Cameron's view on Sharia........ (tradition, translation, doctrine, church, marriage)

[michel]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...573630,00.html

The Times
January 30, 2007
Muslims who seek Sharia as bad as BNP, says Cameron

Anthony Browne, Chief Political Correspondent
First speech to tackle sensitive issue
All immigrants ‘must speak English’

Muslims seeking to live under Islamic law are as extreme as supporters of the British National Party, according to David Cameron.
Making his first foray into the highly sensitive issue of Islam and multiculturalism, the Conservative leader said that Muslims who want Sharia, or Islamic religious law, are the “mirror image” of the neo-Nazi BNP, wanting to divide the country into “us” and “them”. He made the claim as an opinion poll from Policy Exchange, Mr Cameron’s favourite think-tank, suggested that 40 per cent of young Muslims want Sharia in Britain.
NI_MPU('middle');In a hard-hitting speech, Mr Cameron said that uncontrolled immigration and the failed “doctrine of multiculturalism” was threatening national unity.
He claimed that the terrorist ideology of radical Islam was “one of the great threats of our age”, and said that public money spent translating documents should be spent instead on teaching people English.
The speech on Britishness, made from a church in Birming-ham near the scene of recent race riots between blacks and Asians, was welcomed by Tory rightwingers who had complained that he had been too soft on the issue.
However, Mr Cameron balanced his robust defence of British values by calling for greater support for Muslims — in particular women — to improve their opportunities in education and work.
Today he will publish the party’s interim report on national security, which will propose measures to tackle Muslim alienation and underachievement.
Most controversially it suggests that the Government should require immigrants to learn English before they are allowed to move to Britain.
In an uncompromising attack on Islamic radicals, Mr Cameron said: “Those who seek a Sharia state, or special treatment and a separate law for British Muslims are, in many ways, the mirror image of the BNP. They also want to divide people into ‘us’ and ‘them.’ And they seek out grievances to exploit.”
Sharia covers topics including marriage (allowing a man to have four wives, and stoning to death for adultery), criminal justice (hand amputation for theft) and religious affairs (death penalty for leaving Islam).
Inayat Banglawala, the spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain, said that Muslims had an emotional attachment to Sharia, just as Christians did to the Ten Commandments, but said it was scaremongering to suggest that they wanted to introduce it.
“The idea of 3 per cent of the population imposing Sharia on the rest is nonsense. It is unfair to compare a real threat [the BNP] with fringe [Islamic] groups that no one takes seriously,” he said.
Mr Cameron promised to tackle what he said were the five barriers to social cohesion in the UK: extremist ideology, multiculturalism, excessive immigration, poverty and poor education.
He attacked multiculturalism, saying that although it sounded good, it “has come to mean an approach that focuses on what divides us rather than what brings us together”. He blamed multiculturalism for public housing being allocated along ethnic lines, for police allowing Muslim protesters publicly to incite violence, and for the growth in translation in public documents, which he said reduced the incentive to learn English.
He said that uncontrolled immigration was also threatening national unity, declaring that “it puts pressure on housing, on public services, and helps to create division, fear and resentment — among British people from all ethnic backgrounds”.
The report published today, from the Conservative’s national security policy review group, says that Muslims in Britain are held back by their traditional views on marriage and women’s education.
‘It’s geography, not religion’


Sarwat Islam, 16, who wears a full veil with her uniform, said: “Getting an education doesn’t contradict our religion. I don’t think it’s about Islam; it’s a cultural problem.”
Asma Ali, 16, her friend, said that Muslim girls struggled just as much as nonMuslims: “Women always have to work a triple shift. It is the same problem everywhere — they have to juggle everything, family, study, career.”
Najia Khatum, 21, a trainee teacher, was optimistic. “Now, people are more open-minded and parents are valuing education more. Mothers are the first teachers of the new generation so it’s important for women to be educated.”
Jolly Ali, 31, of Bangladeshi origin, said: “There is a problem. Women should be more educated.”
Abeda Sultana, 19, who dropped out of college, said: “My parents wanted me to become a doctor, but the studying got to me too much. I do understand why people think like that. Sometimes girls go off track and they think that marriage is the only solution for them.” Kasha Krupecka, 27, a Polish convert to Islam, said: “It depends more on geography than religion.” She said that a lack of integration might be explained by the attitude of some imams. But in converting, she said: “I don’t feel as if I’ve lost out.”
A straw poll of females outside Whitechapel Tube station, in Bethnal Green & Bow which has one of the highest Muslim populations in Britain.Lucy Bannerman


I would be interested for reaction of our Muslim members..................

[Fluffy]

The tact of a bull...

Maybe he is right, maybe it did need to be said but I can guarantee you that those who will like it the most are those who are racist and those who will hate it most are those who make up that supposed 40% of Islamic youth. Even if greater unity is the goal, starting off by sparking greater polarisation can hardly be described as "a step in the right direction".

If anybody takes the time to watch the speech where Cameron puts across his views, he does come over as a few degrees more reasonable than the select quotations that can be found in the newspapers and BBC.

[Terrywoodenpic]

I think he is right about speaking English.... but I am not sure it has to be done before they come to the UK... that could be too difficult.
Perhaps it could be that citizenship would depend on speaking and comprehending English. Those who do not succeed with in 18 months could have their right to say revoked. This would put real pressure on not only the new comer but also a partner to encourage them to learn the language.
I know a (trainee) Muller who not only is a well paid and well educated professional, but who will not let his wife of five years learn English. He does not even allow her out of the house or to shop on her own.

This is hardly Just about integration but also basic rights.