{"id":2393,"date":"2006-10-06T09:19:00","date_gmt":"2006-10-06T14:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/altmuslim\/?p=2393"},"modified":"2006-10-06T09:19:00","modified_gmt":"2006-10-06T14:19:00","slug":"for_ramadan_a_smorgasbord_of_controversy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/altmuslim\/2006\/10\/for_ramadan_a_smorgasbord_of_controversy\/","title":{"rendered":"British Muslims: For Ramadan, a smorgasbord of controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>\n\n\n
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Now all I need is a veil and a gun<\/div>\n

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During Ramadan, Muslims in Britain \u2013 as with Muslims everywhere \u2013 turn to daily fasting, prayer, and reflection (and iftar!<\/i>). In this way, Ramadan is often seen as a \u201cquiet\u201d month, when Muslim political activity and businesses (except restaurants<\/a>, perhaps) turn it down a notch. However, for the British media \u2013 accompanied by a particular cast of characters \u2013 a slew of controversies have cropped up, all of which have given Muslims and non-Muslims a lingering sense of indigestion. <\/p>\n

First we had the case of Misbah Rana (nee Molly Campbell), a 12 year old Scottish Muslim girl who fled her Anglo mother to join her father in Pakistan. In any other circumstance, this would be a typical case of a young child being caught in between divorcing parents in a custody battle, but in this case, Rana\u2019s statements<\/a> to the press (\u201cOver here you are free, over there we get racial abuse\u2026 it\u2019s fun, it\u2019s wicked here.\u201d) and her mother\u2019s insistence<\/a> that she was forcibly taken have brought to light the approximately 400 disputes<\/a> per year involving British children ending up in Pakistan, willingly or not. The case puts to the test a 2003 agreement<\/a> between the UK and Pakistan to jointly resolve such issues. <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Home Secretary John Reid visited East London Muslims, telling them<\/a> that they should watch their children for signs of extremism. Though Muslim leaders haven\u2019t disagreed with such a principle, the singling out of Muslims was too much for some (the murder<\/a> since of a man in East London by youths will likely get no similar treatment). He was shouted down by Abu Izzadeen, a well known extremist (he called the 7\/7 bombers \u201ccompletely praiseworthy<\/a>\u201c) who infiltrated the gathering despite tight security, and was later invited to comment on the BBC as mainstream Muslim groups looked on in astonishment. <\/p>\n

Then there was the case of Constable Alexander Omar Basha who, during the Israel-Hezbollah conflict this summer, requested<\/a> not to be stationed at his post guarding the Israeli embassy (he is of Lebanese descent). His superiors consented, calling it a \u201cwelfare issue,\u201d as the officer was concerned for his relatives in Lebanon if it was known he was guarding the embassy. Much was made of the incident as an issue of political correctness, though the officer has since returned to his diplomatic post and his superiors noted that \u201cif an incident happens at the Israeli embassy, he will deal with it.\u201d <\/p>\n

Finally, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw chipped in with his advice<\/a> to Muslim visitor\u2019s to his practice to remove their face veils. Straw\u2019s comments caused considerable debate<\/a> among Muslims and non-Muslims, who both agreed<\/a> and disagreed with his sentiments. But again, it was the tone and context of the comments that rankled some (political<\/a> expediency may have a part to play). <\/p>\n

In all of these cases, there are real and theoretical parallels with non-Muslims (domestic disputes or \u201crisk assessments\u201d in the police case). What they also have in common is that, contrary to public perception, these debates have not been initiated by Muslims (most of whom have more important things to tend to this month). Rana\u2019s mother, the Police, John Reid and Jack Straw all made public what could have been private consultations with Muslim leaders and individuals. And as usual, the more extreme comments or spokespeople are singled out for media attention. <\/p>\n

The resulting tone of the discussions has been seen by many as confrontational and counterproductive, and the sensationalism could manifest themselves in other ways. This month, a Quran has been defaced<\/a> in a prison, a Muslim-owned dairy has been firebombed<\/a>, and a pig\u2019s head thrown<\/a> in a Newport mosque during tarawih<\/i> night prayers \u2013 while at the same time two non-Muslim men linked with the BNP<\/a> have been caught<\/a> with the largest haul of chemical explosives ever found in the UK. But sadly, these controversies almost never make the front page. <\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

Zahed Amanullah is associate editor of altmuslim.com. He is based in London, England.\n<\/p>\n

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