Rise of European extremism

In Fitna, Wilders is only the messenger. Wilders was simply stating what is in sacred Islamic texts and how modern-day jihadis justify their terrorist attacks with these texts.

It is untrue to say that only extremist jihadis interpret these texts in such a way. Look at videos at www.memri.org and note how many television stations from "moderate" Muslim nations e.g. Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, feature these "extremist" views. Topics typically discussed are: why wives can be beaten; how Allah hates Jews; why apostates should be killed; how Islam will overthrow the West by armed struggle; how Mohammed cannot be insulted.

There is a militant side to Islam that must be called for what it is. It is a side that is not compatible with traditional Western liberal values. In the West, Van Gough and Rushdie found that out for themselves. Would Kirkwood want such men to be silenced, as they would in an Islamic country?

Peter Kirkwood is right to draw our attention to the racist ‘objections’ against the Muslim school in Camden. It is particularly shameful, as he says, that many of these claims were made by members of Christian churches.

They say racism is a light sleeper. Lately, we might say that in Australia it is wide awake and a little hyperactive. CathNews links to an article (http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2600891.htm) on the ABC’s website by Irfan Yusuf, who makes a case that Muslim schools are far from being breeding grounds of terrorism and separatism; he light-heartedly claims that his one experience of being radicalised happened at an Anglican school.

But many of the responses to his article are chilling – they want either to recycle straw-man arguments against Muslims or to derail the discussion by claiming, with a sort of equal-opportunity sectarianism, that all religious schools are bad.

Clearly the Land and Environment Court made its decision against the school in Camden on planning grounds alone. It’s a tragedy, however, that some inside and outside Australia will be able to misrepresent the decision either as a victory in the war against Islam or as further evidence of institutionalised racism in Australian society.

Patrick, Van Gogh was a foul-mouthed racist not a brave warrior of liberalism and morality. I would suggest that his values were as incompatible with 'traditional Western liberal values' as are those of militant Islam.

Wilders is similarly a man whose has modeled himself as a champion of the values that are cherished in the West, while he really undermines them.

Ashlea, whatever you may allege about Van Gough or Wilders, I have never read or heard that they wanted to inflict on anyone the sort of restrictions, punishments or retributions which are typical in Islamic countries. This includes freedom of speech. Look at Rushdie and the Danish cartoons. Why should Islam's sensibilites be met when no other religions' are? The equality of all before the law. No one group should be given privileges over another. In Muslim countries Islam dominates over other religions and will not suffer another to be its equal. The right to change your religion or to practice none at all. The internet has many stories from ex-Muslims who have literally risked their lives when they have given up their Islamic faith. The rights of homosexuals. Men have been hanged in Iran for being homosexual. Young men even suspected of being homosexual were brutrally murdered in Baghdad. I could go on about amputation, stoning or compulsory wearing of the hijab or burka.

Wilders said in the posted interview that he welcomes Muslims who want to live within the bounds of our laws. If they don't, he reasonably wants to exclude them lest they destroy those laws.

Okay Patrick. You seem to have decided that the negative aspects of the Muslim community are all that exist and so you will look for only examples of that negative side. That's a shame because you, like Wilders, blanket the entire Muslim community under that same image.

Ashlea, I don't know how you could conclude that I, like Wilders, blanket the entire Muslim community. If you cared to watch the interview posted by Kirkwood, you would see that Wilders says that the radical fanatics make up between 5-15% based on various studies.

You do not dispute any of the "negative aspects" of Islam that I raise. At the risk of stating the obvious, these negative aspects are hardly trivial issues. We are talking about the equality of all before the law, and the outlawing of barbaric practices.

I have exchanged posts and emails with Muslims online who want no part of Islamic supremacism, stonings, amputation or suppression of free speech. I would welcome them as a citizen of this country at any time. If they can live within the laws and values of our country, I have no issue whatsoever. Unfortunately, this is not the case for some (no blanket here) Muslims in Western countries.

If you would care to do a few simple searches on google, you would find many examples of what I am talking about.