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What the panel thought
Evening Standard14 Nov 2007
SO, IS ISLAM GOOD FOR LONDON?
NO
ROD LIDDLE
Former Editor of BBC's Today programme
The outspoken Sunday Times columnist and Spectator contributor launched into a scathing attack on Islam but made it very clear he was differentiating between Muslims and the Islamic faith.
He said: "In my opinion Islam is an ideology and Muslims are people. Islam is masochistic, homophobic and a totalitarian regime. It is a fascistic, bigoted and medieval religion.
"I have plenty of friends who are Muslims and I know other Muslims I don't get along with. I may be Islamaphobic but I am not against the religion.
"As long as we're able to say what we think about Islam and Muslims with fear of censorship, being accused of racism or having our heads cut off then we're heading in the right direction."
YES
INAYAT BUNGLAWALA
Assistant Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain
The Muslim Council spokesman said: "London has been fantastic for Islam. I cannot think of a better place to be brought up."
He was criticised for referring to the other panellists as "Islamaphobic" on an internet posting - a criticism to which Mr Liddle replied: "Well, I am one."
Mr Bunglawala hit back at suggestions from the audience that Muslim women and children are forced to wear veils.
"The question of whether a woman wears a hijab is not about being ordered to, it is a matter of covering her modesty. And while I am happy that women can preserve their modesty without wearing a hijab, my wife prefers to and that is her choice.
"It is also not true that we tell our children they must wear a veil. We have a four-year-old daughter and whenever she finds a shawl she wants to put it on her head, not because we tell her to, but because she wants to be like mummy.
"Similarly I fast during Ramadan, my wife fasts and our son wants to because he is copying us."
NO
JOAN SMITH
Novelist, columnist and human rights activist
The former Foreign Office advisor on promoting free expression is well known for her views on modern feminism. Brought up as a Christian, she became an atheist.
She said: "I don't think people should be defined by their religions. Religion is a small part of who we are.
"I can speak as the only person on this panel who has worn a hijab and although I am an atheist, I, like many of my Muslims friends, do not see why it is necessary. Why, as women, should we be at fault or responsible for the feelings of men?
"To wear a hijab is literally to wear a veil and why should women feel like they have to be veiled in public?
"Am I an Islamaphobe? Well if I am phobic towards a religion that would want to stone me for the way I dress, then maybe I am."
YES
PROF MICHAEL BURLEIGH
Academic, historian and author
The academic and author of 10 books said: "Is Islam good for London? is a very hard question to give a straight answer to.
"There are some factors of Islam that are particularly nasty and do cause serious problems and there are others that don't.
"There are those that would like to impose a Sharia law and others that are happy to live under British law and in a British community.
"As with any any religion, many Muslims can be rather inward looking and focused on the smaller community. When one gentleman asked why British Muslims weren't out there protesting on the streets over what is going on in Pakistan, even Mr Bunglawala said it was because he was British.
"Debate like this is essential and very much a good thing but like many people might say I think they only scratch the surface.
"The debate was certainly very good natured and I have to say I agree with Mr Liddle that Islam is masochistic and homophobic, but I'm not sure I could agree with the accusation of fascism."
YES
ED HUSAIN
Author of the highly-acclaimed book, The Islamist
Mr Hussain is well known for being outspoken about extreme Islam.
After working for the British Council in Syria he moved with the council to Jaddah and Saudi Arabia before returning to Britain where he wrote his book, The Islamist, in which he recounts his experiences of Islamic extremism in Britain and analyses the paradoxes of modern Muslim Society.
He said: "My problem is with Muslims and not with Islam.
"With Islam we find opinions very much in keeping with modern thinking.
"We have got to the stage where girls in primary schools are being allowed to wear hijabs because teachers think they have to because their Muslim.
"It is simply not true. Why does a nine-year-old girl have to preserve her sexual modesty?
"Muslims are living here in this country, they are British and yet there seems to be a culture of going 'back home' to get married. Why?"
Reader views (1)
While the debate was heated, it was very unbalanced. I would suggest that Ed was really against the motion. Inayat was the only one in favour and defending Islam. A number of comments were based on ignorance of Islamic teachings.
- Shanfara, London, 14/11/2007 13:34
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