Posted on 07/13/2005 6:02:49 AM PDT by Michael Goldsberry
LONDON (AFP) - Prime Minister Tony Blair proposed a mixed package of dialogue and tougher measures to combat what he branded the "evil ideology" embraced by the alleged Muslim extremists behind the London terror attacks.
Blair told parliament his government would consider tougher action against people who incite or instigate terrorism, including tighter entry procedures, as well as try to promote the voice of moderate Islam at home and abroad.
Ministers would begin consultations on planned counter-terrorism legislation within the next couple of weeks, with priority given to measures to combat the incitement and instigation of terrorism, he said.
Prior to the bombings on three underground trains and a bus in London last Thursday that killed at least 52 people and injured 700 others -- the worst attack on British soil since World War II -- counter-terrorism proposals were denounced as a threat to civil liberties.
"We will look urgently at how we strengthen the procedures to exclude people from entering the UK who may incite hatred or act contrary to the public good, and at how we deport such people, if they come here, more easily," Blair said.
Blair also said his government would begin talks immediately with British Muslim leaders about combating the "poisonous and perverted misinterpretation of the religion of Islam" by mobilising moderate opinion.
He added his government was talking to Muslim and non-Muslim governments on how to mobilise the "moderate and true voice of Islam."
"I am confident that other European countries, the majority of whom face the same type of threat, will be supportive in this, I'm sure they will," Blair said.
"The exchange of data and the retention of data is one very, very important part of this," he said.
Blair also sought to ease concerns among Muslims in Britain that they were now the target of a backlash.
Since the bombings that killed at least 52 people last Thursday, several mosques in Britain have been attacked and a Pakistani man was killed in a suspected racial attack in the central English city of Nottingham.
"I would ask for the same measured and calm response from the country that has characterised it" since the bombers struck the British capital's transport system, Blair told parliament.
"This is a small group of extremists. Not one who can be ignored, but neither should it define Muslims in Britain who are overwhelmingly law-abiding, decent members of our society," he said during the weekly session of prime minister's questions.
He added that his government condemned any attack against Muslims "unreservedly."
Blair also said any attempts by the extreme right to use the aftermath of the attacks to stir up racism was "particularly revolting".
Blair's great plan includes more appeasement with the Muslim community. Good luck Blair, prepare more coffins.
Its too late, Tony. They've taken over entire cities in the UK.
Name 3. Cite population statistics.
This whole image of Britain as being somehow majority Muslim is silly and wrong.
Ivan
Blair needs to propose a Muslim roundup (he won't). Bush needs to as well.
Head em up, move em out. Rawhide!
Someone said Leeds was overrun. No ?
You don't really know who we're fighting do you.
Blair needs to propose a Muslim roundup (he won't). Bush needs to as well.
Why do you suppose that is?
If they are found to be inciteful and extreme with regard to the Quron's message, they should be killed in the manner Mr. Van Gogh experienced.
Speak, Ivan. Clarify the picture we're getting (UK has become a Muslim slum) every evening on the TV news.
The leaders are all trying to be politically correct.
"Blair told parliament his government would consider tougher action against people who incite or instigate terrorism"
We could use tougher action here as well, there's at least one Senator, Movie Maker, several Movie 'Stars', and a number of College Professors that fit that bill.
Chatting them up will not help.
Infidels do not have standing to address them.
Blair better start reading some history. The Cult of Assasins (Muslim Brotherhood) has been around since 755. does he think his pitiful plea will have a snow balls chance in hell of reaching them. Wake up Britian, they are in your midst.
There are approximately 1.7 million Muslims in the UK - this is out of a population in excess of 60 million. They can't overrun our cities. They simply haven't the numbers.
There cities which have Muslim "enclaves" like Birmingham and London, but these enclaves are small in comparison to the cities they inhabit. The media never shows you what it's like in the normal parts of the city, because that would just be too boring.
Regards, Ivan
"There are approximately 1.7 million Muslims in the UK - this is out of a population in excess of 60 million."
Shouldn't be too much of a problem getting rid of all of them?
Every picture we see of this Leeds neighborhood is filled with chattering curry eaters.
Well the reporters wouldn't want to hang out anywhere besides the enclave...after all, the tension that the rest of the community feels isn't news to the left. ;)
Regards, Ivan
How so?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.