Our moral compass is awry for hero Afghans
MOHAMMAD Nazir is justifiably proud of his new three-bedroomed, semi-detached home in north-west England. His beloved wife is settling into the local community and his children attend school.
It is a far cry from his previous life in the cauldron of Afghanistan, where he was an interpreter for British soldiers on missions into forbiddingly hostile territory.
Not for nothing was it considered one of the world’s most perilous jobs. Day and night, the 34-year-old’s life was in mortal danger. The Taliban targeted these courageous military translators for torture and murder.
One might think, then, that – pressured by the Mail’s five-year Betrayal of the Brave campaign – the UK Government deserves eternal credit for rewarding Mohammad’s bravery with sanctuary on our shores.
In his case, maybe so. But unforgivably, he’s one of only two heroes permitted to settle here under a programme to rescue those at risk of reprisal for helping our country in Helmand.
Many others who laid their lives on the line for us are being shot as traitors by vengeful Islamic fanatics. Disgracefully, ministers have abandoned them.
This injustice is, bluntly, a stain on our nation. We owe the interpreters – and their families – a gargantuan debt of honour. Instead, we’re as good as signing their death warrants.
What on Earth has happened to our moral compass? It’s warped beyond recognition.
Look at who offered shelter. War criminals, terror suspects, hate preachers and a ceaseless procession of migrants from Calais. People to whom this country owes no special obligation of gratitude.
Look, also, at who gains from British generosity abroad.
A chilling investigation on Page 6 reveals our swollen foreign aid budget is being abused to radicalise endless thousands of Palestinian schoolchildren.
More than £120million of taxpayers’ money supports schools in Gaza and the West Bank where troubling textbooks encourage pupils as young as six to revere martyrs, including suicide bombers.
In one, physics is taught using disturbing images of a boy with a slingshot targeting Israeli troops.
Meanwhile, teachers in the UK-funded classrooms call for Jews to be slaughtered and praise Hitler.
It is simply unacceptable that money Britain sends to Palestine is exploited for violent political ends – not used to ease impoverishment and suffering.
No one has argued louder than this paper that we should help those in need overseas. But as we approach the Budget, and ministers seriously contemplate clobbering motorists with punishing petrol duty hikes, isn’t it right we question afresh how mandarins spend every single penny?
Many people will find it utterly baffling that the Government so freely indulges those who may do us harm, while denying a safe haven to those we owe the most.