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November 5, 2006

UK: Bishop Attacks Muslim "Double Standards"

The Right Reverend Michael Nazir-Ali is the Bishop of Rochester, a Pakistani-born former Catholic who converted to Protestantism aged 20. In today's Sunday Times he has criticized Muslim "dual psychology", where they simultaneously want "Victimhood and domination". The Times report is also picked up by the BBC, ITV.com and View London.

Nazir-Ali is quoted as saying: "Their complaint often boils down to the position that it is always right to intervene when Muslims are victims, as in Bosnia or Kosovo, and always wrong when the Muslims are the oppressors or terrorists, as with the Taliban or in Iraq."

"Given the world view that has given rise to such grievances, there can never be sufficient appeasement and new demands will continue to be made."

Nazir-Ali, aged 57, became the youngest bishop in the world when he was 35. He also warned that imams who come to Britain should be subjected to rigorous checks, to ensure they had commitment to British values and culture.

"Characteristic British values have developed from the Christian faith and its vision of personal and common good. After they were clarified by the enlightenment they became the bedrock of our modern political life. These values need to be recovered to help us to inculcate the virtues of generosity, loyalty, moderation and love," he said.

"The two main causes of the present situation are fundamentalist imams and material on the internet. They must be vetted for appropriate qualifications,   they must have a reasonable knowledge of the English language and they must take part in a recognised process of learning about British life and culture," he claimed.

"I can see nothing in Islam that prescribes the wearing of a full-face veil. In the supermarket those at the cash tills need to be recognised. Teaching is another context in which society requires recognition and identification."

There is nothing to criticize in his words, as they are true. Rowan WIlliams, the Archbishop of Canterbury who has prevaricated on issues such as homosexuality, last month decided that he would not oppose the wearing of the veil. WIlliams had said that attempts to stop Muslim women wearing the item of clothing would be "politically dangerous".

Muhammad Abdul Bari, the secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, and chairman of the Saudi-funded East London Mosque was not pleased by Nizar-Ali's words. Bari said the bishop's comments were not "very helpful for community relationships."

By the same token, Bari's welcoming of Delwar Hossain Sayeedi to the East London Mosque in July exposed how little he himself cares about community relationships. Sayeedi comes, like Bari, from Bangladesh, and supports the persecution of the Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) Muslims, who comprise a large section of the British Muslim community. Sayeedi also has said that US soldiers in Iraq should convert to Islam or die, saying: "And if it is not Allah's will that they become good Muslims, then let all the American soldiers be buried in the soil of Iraq and never let them return to their homes."

Bari's friend also compared Hindus to excrement, yet he invited the man to his mosque and welcomed him. So much for Bari's respect for community relations.

Another example of Muslim hypocrisy. Bari's refusal to accept the truth of the Rt. Rev. Michael Nizar-Ali's comments, when the Muslim Council of Britain wants to dominate British life (and attacks the Sufi Council) and simultaneously whines about Muslim "victimhood" only underlines the accuracy of the bishop's statements.

If only Rowan WIlliams could be as forthright as the Bishop of Rochester.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 5, 2006 7:14 AM

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Posted by: Cyberray at November 5, 2006 12:13 PM

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