12/03/2009 / UK
This protest
shows anger and frustration from the Muslim community in failing to bring about
drastic change in British foreign policy in Iraq
and Afghanistan.
They're sick of seeing the day-to-day of humiliation of Iraqi and
Afghani people by soldiers. They view the army as a symbol of modern British/Western imperialism.
Is it extremist to call British soldiers 'butchers of Basra'?
Image © John Dodd
Anti-war protestors dressed in Islamic clothing caused outrage on Tuesday when they marred an army homecoming ceremony by calling British troops "cowards, murderers, terrorists, butchers of Basra" and held up photos of Iraq war victims. The event provoked angry attacks from both bystanders and the tabloid press, raising concerns over the safety of the country's two million strong Muslim community.
Around 12 protestors turned up to object to 200 soldiers of The Royal Anglian Regiment marching through Luton (50 km north of London). While at first they were held back by police forces, the tide soon turned when angry union flag-waving bystanders turned upon the group shouting "scum" and "no surrender to the Taliban". Two people were arrested. The response to the protest was largely outrage with tabloid newspapers labelling the group "sick", "extremist" and a "mob". The Muslim Council of Britain said it was "appalled" by the media reaction and that the group was simply providing "fodder for Islamophobes keen to drive a wedge between Britons".
Contributors
Protestors shout "come on England" and "get out of our country, fuck off". Video posted on YouTube by "lutonloyal".
"These people are certainly not extremists. They’re just impassioned"
Rizwaan Sabir is currently studying for a master's degree in Islamic extremism at Nottingham University.
This protest
shows anger and frustration from the Muslim community in failing to bring about
drastic change in British foreign policy in Iraq
and Afghanistan.
They're sick of seeing the day-to-day of humiliation of Iraqi and
Afghani people by soldiers. They view the army as a symbol of modern British/Western imperialism.
These people are certainly not extremists. They're just impassioned. Unless they're part of a group which is engaged in a violent organisation like Al-Qaeda, then just standing on the street with placards does not make them extremists. Rather, this is an example of politicisation. Second and third generation Muslims especially have become very politicised in Britain. One reason for this is the foreign policy of the UK and US etc, but another is the demonization of the Muslim community. They've been pushed into politicisation rather than stepped into it willingly.
[For this] the media is largely to blame. Like all stories concerning what they refer to as Islamic extremism, this one has been exaggerated and sexed-up, with talk of ‘this radical fringe back from hell'. The media only causes problems for social cohesion. Headlines like that of The Sun [who described the protestors as ‘sick Muslim extremists'] can easily influence those who are largely ignorant. It's a great shame that a whole two million people will have to face the possibility of some fascist beating them up because some 20 people held up anti-war placards at the army. If this is such a big issue, then why not sit down and debate with the protestors instead of exciting the population?"
Images from the parade
These photos were posted by Flickr user John Dodd.
Angry bystanders face the police, who are protecting the protestors.
Luton Mayor Lakhbir Singh (centre) attended the ceremony.
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Comments
"If this is such a big
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Tue, 31/03/2009 - 14:39."If this is such a big issue, then why not sit down and debate with the protestors instead of exciting the population?"
Rizwaan,
The protestors were given the chance to air their views. I found out about this event by turning on to GMTV in the morning to see one of these protestors telling his side of the story. In fact, the guest was even invited back the subsequent day! His views were NOT ignored by the media!
Yet the 'exciting the population' part of your comment still stands. However the state cannot be held accountable for what these private media conglomerates have as their headlines - as distasteful / inflamatory as they are.
Whilst we are skirting around 'freedom of expression' issues, do you have any views on http://newsblaze.com/story/20090327170413zzzz.nb/topstory.html ?
Unregistered user
Please Be Honest
Submitted by M D Luca (not verified) on Fri, 20/03/2009 - 12:10.The first line reads (in part)...
"Anti-war protestors dressed in Islamic clothing..."
The author is insulting our intelligence. These were Muslims. They weren't protesting the war. They were protesting the British Government's involvement against the Taliban, a known terrorist organization. Any opposition to Arab Muslim political, religious or social ideology is considered an insult. They are not anti-war, they are anti-British, anti-democracy, and anti-semitic. Debating with the protesters would be pointless. Rest assured that all you'd hear is how evil Britain is for being an ally of the United States, for having the audacity to engage terrorists (freedom fighters in their eyes) abroad, etc. If these Muslim protesters despise Britain so much, if they loathe Western ideals of free speech and coexistence with different cultures, then why on earth did they choose to live in Britain? Why live in such an _oppressive_ society?
Unregistered user
RE - "Insulting intelligence"
Submitted by Sophie Team ... on Fri, 20/03/2009 - 12:24.You cannot presume that these protesters are of Muslim religion purely because of the clothes they wear. As journalists we have to verify all facts before stating them - and that was not verified.
Sophie Team ...
yet more dishonest trash on France 24
Submitted by matthew (not verified) on Tue, 17/03/2009 - 21:08.30 members of Al Majouroun or whatever they pass themselves off these days
If I go over to France and call French Army soldiers baby murderers will I be beatern up, arrested or both
Moth British People including most British Muslims are tolerant people so please do not go around inciting racial hatred
Unregistered user
RE: dishonest trash
Submitted by Sophie Team ... on Wed, 18/03/2009 - 10:43.Dear matthew,
Please specify what you find dishonest and what you feel is inciting racial hatred and we'll try to respond to your criticism. Remember that our Observers do not reflect the position of FRANCE 24 in any way - each has their own opinion and that is what we aim to show you.
Sophie, Team Observers
Sophie Team ...
racism in Britain
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Wed, 18/03/2009 - 07:50.If it is so racist in the UK why oh why do so many people want to be here. The UK is a soft touch for any extremist
to stand up and insult it , the only people in the UK with no HUMAN RIGHTS are the English.
Extremism breeds hatred . I personally do not agree with war or terrorism but have to hold my views to myself so as not to be called racist, If these people do not like the UK why don't they go back to where they can say what they want and see how much freedom of speech they have there
Unregistered user
Islamic protestors
Submitted by Jay (not verified) on Tue, 17/03/2009 - 19:37.In view of the actions of the Taleban in Afghanistan before the invasion, and the way they systematically destroyed any religious objects belonging to other religious organisations, and the way they treated persons of other religious affiliations, perhaps the Islamic 'protestors' should learn the Biblical quotation "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone".
The British (mainly but not entirely Christian) armed forces are, amongst other things, trying to stop one group of people of one Islamic sect slaughtering people of a different sect, and are getting vilified and murdered by both.
Why don't the British pull out and let them get on with it?
Because we have more respect for human life, even if those lives belong to a different religion to our own.
And then they come home to be welcomed by this sort of bigotry from the very people whose relatives in Iraq and Afghanistan they've been trying to help!
Perhaps Christianity is more tolerant than Mohamedanism?
Anyone any idea how many mosques there are in the UK?
How about in other 'Christian' countries?
How many Christian churches are there in Saudi Arabia? In Iran? In Iraq? In Afghanistan? In Pakistan?
Tolerance? Obviously not a word that exists in the languages used by Islamic protestors, let alone religious tolerance!
Unregistered user
This Is A Test Comment
Submitted by salman22 on Sun, 15/03/2009 - 19:24.This is a TEST Comment
Salman Khan
Salman Khan
http://www.google.com/
Unregistered user
salman22
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Tue, 17/03/2009 - 22:53.the world is being terrorised by so called fundamentalist,s cant see any fun but do think they are MENTAL good thing is we can express our thought,s and most of us are not ignorant of what they are about think we should radicalise Christianity more and less pussyfooting about islam
Unregistered user
Rizwaan Sabir writes "It's a
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Sat, 14/03/2009 - 16:24.Rizwaan Sabir writes
"It's a great shame that a whole two million people will have to face the possibility of some fascist beating them up because some 20 people held up anti-war placards at the army. If this is such a big issue, then why not sit down and debate with the protestors instead of exciting the population?"
Yet no one beat up any protestors. They merely shouted abuse at them. Just indeed as the protestors shouted abuse at the soldiers. However, inciting racial hatred is a crime in the UK (yes, we recognise and protect our racial minorities, go figure that French people!) so those that verbally assaulted the anti war protestors were arrested. The protestors who verbally assaulted the soldiers were not breaking any UK law so they were protected.
Why does this mean that 2 million UK Muslims face the possibility of a facist (who was a facist? a facist holds extreme right wing views, these people were merely incences at the protestors insults to the soldiers) beating them up then?
It doesnt
Yes, we should debate the issues. Rizwaan Sabir clearly does not.
The issue is that 27 million Iraqis are politically free and not a single barrel of oil has been stolen/controlled/winked at by the coalition.
It has been done despite Rizwaan Sabir and France and many others, and in spite of you all.
We shall all be judged by Iraqis. Iraqis elected prime minister could barely be bothered to disguise his contempt for Sarko anf the Germans the other week as they came sniffing for oil again (now it is "safe" of course)
Lets debate the issues. The anti war movement has spent 6 years inciting victimhood, insurgency and death with shallow infantile lies. What a disgusting display
The US has spent 6 years spending its blood and treasure to emancipate Iraqis, but perhaps made some mistakes while doing so.
I know who I think is the vermin.
Unregistered user
Well said and thank you. The
Submitted by [deleted] (not verified) on Sun, 15/03/2009 - 09:22.Well said and thank you.
The anti-war leftists have made alliance with rightwing Islam to create Islamic-socialism, the step brother of national-socialism.
Unregistered user