MUSLIMS IN BRITAIN MUST FEEL AND ACT MORE BRITISH
FOR too long, the British political establishment has been in a state of denial and disengagement about the threat of Islamic extremism. It is an attitude that has been promoted not only by fears – however misplaced – about accusations of Islamophobia, but also by the belief that jihadism is a problem to be resolved solely by Muslims.
But David Cameron’s courageous and wide-ranging speech is one of the most significant recent interventions on this issue by a Western leader.
If his rhetoric is translated into action, then we can finally mount a proper challenge to the vile extremist Islamist dogma that is causing such misery across the world, including here in Britain.
What was particularly impressive about the speech was its degree of nuance. It was no tub-thumping oration designed to stir up anger but rational and full of subtleties. Even the usual anti-Tory critics expressed admiration. Mr Cameron’s central point was that we must tackle headon the primitive, authoritarian doctrine that fuels extremism. Otherwise, groups such as Islamic State and Al Qaeda will continue to flourish, even if they endure military setbacks.
The point about Islamist ideology is one that Mr Cameron has made several times before. It was at the heart of a speech to an international security conference in Munich in 2011, when he highlighted the dangers of ignoring the ideological roots of extremism.
Yesterday he went further, arguing that it is the intolerant, repressive dogma of extremist Islamism itself that feeds the unrelenting cycle of violence. ‘An extremist world view is the gateway, violence the ultimate destination,’ he said.
For that reason, all Muslim radicals must face their responsibilities because it is their own outlook that is the driving force behind the barbarism. In this context, the plea that ‘ we don’t support IS’ is no defence at all. The truth is that radicals have provided propaganda and intellectual ammunition for terrorists to thrive.
Mr Cameron bravely rejected the fashionable pretence that there is no link between the religion of Islam and extremist butchery.
‘It had nothing to do with Islam,’ has become the favourite mantra of Western politicians uttered after every atrocity in the misguided belief that such deceit somehow preserves good community relations. But, as the PM pointed out, this is both a denial of reality and a restriction on the ability of the vast majority of Muslim moderates to confront the extremists in their midst.
The hardline ideology is not the Islam that I recognise. It is a sick, brutal perversion of my faith. Nevertheless, it is just sophistry to deny the connection between the religion and the creed of zealots.
MOST Musli ms are appalled by the rise of the extremists but some Arab pol it ic i a ns I recently spoke with denied that this sinister movement was inspired by a draconian, medieval reading of Muslim texts.
Such self-delusion will achieve nothing except more bloodshed. hard truths have to be faced.
The best weapons in the fight against extremism are liberal values of democracy, freedom, equality, openness and pluralism. Yet these are precisely the qualities rejected by the hardliners with their enthusiasm for discrimination, theocracy and segregation.
More must also be done to combat the absurd conspiracy theories peddled by jihadists, both to promote a sense of victimhood among Muslims and to justify their behaviour.
For example, Islamist troublemakers and their Western apologists like to pretend that terrorism is a response to the Anglo-American invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. But the truth is, of course, that those two operations were in reaction to 9/11, one of the worst terrorist atrocities in history.
Perhaps the most heartfelt and welcome passages in Mr Cameron’s speech related to the role of British Muslims. This is an area from which most politicians have shied because of heightened sensitivities over community relations. But the PM was right to address this question. Most of the 2.7million Muslims living here are British citizens, paying British taxes, using British public services and relating to other Britons.
Yet the actions of extremists have an impact right across our society, whether it be through the fear of terrorism or through the climate of censorship on freedom of speech. So, to misuse a f amous Government phrase from another context, ‘We’re all in this together.’
THERE are two vital strands to this issue. One is ministers’ new resolve to give more support to Muslim reformers, so that their voices are not drowned out by the zealots.
A simple measure would be for broadcasters to give far less airtime to people such as hate preacher Anjem Choudary, who might make for colourful, controversial television but is wholly unrepresentative of mainstream Muslim opinion. Also, new voices at the grassroots should be encouraged and empowered to push against extremist narratives. Some Muslim activists are already doing this – but we need many more.
The other strand is to promote a much stronger sense of a British identity among Muslims here. Over recent decades, Britain has developed a unique record in creating a strong multiracial, multi-faith society. This successful embrace of diversity is the envy of the world.
But this achievement is undermined by the growing spread of hardline Islamism and Muslim segregation in some areas such as Bradford and Oldham, where diversity is giving way to social division. It is these divisions that the extremists are keen to exploit, yet the politicians have been reluctant to act because they ‘don’t want to do our country down’, as Mr Cameron put it yesterday. Divisive segregation means that too many Muslims are growing up without any understanding of people from other backgrounds. To stop this requires measures such as ending separatist schools and social housing units.
Rarely do a politician’s words change anything, but Mr Cameron’s speech – containing many useful proposals such as allowing parents to confiscate passports from their children if there are suspicions about involvement with jihadism – could heralded a new era of unity and determination i n the f i ght against the Islamist militants.
Although a few libertarian voices have criticised the Prime Minister’s ‘ a uthoritarian’ approach, the real authoritarianism will come if we allow extremists to flourish.