Should Lee Anderson have lost Tory whip?
FORMER Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson’s comments about Islamists were not racist, given that Islam is a religion, not a race. Neither were they Islamophobic, as his criticism was directed at Islamists, not Muslims. Islamists are those who seek to extend the rule of Islam across the whole world, often through the use of violence. I suspect most British people would be opposed to that.
ANDY BROWN, Derby.
THE word ‘phobia’ means an irrational fear, and it is not reasonable to call any criticism of Islam and/or Muslims, however rational, Islamophobia. Grooming, abuse, threats and intimidation from whatever source must be openly discussed and, where appropriate, punished in accordance with British law. If the fear is rational, it’s not a phobia.
G. MATTHEWS, Lancaster.
YET again an MP is punished — and has lost the Tory whip — for having the courage to speak out. Thank God a few are still willing to do so. Free speech in this country seems to be reserved for the extremists on the pro-Palestinian marches who glorify terrorism, with the police seemingly unwilling to take any action. London mayor Sadiq Khan may feel he is being unfairly targeted for being a Muslim. Well, maybe he should speak up against anti-Semitism and show more appreciation of what the Jewish community is suffering.
KAY WAKEFIELD-COLE, Ascot, Berks.
WE ARE told it is wrong to associate all Muslims (followers of Islam, a religion) with Islamist terrorists. So why is it OK for them to associate all
Jews (followers of Judaism, a religion) with Israel’s actions?
Jews have lived here for generations and practised their religion in freedom, as those of all religions should be free to do. But now they are living in fear. What is happening in Gaza is tragic and innocents are paying for the horrific actions of Hamas, but it has nothing to do with Jewish people here.
JACKY TURVEY, Bedford.
IF I had matched Lee Anderson’s remarks in my professional capacity, lecturing student nurses, I would have been suspended, sacked, then struck off the Nursing and Midwifery Council register. Racist Anderson has not been sacked, so he can stay as an MP. Expletives deleted.
T. MAUNDER, Leeds.
MY FATHER used to say ‘speak the truth and shame the Devil’. Now, if you speak the truth, you get sacked.
KEITH CHAMBERS, Asfordby, Leics.
LEE ANDERSON’S recent comments were controversial, yet if Islamophobia is on the rise, the continual tolerance of rabble-rousing is why. And it’s no good countering that most UK Muslims are peaceful and cause no problems. It’s not the peaceful ones we have to worry about.
DOUGLAS ROXBOROUGH, hook, hants.
IS THERE a problem with MPs saying what they really think?
LINDA KENDALL, rayleigh, essex.