Tory chief Baroness Warsi attacks 'bigotry' against Muslims

[Markhor]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...t-Muslims.html

Islamophobia has “passed the dinner-table test” and is seen by many as normal and uncontroversial, Baroness Warsi will say in a speech on Thursday. The minister without portfolio will also warn that describing Muslims as either “moderate” or “extremist” fosters growing prejudice. Lady Warsi, the first Muslim woman to attend Cabinet, has pledged to use her position to wage an “ongoing battle against bigotry”. Her comments are the most high-profile intervention in Britain’s religious debate by any member of David Cameron’s government. They also confirm the Coalition’s determination to depart from its Labour predecessor’s policy of keeping out of issues of faith. Lady Warsi will use a speech at the University of Leicester to attack what she sees as growing religious intolerance in the country, especially towards followers of Islam. A recent study estimated there are now around 2.9 million Muslims in Britain, up from 1.6 million in 2001. Some religious and social commentators have suggested that growth in numbers gives rise to legitimate concerns, asking whether strict adherence to the faith is compatible with the values of Western democracies. Some Christian leaders have also said that Britain has become less tolerant of their faith during the same period. In response, Lady Warsi will blame “the patronising, superficial way faith is discussed in certain quarters, including the media”. The peer will describe how prejudice against Muslims has grown along with their numbers, partly because of the way they are often portrayed. The notion that all followers of Islam can be described either as “moderate” or “extremist” can fuel misunderstanding and intolerance, she will say. “It’s not a big leap of imagination to predict where the talk of 'moderate’ Muslims leads; in the factory, where they’ve just hired a Muslim worker, the boss says to his employees: 'Not to worry, he’s only fairly Muslim’. “In the school, the kids say: 'The family next door are Muslim but they’re not too bad’. “And in the road, as a woman walks past wearing a burka, the passers-by think: 'That woman’s either oppressed or is making a political statement’.” A decade of growth in the British Muslim population also saw the first al-Qaeda attacks on British soil and Lady Warsi will address the issue of terrorism and extremism. Terrorist offences committed by a small number of Muslims must not be used to condemn all who follow the faith, she will insist. But she will also suggest that some Muslim communities must do more to make clear to extremists that their beliefs and actions are not acceptable. “Those who commit criminal acts of terrorism in our country need to be dealt with not just by the full force of the law,” she will say. “They also should face social rejection and alienation across society and their acts must not be used as an opportunity to tar all Muslims.” Her call echoes Mr Cameron’s New Year message, in which the Prime Minister asked why the country was “allowing” the continuing radicalisation of young British Muslims. Lady Warsi will also reveal that she raised the issue of Islamophobia with the Pope when he visited Britain last year, urging him to “create a better understanding between Europe and its Muslim citizens.” Despite her warnings, she will recognise that Britain has a long history of tolerance and diversity.

[Down2Earth]

tbh i never saw this coming from her, shahid malik maybe but was surprised when she said this especially as she's a tory.

[Desire]

kool she got guts to say this.

[Tapori]

Same here; Surprised to hear that and as much as I despise her overall outlook on society in keeping with the grotesque policies being issued by her party, her point about Muslims in the UK having to make the "Extremist" "Moderate" distinction is a very relevant one.

By definition all Muslims should, on account of there being not nearly as much "Terrorist" attacks to Britain than the "Catholic" IRA, be moderate.

[RX]

As mentioned above it is quite interesting she's saying this, but has any one got the link to the speech? I wan't to hear the way she worded the statements. I saw her breifly on TV a few weeks or months ago, and she seems quite a bad speaker. Could be wrong.

[the SHA]

Its taken about 5 years but credit where credit is due, at least the Warsi bus has finally arrived.

[KingKhanWC]

The only reason she has come out and said this is due to her personal experience. She sits round snobs at dinner tables and must have had enough of their silly Islamaphobic jokes.

Warsi is just a puppet of the Conservative party, she does what she is told to. I wouldn't be suprised if she gets a telling off for these remarks.

We will know if she continues this but if she shuts up now then it proves her party has told her to zip it.

[James]

I've never thought that much of her as a politician, and Baroness seems like an inflated title to say the least. But fair play to her.

NB It'd be wrong to suggest that it's only Tories who hold prejudices against Muslims. Some do, some don't. I know loads of working-class racists who would never vote Tory.

[Markhor]

Originally Posted by RX As mentioned above it is quite interesting she's saying this, but has any one got the link to the speech? I wan't to hear the way she worded the statements. I saw her breifly on TV a few weeks or months ago, and she seems quite a bad speaker. Could be wrong.

Found it,the video is in the link.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...t-Muslims.html

[Desire]

Originally Posted by Markhor Found it,the video is in the link. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...t-Muslims.html

mashallah she is very intelligent and fighting the case for muslims. she is one billion times better than anjum choudhry type of guys. i would like to follow her footsteps. is there any chance she can become prime minister of britian??

[Desire]

Originally Posted by KingKhanWC The only reason she has come out and said this is due to her personal experience. She sits round snobs at dinner tables and must have had enough of their silly Islamaphobic jokes. Warsi is just a puppet of the Conservative party, she does what she is told to. I wouldn't be suprised if she gets a telling off for these remarks. We will know if she continues this but if she shuts up now then it proves her party has told her to zip it.

its 21 century and its not pakistan. i think she and others discuss every issue with the party first and then come in media. i think in party discussions there are pools of topics which are discussed and every one is assigned certain tasks, how to put them in front of media. i am sure she must do politics of some other issues as well like terrorism which is issue for rest of the party. thats polit.ics. working for common ideas in the party.

[Markhor]

Originally Posted by KingKhanWC The only reason she has come out and said this is due to her personal experience. She sits round snobs at dinner tables and must have had enough of their silly Islamaphobic jokes. Warsi is just a puppet of the Conservative party, she does what she is told to. I wouldn't be suprised if she gets a telling off for these remarks. We will know if she continues this but if she shuts up now then it proves her party has told her to zip it.

She's the Chairperson of the Conservative Party and is Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet and is a Baroness so you don't get elevated to such roles by being a puppet.

[defender]

Originally Posted by Desire mashallah she is very intelligent and fighting the case for muslims. she is one billion times better than anjum choudhry type of guys. i would like to follow her footsteps. is there any chance she can become prime minister of britian??

LOL, she didn't even win the election in Dewsbury in 2005 and ur talking about her becoming the prime minister

[Markhor]

Originally Posted by defender LOL, she didn't even win the election in Dewsbury in 2005 and ur talking about her becoming the prime minister

Lost to Shahid Malik

[Wasim_Waqar]

Even funnier, Lord Nazir Ahmed of Labour supported her over him...