Sensationalism is a gift to extremists
Brawls at recent protests highlight how all of us, and especially the media, have a responsibility to fight extremism
On Saturday 8 August a much-touted demonstration in Birmingham turned into a big brawl involving more than 100 people and pitched battles in the high street. In one corner a loose alliance of two groups – Casuals United and English Defence League – in the other, a counter-demonstration called by Unite Against Fascism.
The immediate background to this mass brawl was the protest against British soldiers by some Muslim extremists on 10 March. That was the spark that various far-right groups were looking for to pump up their rhetoric against Muslims. The National Front turned out a big demonstration in Luton on 13 April, which needed police reinforcements from London to control. Not long afterwards, the Luton mosque was fire-bombed.
On 24 May an even bigger demonstration was organised by the English and Welsh Defence League, which turned violent as some demonstrators went to destroy property in Muslim-heavy areas of Luton. There was a smaller protest against extremist Anjem Choudhary on 4 July, and then a big demonstration was organised for 8 August. There's more background here.
There is evidence that the English Defence League in particular was infiltrated by neo-Nazis and BNP supporters. On Stormfront, a popular website for fascists, scores of members urged to join the demonstrations on Saturday. Here is one participant's account.
One of its early organisers Chris Renton is a BNP supporter. Another, Paul Ray, who now says he has washed his hands of the EDL because of differences with Renton, admitted he was opposed to all Muslims practising their faith in Britain.
There are good reasons for minorities to worry, even though some from the EDL carried banners saying they were not racist. During the 4 July protest many participants chanted "Muslims out". As the UAF rightly says, the National Front organised demonstrations against black people in the 70s under the guise of "anti-mugging", and now it seems to be jumping on the "Islamic extremism" bandwagon for the same reason.
More protests are planned over the August bank holiday weekend and in Manchester city centre in early October. There are so many small but hardcore groups involved that I'd advise following Richard's blog for all that.
But there are a few broader points to make, too. I'm not going to condemn the need for minorities to defend themselves in the streets or fight against fascists if necessary. Our forebears fought them off in Southall and it remains as important as ever to keep our streets free from constant far-right intimidation. If the police don't do their job then people will step in to protect themselves.
But that doesn't mean extremist Muslims should be let off the hook. In 2004 the extremist group al-Muhajiroun, in all likelihood also behind the Luton anti-soldiers demonstration, had planned a rally in London where Hindus and Sikhs would be openly converted to Islam. They nearly caused a mini-riot then because Sikh gangs and BNP members had also planned to show up.
Anjem Choudhary carried out a similar stunt recently by apparently converting an 11-year-old boy to Islam. Al-Muhajiroun has always been a small but highly vocal group, which seeks publicity for its stunts to polarise people. It is shunned by mosques across the country, but its stunts nevertheless inflame Hindu, Sikh and white groups thanks to incessant media coverage. Remember, only eight people were involved in the anti-soldiers march in a town with more than 25,000 Muslims, and yet they got front-page coverage.
So here are the choices: the group could be banned for activities on a par with the National Front (it keeps changing its name, the latest being Islam4UK). The police could also become more proactive against extremist groups, and stop local councils giving them any space.
And lastly, Muslim groups themselves need to step up campaigning against these extremists or they will continue making life more difficult for them. More like this, basically.
Britons also need to get re-acquainted with our tradition of free speech and expression, even if it involves people of different skin colour and religion saying outrageous things.
The police and intelligence services also need to start taking far-right extremism in the UK more seriously. To that extent the recent announcements by minister John Denham are most welcome.
But the real people to blame for these riots are the journalists willing to run inflammatory headlines – playing straight into the hands of extremists on both sides. Anjem Choudhary remains a constantly invited figure, even on the BBC, because he offers them entertainment. People are being sucked into a game of sensationalism, which contributed to the mass-brawl on Saturday. It's time for people to stop being taken for mugs.
Link :http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/aug/12/birmingham-riots-extremism-media
Muslim reaction to Nick Griffin's appearance on Question Time
The mood among worshippers gathering outside at the East London mosque today was one of indifference and irritation rather than fear and loathing.
"They can have their voice heard and that's fine," said Jalal Ahmed, a local maths teacher. "We're here to contribute, we are British and we love this country. They have their say and I have my say. As long as we don't have a big fight over it that's fine."
Rhuksana Begum, a 22-year-old politics graduate, agreed. "I don't particularly like Nick Griffin," she said. "[But] he's highlighted the misconceptions about Islam. In a democracy you have to allow it and it gave him a good chance to show how wrong he is."
A man from East Ham, who did not wish to be named, was angrier with the justice secretary than the BNP leader. "Nick Griffin's just like that, that's his party and I'd heard all his views before. But Jack Straw was trying to promote cohesion when he created all the chaos over the veil," he said.
Salim, 39, a car dealer from Newham, said that while he had agreed with Griffin "about the war in Iraq and about the gays", the BNP leader had embarrassed himself. "People know he's a hypocrite. He can't run away any more."
That cautious optimism was echoed by Aminul Haq, 33, a carer from Bethnal Green. "Compared with other Europeans and westerners, Britons have a very good idea of the rest of the world and so they aren't bothered by Griffin and they're not racist. Some disgruntled people might follow him, but the majority of British people won't."
Link :http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/oct/23/muslim-reaction-nick-griffin
Cut the cosy stuff. I want rage
Only Jeremy Hardy saves R4's News Quiz from silly simpering. Bring on New Order
The News Quiz R4
Is al-Qaeda Winning? R4, World Service
Radcliffe and Maconie R2
Though The News Quiz is one of Radio 4's most loved programmes, it's hard for me to write about. It goes out on a Friday night, after my column deadline, and - obviously - it's topical. I can only review the previous show, in this case the first in the new series, which discussed the Labour party conference, the EDF energy company and Sarah Palin. See: they're so last week! (Apart from Sarah Palin.)
The other block to me reviewing The News Quiz is, well, me. Though I am a Radio 4 devotee, its panel shows drive me mad. They're so cosy! The combination of laugh-at-anything audience and aren't-I-clever contestants creates a tittering dinner party atmosphere that makes me yearn for Jerry Sadowitz or Keith Allen or Joan Rivers. In short, I want anger.
Still, there's enough of that in today's Britain, eh? And anyway, The News Quiz has Jeremy Hardy, whose anger is there, just clothed in exquisite one-liners, and he usually keeps me listening. Hardy has a gentle bedside manner which hides his vicious shanking of the pompous establishment. Last Friday he managed to stick it to middle-class parents, banks, the government and Barack Obama within the first 10 minutes. 'Obama said that the collapse of the banks is no time for politics. No, Christmas dinner is no time for politics.' But the bit I really liked was when he had a pop at Sue Perkins over her appearance on Maestro. What that says about me, I hate to think.
With my rage problem, I avoided Am I Normal? which this week discussed anger and instead went for Is al-Qaeda Winning? The first in a series of five, the programme had Owen Bennett-Jones popping up around the world - Pakistan, Iraq, the US - trying to ascertain which side was winning the so-called battle for hearts and minds. Broadcast on both Radio 4 and the World Service, the World Service version lost 14 minutes in the middle, which meant WS listeners missed out on Bennett-Jones delivering a link while gamely playing ping-pong with a jihadist.
Still, both versions were fantastic. The WS one was like a punch to the gut, ideal for schools; Radio 4 had more character, featuring a visit to a Saudi institution that uses modern art therapy and old-fashioned bribery to change fundamentalists' minds. It was a proper BBC programme, the kind few broadcasters can make in these cash-strapped days: a top-of-his-game correspondent travelling to faraway places and asking difficult-to-access people extremely straight questions. Such as: 'What does al- Qaeda want?' And, when the reply is 'an Islamic state in the whole world', plus a justification of 9/11 ('hundreds of thousands of Americans converted to Islam'), following that up with: 'When you see the bombing in Iraq, do you want to become Christian?' Excellent.
However. There are times when you want to escape from news and relax. When I'm not reviewing, there are certain programmes I naturally listen to, and Radcliffe and Maconie on Radio 2 is one. (Though the two presenters are rarely together these days: Radio 2 keeps finding them other stuff to do.) This week Stuart was joined by New Order to discuss their work: Bernard on Monday, Steve and Gillian on Tuesday, Hooky on Wednesday. Possibly my three most perfect radio shows ever, then.
Listeners sent in their questions. 'I've got a box of Swan Vestas that you left in Trinity Hall in Dublin,' said one. 'I've been looking for those!' said Steve.
Link :http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2008/oct/05/radio.bbc
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