Posted on 07/16/2005 3:44:05 PM PDT by MadIvan
About 500 faith-hate and race-hate crimes — ranging from arson attacks on mosques to Muslim women being spat at in the street — have been reported in Britain since the London bombings, writes Dipesh Gadher.
According to police sources, about 200 of these incidents are deemed significant enough to have potential repercussions within communities.
They include mosques being set alight in Birkenhead, Merseyside, Telford, Shropshire and Leeds.
“We have definitely seen a spike, but these are not co-ordinated incidents,” said Assistant Chief Constable Rob Beckley, head of the Association of Chief Police Officers’ community tensions team. The authorities normally deal with about 50-60 similar incidents a week.
Beckley said police forces were “busting a gut” to respond to the crimes and were making swift arrests in many cases. However, he remained concerned that “a catalytic incident” could trigger something far more serious, such as a full-blown race riot.
Muslim leaders have called for calm and have unequivocally condemned the London attacks. But last week they were criticised for failing to do enough to confront extremists within their own community.
“We have reached a dangerous crossroads and the direction we choose will prove to be a defining moment in our history,” said Shahid Malik, the Labour MP for Dewsbury, home to one of the bombers.
“The knowledge that the bombers were British Muslims . . . has sent us a signal we can no longer ignore, that there is indeed an ‘enemy within’,” he said. “The battle for the soul of the community has begun.”
Tony Blair has invited Muslim leaders to a “crisis” summit on Tuesday to help him “pull up this evil ideology by its roots”.
Under new laws, preachers such as Yusuf al-Qaradawi — who has condoned child suicide bombers — denied entry into America and other European Union countries would face automatic exclusion from Britain.
Charles Clarke, the home secretary, is reviewing his powers to deport foreigners and impose specific conditions on asylum seekers. A separate consultation is just ending on whether imams coming to Britain should have a professional qualification and understand English.
A counter-terrorism bill due in the autumn will create a new offence of “glorifying or endorsing” terrorism. Two further offences being drawn up by the Home Office will mean extremists who provide or receive terrorist training would face prosecution, as would those committing “acts preparatory to terrorism”, such as fund-raising or providing safe houses.
You just paraphrased one of George Bush's favorite speech lines re: the War on Terror...
That we have to be "right" 100% of the time, the terrorists only have to be right once!!
WE can't even utter the "P" word here in the states..."profiling" is considered a racial slur here!!
But, THAT better change quick!
Although, if more terrorism occurs, and if the muslims do not start speaking up vociferously, then I would say that those actions are but half-measures.
Clearly, the PC approach simply trades "feeeling good" for more lives.
The behavior and speech of the bloody savages could not be plainer and more hateful. For the last ten years, at least.
Like America, Britain have not felt secure enough in her proud cultural heritage to politely ask immigrants to asssimilate and become Britishers.
I have noticed though that the Muslim community in Britain is more openly radical than in the U.S. I am not sure why. I can't decide if the Muslims have not been here long enough to assimilate, or if they never intend to do so. After all, it took awhile for Irish and Italians immigrants to assimilate in America, but they did. But then they came from a Christian heritage.
Riots (or spontaneous urban rebellion as the NAACP terms them here) will not bring anarchy in a society like yours or ours. That is not to say that the recent trend is not to be discouraged.
I think you need to rewind back to 1993...remember the blind sheik in New York who inspired the first World Trade Centre bombing? Your imams may be more low key, but I suggest they're just as radical.
Regards, Ivan
That is not a policy option on the table in either the UK or USA.
Regards, Ivan
As if the terrorist bomings in London weren't "hate crimes".
I agree with you. The wanton murder of innocents is no reason to be rude.
That's a good point. I understand that there are Saudi-funded radical Muslim schools here.
U said: That is not a policy option on the table in either the UK or USA.
I know, thats part of the problem.. Ever wonder why muslims flock to the west and not to Saud or Yemen ?
Because they think we are soft, that we dont chop off peoples hands for stealing stuff...
With all due respect for the biddish dedication to propriety, I think that's total rubbish.
I can't think of a better reason.
Sometimes, Ivan, I suspect you enjoy having us (yanks) on.
Actually, I would drift way over the "rude" line.
They ought to be banned world wide from boarding any aircraft.
So there is a vicious murderous series of suicide bombings and only a tenfold increase in so-called "incidents"? I would say the British people are showing remarkable restraint.
I think it IS possible that the Brits will react on a more personal level than Americans have so far. BBC made a point of not offending anyone by using the word "terrorist" in the immediate aftermath of the London Bombings. It appears they have backtracked on that. In the US, we have more media outlets with a broader expression of opinion (thanks only to cable, of course). The Brits are fed only BBC, and it has taken the politically correct position whenever possible (like our MSM). The Brits are NOT stupid, and will react, perhaps over-react to that, as it appears MadIvan is suggesting.
I agree, taking matters in your own hands isn't going to help anything.
I always dread the morning paper with the never ending news of more Islamic inhumanity....but this is a joy......
I love retribution rather than "hat in hand" subservience so common in western society.
Winston had it right.....my top hero as an American.
We need to cut off Saudi funding of mosques and Wahabbism throughout the west.
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