Martin Bright Withdraws From IslamExpo
The political editor of the New Statesman, Martin Bright, was scheduled to speak in a debate at IslamExpo this weekend. He has dropped out.
This is why:
I was very uncomfortable about accepting an invitation to speak at IslamExpo this year. What appears to be a celebration of Islam is, in reality, a rally for a particular brand of Islam based on the thinking of the Muslim Brotherhood and Jamaat-i-Islami.
I am particularly concerned about its connections to Mohammed Sawalha, the President of the British Muslim Initiative and a supporter of Hamas. Sawalha is the holder of the domain name for IslamExpo.
The only argument for speaking at an event run by the Islamic far right is to take the debate to these people. But I accept the counter-argument that none of the government ministers and liberal journalists who have agreed to speak at IslamExpo would address a BNP rally. I was due to speak at a debate hosted by the left-wing think tank Demos, so I thought this protected me, to a degree, from this charge.
Now I learn that Sawalha is suing David T of Harry’s Place blog for allegedly suggesting that he was an anti-Semite. The whole sorry business is explained here. The libel laws of this country are the last resort of the scoundrel. As David says, a member of Hamas has no reputation to defend. It is already strange enough that Hamas-UK is having such a rally in central London, but when it starts suing its critics that’s a step too far.
I won’t now be attending IslamExpo on Saturday.
The debate in question was organised by Demos.
Demos is the fluffy successor organisation to the Marxism Today, Eurocommunist wing of the CPGB. For one short month, its director was Madeleine Bunting: who made it her mission at the Guardian to soft soap and apologise for the worst of Islamists.
I don’t think we ever found out why the button was pressed on Maddie’s ejector seat. Whatever the reason, it evidently wasn’t a principled objection to legitimating clerical fascists.
Not only is Demos sponsoring and organising a debate at IslamExpo: an event founded by Mohammed Sawalha who the BBC identified as a fugitive Hamas commander. It is also “supporting” a British Muslim Initiative organised event:
Understanding Political Islam: Trends and Perspectives’: a two-day specialist seminar organised by British Muslim Initiative and supported by Al Jazeera Centre for Studies, Conflicts Forum, Demos, Forward Thinking and The Cordoba Foundation
The British Muslim Initiative’s president is Mr Sawalha. It also includes Azzam “Kaboom” Tamimi: a man who was identified in the press as “Hamas Special Envoy”, and who has expressed the desire to become a suicide bomber.
Why is one of the centre-left’s most respected and influential think tanks in bed with the British section of Hamas/Muslim Brotherhood?
Comments
| 10 July 2008, 6:52 pm |
Who is collecting the money from ticket sales at this event?
Is it Hamas?
| 10 July 2008, 7:22 pm |
seanb
I rather think the onus is upon you and the 1.2 billion you claim to speak for to demonstrate this don’t you?
In the meantime those who oppose Islamism whether gradualist or Jihadi style are free to explain the links between groups and individuals who claim to speak for Islamic orthodoxy while simultaneously holding totalitarian political beliefs and supporting violence, terror and genocide in pursuit of their religious and political ends.
| 10 July 2008, 7:33 pm |
Sean b – how about the Ismailis? How about the Sufis? You never hear about them praising or taking part in the murder of civilians. Although only a small fraction of the Muslim world is Ismaili, there are three distinct forms of Ismaili Islam, and those who follow the Agha Khan are well know for their philanthropism, multi-cultural activities and generosity of spirit. Sufis, who used to be the majority in Islam from 11th until recent times, are also highly regarded for their religious tolerance and multi-faith approach.
The only section of the Muslim world targeted here and which reasonable people fear and hate are the Islamists – you know, fundies like the Ikhwan / Hamas and Shite arseholes like Hizbollah and the Iranian government and their fellow travellers, including certain Muslim converts, Christians, Jews, or “Marxists”.
| 10 July 2008, 7:36 pm |
Good chap, that Martin Bright. Shows how counter-productive these grubby legal threats will be. First blood to HP.
| 10 July 2008, 8:26 pm |
With Mrs. T’s hormones in flux, if David needs some… erm… release, I’m here. He’s cool!
| 10 July 2008, 8:29 pm |
Why is one of the centre-left’s most respected and influential think tanks in bed with the British section of Hamas/Muslim Brotherhood?
Bring on the revolution!
…Somebody should tell them – This ain’t the Summer of Love
| 10 July 2008, 8:35 pm |
Why is one of the centre-left’s most respected and influential think tanks in bed with the British section of Hamas/Muslim Brotherhood
It would Islamaphobic NOT to want to work with Islamists?
Hear No Evil – See No Evil?
Muslims=victims of right-wing neo-con Zionists so they need to be hugged to show they are really loved and that someone else hates right-wing neo-con Zionists – hence solidarity with faux victims?
| 10 July 2008, 8:42 pm |
Good for Martin Bright!
There really is no need for anyone to treat, voluntarily, with these depraved Islamists. The worst of them crave legitimisation and will never change their views. Working with them is stupid and counterproductive.
I mean, perhaps some people still need to see this “…Israel is a menace, a threat to humanity…” video of Azzam Tamimi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh6q02J6dJk
It is one of the most disgusting racist rants I have ever seen in the UK.
Note that the BMI’s problem is with the very existence of Israel, as its call in May to “End 60 Years of Israeli Occupation” showed. 60, not 41.
Those still dabbling politically with the likes of Tamimi and Sawalha are fools, at best.
| 10 July 2008, 8:55 pm |
“For one short month” – that would be February then.
| 10 July 2008, 9:00 pm |
Well done and thank you Martin Bright.
| 10 July 2008, 9:04 pm |
Oh, and Martin Bright can always join in.
| 10 July 2008, 9:15 pm |
Well done, Martin Bright, and well done for blogging it on the New Statesman web site.
Government ministers and Liberty, please copy.
| 10 July 2008, 9:19 pm |
seanb
“Myself and 1.2 billion Muslims are waiting, with bated breath”
Couldn’t hold that pose for a couple of decades could you….
| 10 July 2008, 9:24 pm |
Journalists have tried to probe Sawalha on his past.
John Ware, BBC:
But, what exactly does Mohammed Sawalha mean by “real Islam”, and how can we explore this without asking him about his background and his real beliefs? Well, we can’t, because he won’t discuss them.
MSNBC:
Mohammed Kassem Sawalha, one of the five trustees appointed to oversee the mosque and a former president of the Muslim Association of Britain, has been named in U.S. court papers as a former commander of Hamas, the militant Palestinian group.Contacted by phone by MSNBC.com, Sawalha refused to comment on reports of his past ties to Hamas.
See http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13501930/
The US Department of Justice does have certain views:
See http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/August/04_crm_571.htm
Well, Mr Sawalha, care to speak up for once?
| 10 July 2008, 9:33 pm |
There has been no “think tank” since the death of Rajani Palme Dutt.
If you don’t know who Rajani Palme Dutt was, you probably don’t want to know.
| 10 July 2008, 9:38 pm |
http://www.islamexpo.com/attractions.php?id=7&art=11
Jenny Tonge, Ilan Pappe, G Galloway, Seamus Milne, Frank Gardner, Maddie Bunting, Ex-Mayor Ken….
What a hoot.
| 10 July 2008, 9:41 pm |
<iThe US Department of Justice does have certain views:
See http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/August/04_crm_571.htm
Yes! About someone called Muhammad Hamid Khalil Salah,
Doh!?
| 10 July 2008, 9:45 pm |
<iJenny Tonge, Ilan Pappe, G Galloway, Seamus Milne, Frank Gardner, Maddie Bunting, Ex-Mayor Ken….
What a hoot.
What an opportunity!!!!
Now, where’s that stuff I used when I wanted to go blonde. Steve, can I borrow your old laptop rucksack? Duracell or Ever Ready? Decisions!
(In jest ONLY!)
| 10 July 2008, 9:45 pm |
If you don’t know who Rajani Palme Dutt was, you probably don’t want to know.
Certainly true in my case.
| 10 July 2008, 9:57 pm |
Beginning on Dec. 29, 1992, and continuing until Jan. 25, 1993, Salah allegedly received into his Chicago-based bank accounts a series of wire transfers, totaling approximately $985,000, from accounts associated with Abu Marzook to be distributed to Hamas members in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. On Jan. 13, 1993, Salah left the United States en route to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip via London, where he met with Sawalha, who directed him to provide money to various Hamas members and provided him with contact information for meetings with Awadallah and others. After arriving in Israel, Salah met and conferred with Awadallah on Hamas personnel issues and specific planned terrorist attacks, with Salah arranging to provide $60,000 to Awadallah for various Hamas needs. Salah was accompanied on his mission by Co-conspirator A, who lived in or around Chicago.
etc.
| 10 July 2008, 10:08 pm |
“Jenny Tonge, Ilan Pappe, G Galloway, Seamus Milne, Frank Gardner, Maddie Bunting, Ex-Mayor Ken….”
Which of these will be the first to write about the deep, cross-cultural understanding that IslamExpo fosters in CIF? My money’s on Bunting.
| 10 July 2008, 10:32 pm |
I love this “debate”:
“Sponsored by The Cordoba Foundation: Iraq 5 Years on: Stability or Chaos?
Lecture Salah El-Sheikhy, George Galloway, Andrew Murray and Jonathan Steele . Chair: Anas Altikriti”
After 2 minutes of agreeing with each other, everyone agrees “chaos”, and adjourns to the bar.
Oops, wait, no bar I guess.
P.
| 10 July 2008, 10:45 pm |
Given Frank Gardners history, I hope he’ll insist that Azzam Tamimi is searched before appearing in the same building.
| 10 July 2008, 10:49 pm |
If not, Tim, I have seriously misjudged him.
| 11 July 2008, 9:10 am |
Albert
on Sufis
http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2373927
and Ishmaelis
Hasan-i Sabbah, from whose name the words “assassin” and “hashish” have been reputed, rightly or wrongly, to have been derived, was born into a Shiite family in concealment in the city of Ray in Persia around 1050. Nothing is really known of his early life, but like many other noted leaders, he is said to have been converted to his life’s work after an illness.
However he became an Ishmaeli, he was apparently quite charismatic from the start. Hasan conquered his first fortress by persuasion alone. He was smuggled into the otherwise impregnable castle and converted all the guards. When the castellan realized he was no longer in charge, Hasan presented himself with the promise of gold and a safe conduct, which he kept.
So Hasan took the rock of Alamut, which became his headquarters and training base. He expelled women, children, the old and infirm, and ultimately even his wife and daughters. He fortified it further, stocked it with supplies to resist seiges, and possibly even built his legendary garden of delights there.
AlamutIn any case, it was there that he began his program of terrorism; to train, equip, and send forth his deadly agents.
from:
http://www.weirdload.com/hasan.html
Mettaculture:
Islamism is Islam. Read the koran and hadith. Mohammed himself condemns non-jihadi muslims as hypocrites… I’ll just go find the quote.
from Bhukari: (the hadith collection Muslims themselves consider most authentic)
“”Jihad is an obligatory duty in Islam on every Muslim. He who tries to escape this duty, or does not fervently fulfill this obligation, dies as a hypocrite.”
http://www.prophetofdoom.net/Terrorists_are_Good_Muslims.Islam
So according to Mohammed any Muslim who does not engage in Jihad is not a true Muslim. Martin Bright evidently does not know this, which was my point.
This idea that there is a difference between islamism and islam is dangerous propaganda designed to confuse credulous infidels in order to facilitate killing them.
| 11 July 2008, 12:11 pm |
Solution then Seanb? Treat all Muslims as potential terrorists?
| 12 July 2008, 6:15 am |
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Just posted this At New Moonbat.
“in reality, a rally for a particular brand of Islam based on the thinking of the Muslim Brotherhood and Jamaat-i-Islamiah”
Please, since you obviously have such extensive knowledge of the true “brands” of Islam, could you inform us ignorants about those “bramds” (reminds me of Starbucks and coca-cola) that are less, um, extreme.
Myself and 1.2 billion Muslims are waiting, with bated breath, for you to enlighten us.