. The headline however says "Paris airport bars Muslim staff" i.e. signifying that they have suspended staff for being Muslim. They've done nothing of the sort.

A few years ago there was a debate about whether the oxymornic term "Islamic terrorist" was apt - how can you describe a terrorist as Islamic? They are terrorists pure and simple. Now it seems to be simplified to just calling them Muslims.

I hope questions are being asked in France though as to the likelihood of 70 people being involved in a terror plot either coordinated or unlinked. The BBC reports: "Airport officials say some of the workers had frequently visited Pakistan and Afghanistan the previous year". It seems that the smoking gun these days as far as accusations of terrorism are concerned is a visit to Pakistan. For your information, I haven't been since I was two.

Still, at least France didn't just bomb the airport. A few days ago the Pakistani government bombed an Islamic school (also known by the evil word madrassah) in their country killing 80 people. All, without any arrests or trials, were terrorists apparently. The danger for the Pakistani government, given how the country is viewed in the West as a hot bed of terrorism, is that the approach they took on this school could be taken on their entire country.

You may have heard of this story by the real outrage it represented - that Prince Charles had to change his travel plans because of it. Camilla meanwhile has being coming under fire from the Daily Express for one for not wearing a poppy. Yesterday they declared "'Islamic' Camilla dumps poppy", because it was chaffing her "Muslim scarf".

Today, they are moaning that "she is wearing one but you can't see it under Muslim scarf". As you can see from the picture, she is wearing the traditional Pakistani daputta. This is a Muslim scarf how? The Express would do well to remember before stoking this Islamophobic and racist nonsense that tens of thousands of soldiers from the sub-continent laid down their lives in WWI for their British colonial masters, and if they're sincere about commemorating the war veterans, then let's focus on that.

Hamas article in the New York Times

Ahmed Yousef, senior adviser to the Palestinian PM, had an article in yesterday's New York Times talking up the idea of the 10-year hudna. You need to register to read the whole thing, but I found this bit quite compelling:

Such a concept — a period of nonwar but only partial resolution of a conflict — is foreign to the West and has been greeted with much suspicion. Many Westerners I speak to wonder how one can stop the violence without ending the conflict.

I would argue, however, that this concept is not as foreign as it might seem. After all, the Irish Republican Army agreed to halt its military struggle to free Northern Ireland from British rule without recognizing British sovereignty. Irish Republicans continue to aspire to a united Ireland free of British rule, but rely upon peaceful methods. Had the I.R.A. been forced to renounce its vision of reuniting Ireland before negotiations could occur, peace would never have prevailed. Why should more be demanded of the Palestinians, particularly when the spirit of our people will never permit it?

Glasgow protest against Maccabi Haifa

Around 100 folk turned up last night at literally a few hours notice to protest at Maccabi Haifa's Marriott Hotel base in Glasgow for their UEFA Cup game against Rangers.

Highlight of the evening must have been the chants of "You lost the war" to the tune of Auld Lang Syne.

It must have hit a nerve as some of the team tried to goad us standing behind police lines with their smug grins. WAGs came out to take pictures as souvenirs to show their friends.

I don't know if other cities do this when Israeli teams come to visit. Despite setting up state in the Arabian peninsula, Israel play football tournaments in Europe (not sure if they also take part in basketball and baseball in the US).

It has meant that Haifa, Tel Aviv and others are regularly in London and north-west England. I hope similar boycott protests take place there too. If not, let this be the example.

Labour MPs are enemies of democracy

If Labour are trying to install the kind of democracy they have at Westminster in Baghdad, then not only is the method wrong, but they are entirely the wrong people to do it.

To say, as the governnment have, that now is not the right time for an inquiry because it would give succour those fighting British troops in Iraq, is to accuse the Americans of doing exactly that. Over the Atlantic, the Baker commission is right this minute looking into the details pre and post invasion.

All Parliament was asked to do last night was set up an inquiry to look at the government's conduct around the Iraq war. Even the Tories, who supported the war, backed it. Labour MPs, in extremely twisted loyalty to Blair, refused. They claim it's all been a big success, but don't want anyone to ask any questions about it.

As Simon Jenkins says in today's Guardian: "The Commons has become little more than an electoral college for the prime minister."

Grant Thoms has got a list of 12 MPs who backed the original Early Day Motion that brought forward this debate, but who then miraculously changed their minds last night e.g. Neil Gerrard. This would have reduced the government majority to 1. BSSC also lists the further 9 EDM signing "toadies" that didn't turn up to vote at all (explanations for absenses may roll in - one reason all MPs should have blogs). This would have meant a government defeat of 8.

And then we have the converts to the war. Yesterday, people that claim to be anti-war voted with the government and couldn't bring themselves to back a simple inquiry. Step forward Sadiq Khan and Shahid Malik for example. Gordon Prentice and Mohammad Sarwar did not turn up. But I also reflect on the fact that 138 Labour MPs rebelled on that famous vote on the eve of war. Admittedly some aren't there after the 2005 elections. But that doesn't account for the fact there are only 12 rebels yesterday who aren't even saying they were against war - just that there should be an inquiry. Has Labour opinion come more in favour of the war despite everything that's happened?

Opportunity lost - for now. Blair hasn't heard the last of this though.

Hamas in London

A two-man delegation are in London promoting the idea of hudna. They say:

"We're sending a message to the British government - we're offering a hudna [ceasefire] for 10 years in return for the end of occupation."

"We hope the Europeans will become aware of the concept of hudna, and that it can become a substitute for recognition of Israel," said [Ahmad] Yousef.

"Debate about a political nation's right to exist seems infantile. Israel is a state now, it is part of the UN, it is de facto there, and we deal with it every day."

Source: Guardian

Seems pretty reasonable. Still the FCO refuse to meet them, and continue on the policy of starving the Palestinians for voting for this policy. Easier to do that than tell the Israelis to get out of land that doesn't belong to them.

Meanwhile, Hizbullah have confirmed that indirect negotiations are taking place between them and Israel regarding the prisoners. Why couldn't this have happened in the first place, as had happened many times before?

Lastly, anyone in Glasgow should make their way down to the Marriot on Argyle St at 7.30pm tonight. Israel's Maccabi Haifa are in town to play Rangers in the UEFA Cup on Thursday, so friends of Palestine will be there to welcome them.