Muslims for free expression

In reaction to the absurd police investigation sparked by Sir Idiot Sacranie’s anti-homosexuality remarks on Radio 4, a cross-section of Muslim representatives wrote a letter to The Times:

Sir, In light of the bizarre news that the Metropolitan Police is to “investigate” comments about homosexuality made by Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, (report, Jan 12) we, the undersigned, Imams and representatives of various British Muslim organisations, affirm that Sir Iqbal’s views faithfully reflected mainstream Islamic teachings.

The Koran and, we believe, the Bible, together with all the Prophets of God, up to and including Muhammad (peace be upon them all), taught that marriage should be between man and woman, not between people of the same sex. The practice of homosexuality is regarded as being sinful in Islam.

We are deeply concerned about the breakdown of basic family values and the undermining of the key institution of marriage in Britain today. All Britons, whether they are in favour of homosexuality or not, should be allowed to freely express their views in an atmosphere free of intimidation or bullying. We cannot claim to be a truly free and open society while we are trying to silence dissenting views.

HABIBUR RAHMAN
President, Islamic Forum
Europe
ABDUL HAMEED QURESHI
Lancashire Council of Mosques
MAWLANA ABDUL HADI UMRI,
Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith, Birmingham
MAWLANA RASHID RABBANI,
Jamiat-e-Ulama, Bradford
MAWLANA MUHAMMAD ADAM,
Bolton Council of Mosques
ABDUL KARIM GHEEWALA
Federation of Muslim Organisations, Leicestershire
MAWLANA BOSTAN QADRI,
Confederation of Sunni Mosques, Birmingham
IMA ABDUL QADIR BARKATULLAH
North Finchley Mosque, London
DR SUHAIB HASAN,
Islamic Shariah Council
MR ZAHIR BIRAWI,
Grand Mosque, Leeds
IMAM DR ABDUL JALIL SAJID,
Council of Mosques, London and Southern Counties
DR MUNIR AHMED,
Islamic Society of Britain
MR AHMED SHEIKH,
Muslim Association of Britain
MR IDRIS MEARS,
Association of Muslim Schools
DR ABDUL FATTAH SAEED,
Al Muntada al Islami, London
DR YUNES TEINAZ,
Regent’s Park Mosque, London
DR HAFIZ AL-KARMI,
Mayfair Islamic Centre, London
MR ISMAIL PATEL,
Friends of al-Aqsa
DR MANAZIR AHSAN,
Islamic Foundation, Leicester
DR AHMAD HASAN,
World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithnasheri Muslim Community
MR MUNAWWAR RATTANSI,
Council of European Jamaats
MR YOUSUF BHAILOK,
Former Secretary-General, The Muslim Council of Britain

MWW agrees with the undersigned that the police investigation is “bizarre”. And we particularly welcome the apparent change of heart evidenced in the final paragraph, which clearly means that those organisations which supported the Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill have now seen the error of their ways and come to the realisation that free expression is no offence.

We are also looking forward to public expressions of support, on the same principle, for Salman Rushdie and Carsten Juste, the editor of Jylands-Posten who is about to be sued for “blasphemy” in the European Court of Human Rights.

Because they can’t all be hypocrites. Can they?


10 Responses to “Muslims for free expression”

  1. Andrew Nixon says:

    the undermining of the key institution of marriage in Britain today

    This has often annoyed me. If your marriage is going to be undermined by two other people getting married, then you’re obviously not comitted enough to be married.

  2. Andy A says:

    It’s always annoyed – and perplexed – me, too. I just don’t see how the marriage of one pair of people is going to undermine the marriage of the other pair of people next door. When I was in a same-sex relationship, I don’t recall that the pair-bonding of any given couple among my hettie pals was undermining my own. The mind blogs.

  3. stuart says:

    Further to the two Andys comments – it ain’t so long since Christian authority took a similar view on some heterosexual marriages, so we can be thoroughly underwhelmed by their arguments about gays – which,incidentally, when you do the research, also strongly resemble the arguments and methods being used against mixed race heterosexual marriages a century ago.
    For example, when my Mum(born into a staunch Catholic family) and Dad (likewise but a Sally Army family)got married in the middle of the 20th century, her Dad couldn’t attend the wedding or recognise the marriage because his priest told him he’d be following my excommunicated Mum to hell if he did.
    If that isn’t ‘undermining the key institution of marriage’ I’d be hard pressed to find a better example! Thankfully, if anything it had the effect of strengthening their marriage, though unsurprisingly giving me enough cynicism about ‘religious morality’ to last a lifetime. I was damned before I was born, so why would I worry about what priests say!

  4. Andrew Nixon says:

    Probably not the right place for this one, but I just noticed now, that yesterday was this sites 1st birthday!

    So happy birthday to the site, and in some ways, I hope there is no need for a second birthday, and all these idiots covered here will disapear this year.

  5. Monitor says:

    Thanks, Andrew. The birthday escaped my notice, too! I hope you’re right about there being no need for a second birthday this time next year. But I doubt it.

  6. jamal says:

    All Britons, whether they are in favour of homosexuality or not, should be allowed to freely express their views in an atmosphere free of intimidation or bullying.

  7. Andrew Nixon says:

    All Britons, whether they are in favour of homosexuality or not, should be allowed to freely express their views in an atmosphere free of intimidation or bullying.

    That’s exactly what the letter quoted in the original post says. No argument from any of us on here. The problem is that the signatories to that letter have not shown the same courtesey to those who wish to express their views on religion.

  8. G. Tingey says:

    “Because they can’t all be hypocrites. Can they?”

    OH YES, THEY CAN!

    and What is even more worrying….

    THEY’RE BEHIND YOU!

    Not funny at all, actually – I dread the religious hatred bill – I don’t want to go to prison ……

  9. Shaun Hollingworth says:

    It seems to me, that they believe the only people who should be entitled to free expression are religious people. The irritating thing is that the PC brigade would probably support this.

    If they want to condemn and ridicule gays, and others, none religious people should be able to make fun of, ridicule, and condemn religion. Religion is stupid anyway.

  10. Steven Webster says:

    I find it hilarious that a group of muslims find it “bizare”, that making abusive comments about a minority group could land them in trouble. The CPS have a right to look into a crime. If someone were to denounce Islam they would be the first to complain and to demand legal protection.

    Being homosexual is not unhealthy, nor does it spread disease. Unsafe sex is unhealthy. Unsafe sex spreads disease. Hetrosexual sex is the main spreader of STIs. Not gay sex. This man needs to research his facts before he attacks a gay people.

    He has caused offence to the gay community. Using religion to justify this makes it worse. I agree with free speech, but if it violates the law of the land he must accept the consequences.