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By Uzma Adeel
AS someone who has lived in the West mostly Britain since she was seven-year-old, I offer my perspective on the issue of the day. Those of us who are Muslim by birth or by faith (or both) naturally feel a connection to every Muslim person in this world. When fellow Muslims suffer, we also suffer.
During the last few years, Islam has been demonised because of terrorist activity, fanatical regimes and radicalised individuals. The US and Britain have both experienced terrorist tragedies on their soil and responded by war in Iraq and Afghanistan, etc.
Now, I do not know whether a conspiracy is going on in the world, and a game is being played out there. But if there is an international plot then I do believe that the puppeteers are not just Americans and Zionists but also Muslims, Christians and atheists.
What has been going on in Israel for the last 60 years is disgusting. That America and Britain support Israel is also equally disgusting. There are many, many indigenous, white, British people who abhor what the Israelis are doing. Some of these people have carried their protest into Israel and stood in front of the Israeli soldiers with Palestinians behind them, and have received the shots intended to kill Palestinians. When Britain went to war with Iraq, many indigenous, white British people staged anti-war demonstrations, the largest Britain has ever seen.
Now we need to separate the British people from the British government. The Muslims in the East make the mistake of condemning the West wholesale. They should be careful because the ordinary, decent person in the street feels appalled by Israeli atrocities. They can do nothing to stop Israeli repression but they do express their disgust by demonstrating against Israel and giving to charities like Amnesty International, etc.
Muslims make up 2.8 per cent of Britains population and thus have little power to change things, given the fact that even indigenous British voter has been unable to make a dent in the policies of successive British governments. The question cannot be What can we do about the awful things that are happening in the Holy Land? because the answer is: Nothing. The question should be How do we Muslims live and behave and order our lives in countries that are acting against Muslims?
By asking that question, we have already declared that we want the benefits of living in a secular, western country that has a regulated infrastructure, a well-developed and well-enforced legal system, a welfare state that prevents starvation and privation, a free healthcare system (I am talking about Britain here) and tolerates immigration to a point where in some major cities or parts thereof 30 per cent to 70 per cent of the population consists of ethic minorities and cultures. Britain today is unrecognisable as an ethnically white country in London, Birmingham, Manchester, etc. Add to this the visible and radical forms of Islam, and we are putting the indigenous British in the position of natural hostility to Muslims.
My 21-year-old step-son, who is white, English, was ambushed when he was 19 years old in Croydon high street by a well-known gang of 20 or more Muslim teenagers who call themselves South London Muslims. They offered him two choices: either become a Muslim or get beaten up by 20 gangsters calling themselves Muslim. They do this as a mission activity on a daily basis by all accounts. To get himself safely out of their clutches, what do you think he did? How do you think he felt about Islam then? He did not tell his mother or father about it, but he told me, his Muslim soon-to-be step-mother.
I was sickened. I am also sickened by the two radicalised members of my larger family who have said to me that they want to live under a regime which physically punishes men, women and children who do not pray five times a day. Both those family members are born, educated and live in Britain. I do not think they deserve to be in this country. They are hypocrites and traitors to humanity.
Muslims demonise the West as all-evil. Yet, we want to live here because of the stability, opportunities, education and other benefits available to us. I speak for myself when I say that I do not want to live in Pakistan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia or any other Muslim country. I do not want to live under Sharia law. I have been educated well enough to think in an analytical manner and come to my independent decision about what is and is not the truth. I seek liberation, not oppression and therefore prefer the West to the East. I do not want the U.K to become Muslim or Islamic or adopt Sharia. If it did, I would leave and go to France.
And, do we think Muslims do not oppress and are all good? If you do then wait till Taliban take over Afghanistan and possibly Pakistan and go and live under their regime! Or go to Saudi Arabia now. Do not be a hypocrite and enjoy the benefits of the West while deriding it and trying to change it into the East. Also, the attacks by Sunnis on Shias are not something that can be blamed on the West. This has been going on for generations in the East. Let's not pretend that this is black and white with the Muslims being angels and westerners being devils. That is simplistic, childish and downright incorrect.
As for the West declaring it to be secular, there are degrees of secularity. France is strictly secular to the point that if you wear a large Christian cross around your neck, you will be prosecuted. Britain is secular and yet has been extremely tolerant of visible religious symbols and practices. I understand the same is true of America.
If you want to live in the West then embrace the western world as your world and consider yourself a western person, taking the Wests best qualities and leaving the worst as is your right. You must adapt or you will be differentiating and segregating yourself from everyone else and creating a self-imposed apartheid for yourself and your community. This will make you weak and vulnerable. Try and meet people of all faiths and no faith without the secret agenda of converting them to your point of view.
Open your mind and see all God's creatures as your brothers and sisters as they are. Integrate and contribute to the welfare of your country and fellow citizens. Be one with the people of your adopted countries in Europe and on the American continent. None of this necessitates a loss of your Muslim identity, unless your Muslim identity is one of isolation and elitism in which case, you need to think, question, explore and change your ideas.
The writer is based in London.
©2010 DAWN Media Group
AS someone who has lived in the West mostly Britain since she was seven-year-old, I offer my perspective on the issue of the day. Those of us who are Muslim by birth or by faith (or both) naturally feel a connection to every Muslim person in this world. When fellow Muslims suffer, we also suffer.
During the last few years, Islam has been demonised because of terrorist activity, fanatical regimes and radicalised individuals. The US and Britain have both experienced terrorist tragedies on their soil and responded by war in Iraq and Afghanistan, etc.
Now, I do not know whether a conspiracy is going on in the world, and a game is being played out there. But if there is an international plot then I do believe that the puppeteers are not just Americans and Zionists but also Muslims, Christians and atheists.
What has been going on in Israel for the last 60 years is disgusting. That America and Britain support Israel is also equally disgusting. There are many, many indigenous, white, British people who abhor what the Israelis are doing. Some of these people have carried their protest into Israel and stood in front of the Israeli soldiers with Palestinians behind them, and have received the shots intended to kill Palestinians. When Britain went to war with Iraq, many indigenous, white British people staged anti-war demonstrations, the largest Britain has ever seen.
Now we need to separate the British people from the British government. The Muslims in the East make the mistake of condemning the West wholesale. They should be careful because the ordinary, decent person in the street feels appalled by Israeli atrocities. They can do nothing to stop Israeli repression but they do express their disgust by demonstrating against Israel and giving to charities like Amnesty International, etc.
Muslims make up 2.8 per cent of Britains population and thus have little power to change things, given the fact that even indigenous British voter has been unable to make a dent in the policies of successive British governments. The question cannot be What can we do about the awful things that are happening in the Holy Land? because the answer is: Nothing. The question should be How do we Muslims live and behave and order our lives in countries that are acting against Muslims?
By asking that question, we have already declared that we want the benefits of living in a secular, western country that has a regulated infrastructure, a well-developed and well-enforced legal system, a welfare state that prevents starvation and privation, a free healthcare system (I am talking about Britain here) and tolerates immigration to a point where in some major cities or parts thereof 30 per cent to 70 per cent of the population consists of ethic minorities and cultures. Britain today is unrecognisable as an ethnically white country in London, Birmingham, Manchester, etc. Add to this the visible and radical forms of Islam, and we are putting the indigenous British in the position of natural hostility to Muslims.
My 21-year-old step-son, who is white, English, was ambushed when he was 19 years old in Croydon high street by a well-known gang of 20 or more Muslim teenagers who call themselves South London Muslims. They offered him two choices: either become a Muslim or get beaten up by 20 gangsters calling themselves Muslim. They do this as a mission activity on a daily basis by all accounts. To get himself safely out of their clutches, what do you think he did? How do you think he felt about Islam then? He did not tell his mother or father about it, but he told me, his Muslim soon-to-be step-mother.
I was sickened. I am also sickened by the two radicalised members of my larger family who have said to me that they want to live under a regime which physically punishes men, women and children who do not pray five times a day. Both those family members are born, educated and live in Britain. I do not think they deserve to be in this country. They are hypocrites and traitors to humanity.
Muslims demonise the West as all-evil. Yet, we want to live here because of the stability, opportunities, education and other benefits available to us. I speak for myself when I say that I do not want to live in Pakistan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia or any other Muslim country. I do not want to live under Sharia law. I have been educated well enough to think in an analytical manner and come to my independent decision about what is and is not the truth. I seek liberation, not oppression and therefore prefer the West to the East. I do not want the U.K to become Muslim or Islamic or adopt Sharia. If it did, I would leave and go to France.
And, do we think Muslims do not oppress and are all good? If you do then wait till Taliban take over Afghanistan and possibly Pakistan and go and live under their regime! Or go to Saudi Arabia now. Do not be a hypocrite and enjoy the benefits of the West while deriding it and trying to change it into the East. Also, the attacks by Sunnis on Shias are not something that can be blamed on the West. This has been going on for generations in the East. Let's not pretend that this is black and white with the Muslims being angels and westerners being devils. That is simplistic, childish and downright incorrect.
As for the West declaring it to be secular, there are degrees of secularity. France is strictly secular to the point that if you wear a large Christian cross around your neck, you will be prosecuted. Britain is secular and yet has been extremely tolerant of visible religious symbols and practices. I understand the same is true of America.
If you want to live in the West then embrace the western world as your world and consider yourself a western person, taking the Wests best qualities and leaving the worst as is your right. You must adapt or you will be differentiating and segregating yourself from everyone else and creating a self-imposed apartheid for yourself and your community. This will make you weak and vulnerable. Try and meet people of all faiths and no faith without the secret agenda of converting them to your point of view.
Open your mind and see all God's creatures as your brothers and sisters as they are. Integrate and contribute to the welfare of your country and fellow citizens. Be one with the people of your adopted countries in Europe and on the American continent. None of this necessitates a loss of your Muslim identity, unless your Muslim identity is one of isolation and elitism in which case, you need to think, question, explore and change your ideas.
The writer is based in London.
©2010 DAWN Media Group
