Abdul Bari has kept his head down since becoming head of the Muslim Council of Britain – at least compared to his predecessor Iqbal (‘death is too easy for [Rushdie]’) Sacranie.
But the weekend brought an interview with Bari in the Telegraph – his first since taking his current post at the MCB. And suddenly his record of silence became understandable. People around him must have been begging him not to speak.
Because what a catastrophe the interview has turned out to be. You can read it here.
Where to begin?
Just for starters, Abdul Bari suggested that Britons should begin to adopt arranged marriages and stop drinking alcohol.
But that’s nothing compared with his declaration that Britain is in danger of becoming like Nazi Germany.
‘Every society has to be really careful so the situation doesn't lead us to a time when people's minds can be poisoned as they were in the 1930s,’ he said.
Even the MCB’s PR-men might have advised Bari not to tell Britain on the eve of Remembrance Sunday – the eve of remembering those who fought fascism – that the British are themselves becoming fascists.
And how about that MCB vision of a better Britain? For instance, is stoning ever justified?
‘It depends what sort of stoning and what circumstances.’
Come again?
‘When our prophet talked about stoning for adultery he said there should be four [witnesses] - in realistic terms that's impossible.’
There’s a great riposte to this casuistry over at the New Culture Forum’s website.
But amid all the offensiveness of Bari’s comments, one thing perhaps disturbs more than any other.
Bari was asked if he would agree that many in Britain see Muslim fundamentalism as the biggest threat of the next few years? Bari’s reply:
'Extremism is a threat, but on all sides: Christian, Muslim, Jewish.' 'It is objectionable when people talk about Islamic terrorists; those who terrorise people are not being Islamic in any way.'
But that’s not the question. The point is that if someone says that they are acting in the name of Islam and Abdul Bari’s response is to adopt the ostrich-manoeuvre then there’s little likelihood that other young men are going to be persuaded out of a future of radicalism.
The dubious MCB is forever trumpeting its ‘leadership’ role and ‘representative’ nature. Not for the first time, we are faced with a dilemma then. If the MCB don’t represent anyone much then they shouldn’t be given the profile that they are given by the media. But if they are what they say they are, and if vast swathes of British Muslims do indeed follow their lead, then we are all – Muslim and non-Muslim alike – in real trouble.
Comments (2)
In my view it is important not to scare Abdul Bari away from further revelation. Let's get the guy on Question Time , R4, and even an invitation to a Buckingham Palace garden party......
Maximum exposure for the thoughts of this very dangerous man.
Posted by anthony norman | November 14, 2007 9:35 PM
Posted on November 14, 2007 21:35
I don't think anyone other than muslims take this man seriously in terms of his committment to a rational, honest and genuine approach to social cohesion. Especially after his thinly veiled threats regarding the UK having 2 million moslem terrorists if people continue to be unkind or suspicious of Islam and some of its followers.
We don't have to do anything violent or aggressive to provoke this development apparently, just allow them to feel 'demonised'.
Its time our politcians started to pay attention to such rhetoric since most of us are aware how sensitive many muslims are to any slight - real or imagined.
And Bari has actually said all the above several times before, beginning with his appointment as head of the MCB, and including his thoughts that all UK children would be better educated if they attend muslim schools and that all UK women would benefit from arranged marriage.
How he expects our non-moslem majority to respect him in any way when he continously disrespects our way of life and apparently doesn't realise that this is inulting - or even that it might be 'demonising' non-moslems, is beyond me.
Well now he has upset the war widows and some MP's, ie David Davis (who seems to be one of the few polititians who isn't afraid to be labelled an 'islamophobe'), especially since he made his 'Nazi Germany' remarks on the eve of Memorial Day.
In fact he seems to have a penchant for impeccable timing - his 2 million terrorists threat was delivered on the eve of the anniversary of the 7/7 murders. It almost seems he is doing his best to provoke the sort of 'backlash' he constantly refers to and claims he wants to avoid.
And this is the voice of moderate islam according to our gvmnt and political parties. When will they wake up?
Posted by Anjelica | November 13, 2007 4:05 PM
Posted on November 13, 2007 16:05