Lady Warsi says Islamophobia is now socially acceptable in Britain - do you agree?

Islamophobia has "passed the dinner-table test" and become widely socially acceptable in Britain, according to Lady Warsi, the co-chairman of the Tory Party.
Warsi, who is the first ever Muslim woman in the Cabinet, will in a speech at Leicester University today raise the alarm over the way in which she believes prejudice against Muslims is now seen by many Britons as normal.
She will also warn against the tendency in the media to divide Muslims between "moderates" and "extremists", which she argues can fuel misunderstanding and intolerance.
Extracts of the speech has been published in the Daily Telegraph. Here are some of the highlights:
"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'," she will say.
"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'."
Baroness Warsi will also say terror offences committed by a small number of Muslims should not be used to condemn all who follow Islam.
But she will also urge Muslim communities to be clearer about their rejection of those who resort to violent acts.
"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."
-
- groups:
- Community, News and Politics, Culture, Humanism, 4 more
-
- tags:
- Racism, Islam, Muslim, Conservative, 4 more
-
-
sjmay1973
-
There is NO place for Islam in this country. Nor Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, etc.
Religion is a manmade tool of control.
The sooner it is abolished, the better.
Free-thinking and love are what should be promoted. - 1 year ago
-
sjmay1973
-
-
lamplight
-
Kidder you just aren't getting me at all. What you are saying is do I condone what you are spouting! No I don not. But allow me to relate, Muslim women are not treated as second class citizens, but respected members of their families. Muslim people are not all tyranical despots who want to bring down civilisation and take it back to the dark ages. It is not my place to decide what religion other people wish to follow. Or too, is it my place to decry those people for following their choice of religion. Look at Chistianity, we aint no saints when it comes to violence! Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, not because they are having zillions of children, but because there are standards and beliefs that folk feel is of importance today . Thats why the Western countries can't understand. We are so down the road when it comes to morals that we are unable to fathom why people would want to restrict themselves, I would like to know where you get your information, because I don't believe that you have read the Qur'an, (if you had you might have been able to spell it correctly!) I lived in a muslim country for 5 years in total, and yes they have standards and yes they are strict with those standards, but during my time there, I never felt like an outcast, nor did I feel pressurised into any religious leanings. If anything I was welcomed into the community and made to feel like I belonged. When I was ill my neighbours looked after me. So I'm sorry if you think that Muslims are some sort of barbaric cult, out to take over the world but in my humble opinion it's a lot of propaganda spread by people who don't know what they are talking about with an axe to grind for people who have a different outlook to theirs. I do not condone, as I have said before fundamentalists of any description. But what I have heard on this particular subject, in this website, has made me sick. I seriously worry about the misbeliefs that are held about our Muslim brothers and sisters. You cry about how bad their beliefs are. Have you had a look in the mirror recently.
- 1 year ago
-
lamplight
-
-
kidder23
-
Lamplight do you agree that all non muslims should be killed?Do you agree all homosexuals should be killed?Do you believe all women should be treated as second class?Do you believe girls who are 9 years old be classed as women and be able to get married?Do you believe non muslims be treated as second class?Do you believe a 1400 year old cult created by a mentally deranged paedophile warlord should have any relevancy in todays world?Do you believe it's ever muslims perogative to outmultiply everyone else on this planet to bring about sharia and make the world islamic?World governments need to tell the truths about this evil cult and people like you wouldn't be brainwashed into thinking it's a religion of peace!islam is a cult,there's 123 verses in the quo'ran condoning violence in the spreading of islam!You need to do some research and it'll open your eyes!
- 1 year ago
-
kidder23
-
-
lamplight
-
Barbaramay, I'm glad your not my neigbour. Its no matter how much you complain about the Muslims, it's never going to change. You are racist, it oozes out your every sentence. And you cannot blame the Muslims for that! We live in a multi-cultural society and the sooner people like you realise this and accept it, the better this country will be. We are no better than anyone else. The days of the Empire are gone. We no longer own slaves and steal land from the natives. If it wasn't for immigrants this country would be on its knees, make no mistake. This, I'm British so I'm better attitude turns my stomach.
- 1 year ago
-
lamplight
-
-
barbaramay
-
WE can debate until we are blue in the face, but the fact remains that no matter how much we complain about the muslims, their religious beliefs, NOTHING will change and bar from being called racist because of them, they get away with it. We should have listened to Enoch Powell in the first place.
- 1 year ago
-
barbaramay
-
-
rubycon40
-
she was put into her position as a token tory gesture ,,, and we all know it ,,,so what now ,,, shall we all take to the streets while burning an effigy of this woman while calling for her death ,,,no ,,, because we are more civilised than the religious animals that do these things
- 1 year ago
-
rubycon40
-
-
corndog67
-
Until the Muslims start policing their own people (and I have no doubt that families, clergy, and others close to the extremists, know who they are), the non-Muslim world is going to look at them with suspicion, contempt and even downright hatred. When that Muslim mantra of, if you aren't one of us, you're against us and should either convert, or die, continues to be used by them, things aren't going to change. People talk about mistrust, intolerance, and bias against their religion, but Islam does the same thing.
- 1 year ago
-
corndog67
-
-
barbaramay
-
Religion is the cause of all evil and the muslims are no different.
- 1 year ago
-
barbaramay
-
-
congoboy
-
barbaramay:
religion in itself isnt the cause of all evil. mankinds unintentional misinterpretation or intentional hijacking or raping of it for his own selfish, evil or political purpose is.
- 1 year ago
-
congoboy
-
-
sjmay1973
-
congoboy:
Religion is a manmade control mechanism.
- 1 year ago
-
sjmay1973
-
-
sjmay1973
-
barbaramay:
Not quite. As I've replied to congoboy, religion is a manmade control mechanism. It is those who wish to control mankind are evil. Religion, like government, is a tool.
- 1 year ago
-
sjmay1973
-
-
barbaramay
-
All muslims should be put on another planet, and any other religious nut cases can go with them. Then, and only then we can all live happy thereafter.
- 1 year ago
-
barbaramay
-
-
Dwayne_Dibbley
-
barbaramay:
I won't argue that extremists of any religion tar the whole community but not all Muslims are extremists. Pushing your views on anybody is wrong but it doesn't make you a bad person for trying if the intentions are meant well. We certainly should not have the country steered in a direction where we would be instituting Islamic law but that thinking should never exclude anybody of race from public office in a multicultural society. I have no faith but would never cite faith as a reason to dislike anybody.
- 1 year ago
-
Dwayne_Dibbley
-
-
congoboy
-
barbaramay:
too bad it isnt that easy. plenty of kooks pillaging, killing, raping, murdering both the born and unborn for reasons other than religion.
- 1 year ago
-
congoboy
-
-
Dwayne_Dibbley
-
Muslims are no better and no worse than us. The British have a long history of repression and savagery make no mistake, we are no angels. Tolerance is the key to happier healthier society and terrorism has been a tactic used throughout history by all races and religions and has always been the weapon of choice for only a very small minority of whatever sect has used it. Just because the media tells us the current threat is predominantly Muslim does not mean they are all out to get us, in fact the vast majority of Muslims in this country are English Muslims who were born here after their parents or grandparents came here for a better life. Most just want to get on with their lives exactly the same as we do and have a right to earn a living without harassment.
- 1 year ago
-
Dwayne_Dibbley
-
-
Cubejam
-
Dwayne_Dibbley:
Who gives a damn about where they come from? I just hate religion, therefore hate Muslims. Not because of where they are from, but for what they believe. Just like every Christian, Jew, Jehovas witness, etc etc. hate them all.
And the usual.. "they are entitled to believe what they want" and all that crap, yes, and I am entitled to hate them if I so wish.
- 1 year ago
-
Cubejam
-
-
Dwayne_Dibbley
-
Cubejam:
It's true everybody is entitled to their own personal set of beliefs, personally I take a live and let live philosophy with me in life, but if hatred is path you take that's up to you, just remember hate begets hate and will never do anything to help make the world a better place.
- 1 year ago
-
Dwayne_Dibbley
-
-
congoboy
-
Cubejam:
wow i thought leftylibs were all about tolerance, love and understanding. didnt realize there was so much hatred on the left. ive learned something today, thanks!
- 1 year ago
-
congoboy
-
-
Cubejam
-
congoboy:
Lefty? Righty? I don't give a damn about politics.
- 1 year ago
-
Cubejam
-
-
congoboy
-
Cubejam:
smart man
- 1 year ago
-
congoboy
-
-
barbaramay
-
Cubejam : Nice one.
- 1 year ago
-
barbaramay
-
-
barbaramay
-
Oh for goodness sake, lamplight, I could really, really get carried away here, but I won't. My views obviously differ very much to your own. And I still don't like muslims!!!!!!
- 1 year ago
-
barbaramay
-
-
lamplight
-
Barbaramay, I did not say you went around gassing Jews! Do you have any personal basis for your comments? Do you know any Muslims? Or are your comments based on what you have heard others saying. Your ideas are extreme, just like the fundamentalists and just like the nazis. May I ask how you would get rid of the abhorant "so and so's" Remembering that many were born in this country. Would you perhaps gas them?!
- 1 year ago
-
lamplight
-
-
barbaramay
-
Hey, Lamplight, who the hell do you think you are, saying I am no better than nazi's or muslims, it is MY opinion on what I said, and your opinion on what you wrote, but, please, you are worse than me comparing me to that lot!!! I do not like muslims and that is that, I don't go around gassing jews, you are really something man.
- 1 year ago
-
barbaramay
-
-
lamplight
-
Oh My God! Barbaramay! Please tell me you don't travel abroad on holidays. It's people like you who put this country to shame. I agree with Tyr that if people come to our country, they should live by and accept our laws. But for goodness sake Muslims are human beings just like the rest of us. Islam was not pushed onto me while I lived in their community so why should we be pushing them. I do not agree with the fundamentalists mentality, but I would say that about any extremist points of view including the Nazis. Barbaramay you are no better than the Muslim fundamentalists or the Nazi regim. It is mentalities like yours that make living in this society a poorer place to be.
- 1 year ago
-
lamplight
-
-
barbaramay
-
NO I DO NOT AGREE THAT MUSLIMS ARE ACCEPTABLE IN BRITAIN. I abhor the so and so's, and if I had the power I would get rid of the whole damn lot.
- 1 year ago
-
barbaramay
-
-
Cubejam
-
barbaramay:
Good man.
- 1 year ago
-
Cubejam
-
-
2helenahandbasket
-
Muslims are demanding that Britian change the laws so they can live under their own laws instead of British laws. Islam has no place in a free society because they are not free people. They should not have the right to move to free societies and then expect those societies to change for them. It's not Islamophobia, it's resistance to them demanding to completely change a government that has been in place for centuries. If they don't like the way the government in a particular country is run, they should go somewhere that's more suitable for them.
- 1 year ago
-
2helenahandbasket
-
-
Cubejam
-
2helenahandbasket:
Kill them all. That's what I'd do.
- 1 year ago
-
Cubejam
-
-
congoboy
-
2helenahandbasket:
well said. we can not acquiesce to immigrants from anywhere telling us to change our laws to please them. what they do in the privacy own houses is fine by me but keep the rest of us out of it
- 1 year ago
-
congoboy
-
-
Tyr
-
I don't know if I'm an islamophobe or not but I can say this with complete certainty, I much prefer the societal arrangement in either the U.K. or the U.S. to the Islamic forms such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, or Afghanistan when the Taliban wrote the laws ...and I am equally clear about the difference between English common law and sharia...I'll take the British version any day of the week.
So no, actually I do not want them, the muslims, to have a hand in creating legislation or any restructuring of society along the lines of their religion. If one moves to another country I do believe we can assume from the fact they leave their country of origin that they consider the place they are going to be a better place, if so, leave what you came from behind or stay there...but don't try to recreate what you left behind in the place you're going to..it's really no more complicated or less simple than that. - 1 year ago
-
Tyr
-
-
remanns
-
Bring back dueling . Society will eventually sort itself out.
- 1 year ago
-
remanns
-
-
congoboy
-
remanns:
i agree as long as the other side plays fair
- 1 year ago
-
congoboy
-
-
kidder23
-
cruzin, mohammed had sexual dreams about ayssha when she was 6 years old and went onto consumate their marriage when she was 9 and he was 53!So yes mohammed was a paedophile!islam isn't a religion but an ideology,it condones acts of paedophilia in mufa'khathat and bacha bereesh!When you goto heaven you not only get 72 virgin brides but you also get 28 virgin boys!The main ethos of islam is to dominate by outmultiplying to bring about sharia,so the western world will eventually become islamic republics if nothing is done!The baroness here has always claimed islam is the religion of peace!Yet in the quo'ran 123 verses condone the use of violence in the spreading of islam,even calls upon the killing of non believers and homosexuals and people who have left islam!Time the truths were exposed about this cult of mohammeds!Mohammed was a killer,torturer,misogynist,rapist and a paedophile,hardly a man of god!The bible states there'll be one mediator between god and mankind and his name will be christ jesus,not mohammed!Mohammed never made one prophecy,his last attempt was you could eat the berries of a tree in the desert!He ate one and died from it!
- 1 year ago
-
kidder23
-
-
Cubejam
-
Yeah, I agree. And I often talk about it too. I don't like them, I don't really want them here & I have the right to say what I like about any religion. I'd ban all religion if I could, but I can't.
I have the right to be anti religion as much as they have the right to be pro religion.
I don't give a flying fudge if some tory MP wants to change that, because I won't change for her.
- 1 year ago
-
Cubejam
-
-
lamplight
-
Personally I think, any form of racism is just rubbish, be it for colour or religion. WHY THE HELL CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?! So what if people are Muslim, thats their choice. Almost all the Muslims I've met, and there have been many, as I lived in a Muslim country for a couple of years, are very fine people. I wish politicians and the media would stop making such a big issue of the Islamic culture. Live and let live, however that may be and following whatever religion they care too. Lets get off our high horses and give folks a break. Phew thats my spout for the day!
- 1 year ago
-
lamplight
-
-
congoboy
-
lamplight:
most of us want to get along, and its not so much racism as it is kickin out a few people who either dont know how to get along with their neighbors or their host countries. but in islamo-facist culture many times its die and let die. peace out
- 1 year ago
-
congoboy
-
-
Cruzin
-
Are you two guys for real?!
Calling Mohammed a paedophile is so educated and liberal of you, exactly the kind of viewers I'm sure Current is aiming to get!! Do you even watch the shows?
- 1 year ago
-
Cruzin
-
-
kidder23
-
When will the British government start telling us the truths aboust islam,muslims and the mentally deranged paedophile warlord mohammed?This is a different world now thanks to great news chanels like current,the truths are out there,they need to be told before the islamification of this country is complete.
- 1 year ago
-
kidder23
