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Militant Islam Monitor > Weblog > Terrorism through Submission: Muslims intimidate critics using civil and human rights lawsuits

Terrorism through Submission: Muslims intimidate critics using civil and human rights lawsuits

August 5, 2004

A worrying trend is emerging showing that Muslims are increasingly turning to the liberal legal system to silence and intimidate anyone who dares to criticise their behaviour as individuals or to express any antipathy towards Islamists.

Here are several articles which were in the news on the same day regarding legal action which was taken against individuals whom Muslims claim were anti Muslim , a broad category which includes anyone and anything which is non Muslim.

. People who speak out against militant Islamists find themselves targetted for supression by Muslims who are aided and abetted by so called ' civil rights' and' human rights' organisations who have aligned with the Islamists to stifle any opposition to their shared agendas of the Islamisation and globalisation of the Western world.

http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/print_version.php?article=7866&PHPSESSID=95e964ec23e3c9656ab1703ae7031a1f

First man in Britain evicted for being racist

03-08-2004

By Nathan Yates

Daily Mirror:

A YOB who terrorised a family is the first person to be thrown out of his home for racial abuse.

John Ward, 61, was prosecuted under new anti-social behaviour laws after he attacked, threatened and abused Somali neighbour Amina Mohamed, 32, and her seven young children.

Once he left her nine-year-old daughter sobbing after he ripped off her religious headscarf and threw it down.

Jobless Ward - convicted of a racially aggravated assault two years ago - called the children "black dogs" who should go back to Somalia.

Council chiefs took him to court after a police report warned he was a "serious risk to the safety" of the family.

Under a section of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act introduced in June, Woolwich county court banned him from "threatening, assaulting or approaching" them and said he must leave his flat in Plumstead, South East London.

Greenwich council said: "This is the first time a council has enforced this legislation. We will not tolerate racism by any of our tenants."

The case comes during the Daily Mirror's Reclaim Our Streets campaign against anti-social behaviour.

In a police statement Mrs Mohamed said she feared for her children's safety from "this very aggressive man".

She added: "This aggression has occurred over four months, including chasing my children and swearing at them."

She said her daughter was pushed to the ground in a scuffle during the headscarf incident.

She told police: "Mr Ward started to rant in a drunken manner, 'I'm going to f*** you up'. I was very frightened."

The police report said the incident was one of many caused by Ward to her and other black families.

It also said he was released only six months earlier from a prison sentence for grievous bodily harm.

Ward has a 40 year history of jail terms and 64 convictions including assault, criminal damage, theft and fraud.

He is fighting eviction and insisted he is not racist: "I get on well with everyone of all colours on this estate.

"There is a good community spirit here and everything was fine until they came.

"There are seven children penned into a one bedroom flat so they are creating havoc for their neighbours.

"They barge into me and I pulled at the headscarf of one because she refused to apologise. The incident has been blown out of all proportion."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/tm_objectid=14489477&method=full&siteid=50143&headline=reclaim-our-streets--get-out-name_page.html




http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/news.php?article=7865&PHPSESSID=95e964ec23e3c9656ab1703ae7031a1f

British Council anti-Islam probe

03-08-2004

BBC OnLIne:

The British Council has suspended a press officer in an investigation into allegedly anti-Muslim newspaper articles.

Harry Cummins has denied writing a series of opinion columns in the Sunday Telegraph under the pseudonym Will Cummins.

Muslim groups had protested to the newspaper's editor about the articles.

They said the author had described Muslims in derogatory terms and said Islam had a "black heart".

The British Council has moved swiftly to distance itself from the articles.

The organisation, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, was set up to develop closer cultural relations between the UK and other countries.

A spokesman, Christopher Wade, said the organisation disassociated itself from the "deeply offensive" content of the articles.

"The purpose of the British Council is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and other countries on the basis of trust and mutual understanding," Mr Wade said.

Mr Wade has also written to a Muslim group which asked the British Council to investigate the allegations against Mr Cummins.

The Muslim Council of Britain said it welcomed the steps taken by the British Council but was awaiting the outcome of the investigation.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3532390.stm

Islam Online details how Muslim ambassadors vilified Hagen in the Norwegian national press .

Two Pakistani immigrants are taking their cue (and one can assume financial backing) and are threatening to file a lawsuit against Carl Hagen who is being labelled as a pro Israel politician who dared to criticise Muslims for using their children as suicide bombers .

Note that the Center against Ethnic Discrimination which is threatening a lawsuit appears to be directed by a Muslim. These liberal 'facist' groups who are always complaining about oppression and being denied free speach are suing because "they are tired of Hagen's frequent anti Muslim statements" while the two Pakistanis who left their Islamist country to live in non Muslim Norway, are planning to sue for "blasphemy".

http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2004-07/25/article02.shtml

OSLO , July 25 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – A staunch pro-Israel Norwegian politician was still coming under fire Sunday, July 25, for a bitter attack on Muslims, their faith and their Prophet, a rare occasion in a society known for its tolerance and strong pro-Palestinian lobbies.

In a letter published by the daily Aftenposten, the ambassadors of Pakistan , Indonesia , Egypt and Morocco , in addition to the Tunisian charge d'affaires, have criticized the leader of the right wing Progress Party Carl I. Hagen.

" Hagen has insulted 1.3 billion Muslims, and offended the principles of tolerance and freedom on which the Norwegian society is built," the diplomats wrote in their letter, according to the daily's English version web site.

"We expect that our rights to practice Islam will be respected by those who do not share our faith, and that we do not have to meet the ugly threat of religious intolerance from any quarter."

The diplomatic response, described by the daily as a "very unusual" comment from foreign diplomats on Norwegian domestic affairs, was the latest in a string of furious responses from Norwegian politicians, party leaders, Muslim community leaders as well as the local press.

Hagen , known for his long record of provocative statements, made the stir Tuesday, July 13, while speaking at the summer festival of the pro-Israel Christian Society "Living Word" in Bergen .

He said, among other things, that Muslims use children as "suicide bombers" in the effort to convert the world to Islam.

Barrage Of Criticism

Hagen claimed Muslims use their children as "suicide bombers" in the effort to convert the world to Islam.

Norwegian theologian at the University of Oslo , Oddbjoern Leirvik, had compared Hagen 's speech "to the agitation against the Jews in the 1930s," reported Aftenposten.

"The Progress Party had tried to 'play its Muslim card' in different election campaigns, but this time I feel Hagen really overstepped the mark," Leirvik told the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK).

Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg said the speech shows why the Progress Party is not part of any government.

"It is a bit dangerous if we picture all Muslims as terrorists," Solberg told the NRK.

She stopped short of terming Hagen 's speech as racist, but added that it "shows hostility towards Islam as a religion."

She further said that Hagen 's attitude "does not make it simpler for the Conservatives to cooperate with the Progress Party," according to NRK.

Afshan Rafiq, a member of Parliament from the Conservatives, blasted Hagen for "stigmatizing an entire religion."

An official from the Christian Democrats also said Hagen "crossed the line when he didn't only attack fundamentalists, but also the prophet Mohammad."

Norway 's only Muslim sheriff, Jens Vidar Bjørkedal, told the local paper VG he was shaken by Hagen 's remarks.

"I hope he never gets into the government," he said. "I'm shocked that a leading politician can say such things."

Acting leader of the Center against Ethnic Discrimination, Ella Ghosh, told NRK that they are tired of Hagen 's frequent anti-Muslim statements, and that his behavior this time cannot be defended.

Legal Action

Citing possible law suits against him by at least one anti-discrimination organization and two Muslims, NRK said Hagen may now be reported to the police for anti-Muslim agitation.

Two Muslims from Pakistan , now living in Oslo , told the daily Dagbladet they have filed police charges against Hagen for violating Norway 's law against blasphemy.

"We can't accept an attack of this caliber," Ashfaq Sadiq told the paper. "We will fight for a clear line in society that defends political and religious freedom."

Hagen , on his part, retorted by saying that Norway also protects freedom of speech, adding that his remarks applied to fundamentalists, "not all Muslims."

No Regrets

Two days after he made the anti-Islam remarks, Hagen said he "has no regrets for publicly relating his fears of Islamic fundamentalists, or his belief that Christians should oppose Islamic inroads into Europe ."

Still, he tried to fend off the barrage of criticism, by saying he'll "consider an invitation" from an Islamic advisory council in Norway to learn more about the religion.

Joining the chorus of Hagen 's critics, the council (Islamsk Råd Norge, IRN) accused Hagen of being ignorant about Islam.

They flatly denied Hagen 's claim that Muslims exploit children in their efforts to "Islamify" the world.

IRN is also encouraging other Norwegian politicians to attend a course clarifying Islamic values and principles.

"We have extended several invitations to politicians before," IRN leader Mohammad Hamdan told Aftenposten Thursday July 15.

"Neither Carl I Hagen nor others from his party have ever come."

Pro-Israel

Hagen has devoted the bulk of his controversial speech to defend Israel , a distinct minority position among Norwegian politicians, according to Norwaypost website which posted an English translation of the speech.

"It is so easy for us in Norway , Sweden , and other countries, to lecture Israel on how it should solve its problems. And then if they do follow our advice, and Israel is destroyed, we will have the luxury of saying: 'We were wrong. How very, very sad.'

"The Israelis cannot do that. They've learned a painful lesson from all their wars and from all that they've experienced over the last 50 years. They have learned never to trust a paper and a signature, when there are terrorists on the other side, ready to carry out attacks against you."

He then moved on to attack not only what he termed "fundamentalist Muslims", but also Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him], the Noble Qur'an and Islam itself as a religion.

Hagen claimed that people should not "hold the Koran (Qur'an) and the Bible in equal esteem. Because the content of those books is different in many ways.

"We Christians are deeply concerned with children. Jesus said, 'let the small children come to me.' I can't imagine that Muhammad could have said the same thing. [laughter] If he had, it would have been 'Let the small children come to me, so I can exploit them in my struggle to Islamify the world.'"

"I can't see that this has anything in common with those concepts of justice and morality we have in Christianity."

He wondered how come that Norwegian congregations and organizations have sent missionaries to other countries, such as Pakistan and Turkey , to convert them to Christianity but have not done the same with Muslims coming to the country.

------------------------------------------------

The article which appeared in the Norwegian 'Aftenposten' detailing the uproar over Carl Hagen's remarks.

Below are readers responses

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http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article828110.ece?service=print

Anti-Muslim remarks rock the boat

Populist Norwegian politician Carl I Hagen has a long track record of provocation in Norway. His latest frontal attack on Muslims at a Christian gathering this week may set a new record for the degree of reaction he's getting.

Progress Party boss Carl I Hagen is making waves with his remarks about Muslims.

PHOTO: DAG GRUNDSETH
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Rival politicians are blasting remarks made by Progress Party boss Hagen that compared Muslims to Hitler, poked fun at Mohammed and raised fears that Muslims are trying to take over the world.

Local theologists say they're shocked, a university professor claimed Hagen went way too far this time, and at least one anti-discrimination organization is threatening to sue him.

Hagen's outbursts came during a speech he made at a Christian festival in Bergen on Tuesday.

"The Islamic fundamentalists, along the same lines as Hitler, made it clear a long time ago that their long-term plan is to 'Islamify' the world," Hagen claimed. "They're well underway, they've come far in Africa and are on their way into Europe, and then we have to fight it."

Hagen also talked about children being used as suicide bombers. "We Christians are very concerned about children, 'Let the children come to me,' said Jesus," Hagen declared. "I can't see Mohammed saying the same."

That remark spurred laughter and applause from his Christian audience, perhaps encouring Hagen to add: "If he (Mohammed) did say such a thing, it must have been: 'Let the small children come to me, so that I can exploit them in my effort to make the world Islamic."

Angry response
While Hagen found himself preaching to the choir at the Christian festival of the organization Levende Ord, (Living Word), other politicians were furious.

Afshan Rafiq, a member of Parliament from the Conservatives, blasted Hagen for "stygmatizing an entire religion." He was backed by Erna Solberg, head of the Conservatives, who said Hagen's remarks further distance the two parties from each other even though they're both on the right of Norway's political spectrum.

Solberg said there now was even less probablity that her party and Hagen's could cooperate to form a non-socialist government in Norway. An official from the Christian Democrats also said Hagen "crossed the line when he didn't only attack fundamentalists, but also the prophet Mohammed."

'Shocked'
Solberg's reaction likely comes as a relief to Jens Vidar Bjørkedal, Norway's only Muslim sheriff. He told newspaper VG he was shaken by Hagen's remarks. "I hope he never gets into the government," Bjørkedal told VG. "I'm shocked that a leading politician can say such things."

Some commentators said it likely will be up to Progress Party deputy Siv Jensen "to clean up" after Hagen's latest provocation. Hagen, they say, enjoys stirring up trouble, only to let party colleagues smooth ruffled feathers afterwards.

Aftenposten English Web Desk
Nina Berglund

In reference to the stories: Anti-Muslim remarks rock the boat and Hagen may attend course on Islam)

Carl Hagen is saying what I have been telling my Norwegian cousins for the past several years now. Norway simply has to shut its doors to those who practice a culture and religion which still lives in the 5th century.

Norway's crime rate has exploded due the influx of Midlle Easterners and it has to stop. With as low a population as Norway has, it will not be long before the infidels outnumber the natives.

Hold your ground, Mr. Hagen, and please keep speaking out as you have.

Randi Thordis Rosmarin
Spring Hill, Florida, USA
*****

I thank you again for the (article) "Ambassadors blast Hagen; he fires back" dated 26 July 2004.

In the international campaign against Islamist terrorism, Pakistan and Morocco are two prominent frontline states. I think it is absurd when the most prominent Carl I Hagen insinuates that the Muslim ambassadors are not distancing themselves against terrorism. This illustrates the deep lack of knowledge and appreciation of key frontline states' campaigns against terrorist groups.

Foreign ambassadors and diplomats should refrain from interference in domestic political discussions. However, in some instances it is understandable that foreign diplomats criticize political developments that only lead to more prejudice and xenophobia.

Atilla A Iftikhar
Analyst, Eurpolit
Hamburg, Germany
*****

How hypocritical and arrogant it is for foreign ambassadors to Norway from Muslim countries to criticize the Progress Party leader Carl I Hagen for his remarks on Islamic fundamentalism.

In their criticism of him, they contended "Hagen had violated the principles of tolerance, understanding and cultural freedom on which the Norwegian society is built," as if these principles are widely practiced where these ambassadors come from.

The irony here is that these ambassadors come from countries where Islamic fundamentalism is flourishing and widely accepted, and where democratic principles, tolerance, understanding and cultural freedom is non-existent.

Let's not forget that it is the principles of democracy and the western way of life that allowed Carl I Hagen and others to be able to voice their opinions without the fear of prosecution, unlike where these ambassadors come from; such opinions and remarks could easily lead to one's demise.

What we should perhaps be criticizing is the Islamic fundamentalist's view of the western-democratic world. After all, they have waged war against us by means of terrorism and the killing of innocent people. When we see terror and barbarism practiced in the name of Islam almost on a daily basis in the media, we cannot avoid the expressed opinions of fair-minded politicians.

JW Christophersen
Vancouver, Canada
*****

Before Mr Hagen is shamed into attending a course on Islam, his accusers should be required to review the words of Winston Churchill on Islam from The River War (1899), his account of the Sudanese campaign. Winston Churchill was a man whose prescient warnings about Hitler were ignored by the world. The world appears to be doing the same today.

"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.

"Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen: all know how to die. But the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytising faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science - the science against which it had vainly struggled - the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome."

E. Patrick Mosman
Pleasantville, New York, USA
*****

But has anybody shown that the remarks made by Carl I Hagen are incorrect? The article says that others are upset that he would make such comments, but no one addresses the validity of his remarks.

I believe his statements are 100 percent true.

Ed Rowe
Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA
*****

Mr. Hagen was right but understated the case against Islam. During the Iran-Iraq war, the Iranians sent children into the minefields to clear them. As to Mohammed, he was a warlord of the first order.

I'm sure Carl Hagen can take care of himself politically. I only hope there is free speech in Norway so that he doesn't have to go to jail or pay a fine for telling the truth.

Gerald Connor
Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA
*****

I suppose the reaction of the local Muslims proves Mr Hagen's point. Muslims seem not to be able to tolerate any evaluation or criticism of their ideas and practices resulting in their desire to sue to shut him up.

Islam has not experienced a reformation or renaissance (in which they incorporated modern secular ideas) of any sort like the various Christian sects have gone through. Muslims are attempting to live ideas that fit very well into the primitive, anti-reason, anti-esthetic, anti-pleasure, anti-liberty, anti-free thought worldview of the 7th century but not that of the 21st

They have two choices: Either adjust their ideas to the present world or coerce the rest of us to adjust to theirs. There is no middle ground. And they are as fully aware of the power of ideas and the resulting need to completely erase those ideas and all the people and books that espouse them as the Romans were when they would utterly destroy opposing civilizations ("carthage delenda est").

That is, they force themselves to do exactly what Mr Hagen suggests, they must "take over the world" to return it to the 7th centruy or their children will simple reject it when they grow up in the 21st century with all the beauty, potential, opportunity and liberty to choose that it has to offer.

The ideas, practices and attitudes of Islam cannot stand before the ideas, practices and attitudes of the modern western world when people can choose freely among the two.

Tom Schrade
Palisades Park, New Jersey, USA
*****

It's true - read their literature. Muslims want the entire world to be Islamic. It's in the Koran. I don't know why people get so upset about it.

By the way, I read your site quite a bit. It's so interesting and well-done. I especially enjoy the pictures.

Lea Splane
Bloomington, Illinois, USA
*****

Are rival politicians angry at Carl Hagen for what he said, or for putting a voice to what most people are already thinking around the world? When are liberals going to realize that the Islamicists already hate everyone in the West? Are they afraid that they'll hate us more?

At least (Hagen) has the courage to stand up and say what he believes...

Morgan Woxland
Seattle, Washington, USA
*****

Carl Hagen is absolutely right! History as well as current events demonstrate that everywhere Islam exists it ends up in conflict with its neighbors. You Europeans pride yourselves in your so-called "tolerance" but once Islam gains the upper hand in Europe, their tolerance for you will be nothing but a dream.

Isn't it interesting that two Pakistani Muslims intend to sue Mr. Hagen for his "blasphemy?" Their Muslim hypocrisy and arrogance is incredibly insulting. Norway should pack those Muslim hypocrites onto the next plane to Pakistan and let them take their fight for religious freedom where it's really needed!

Sadly, perhaps because of your own love affair with liberalism - liberalism that has all but eradicated European Christianity - you probably no longer possess either the will or the guts to deal with the Islamic takeover of your homeland.

I am an American of Scandinavian descent and it pains me deeply to see the lands of my ancestors being taken advantage of so brazenly and with so little opposition.

Forget your attitude of "tolerance" or see your grandchildren bow to Mecca.

Glenn M Lindquist
Chicago, Illinois
*****

Regarding the situation discussed in the article "Anti-Muslim remarks rock the boat," I would like to congratulate Carl Hagen on ruffling a few feathers.

Primarialy (sic) the quote that I saw of his comments (how did you derive them to be outbursts? Your prejudice shines through and it shows a lack of proffessionalism (sic) in your writing) referred to Islamic Fundamentalists. There is more than enough direct evidence to support Hagen's comments. What he said tongue-in-cheek about Mohammed should be his right to express.

I find all this righteous indignation rather humorous (especially the threat to SUE!!) considering the front-page article of Aftenposten is about Norway being the best place to live in the world according to UN rankings. I thought that those rankings included the right to free speech and other basic human rights?

Making commentaries about another religion's prophet is about as offense (sic) as a shirt in the US that says, "Jesus is Coming! (Hide the Porn!)." Do Islamic Fundamentalist groups NOT send young children to be suicide bombers? Do their bombs not kill young people on a regular basis? Please keep to the topic at hand and do not let indignation draw your thoughts to the bombs of the U.S. Stay on topic and consider the commentaries. Are they threats? Harrassment? Not even close. They are opinions. But these opinions are not allowed in the world community anymore despite the actual threat that Islamic Fundamentalist terrorists make against the Western world on a regular basis. This is a foolish over-reaction. Blind hatred and prejudice leads to a lack of discourse. The blind hatred and prejudice these days, however, is against anyone who speaks their mind against religious fundamentalism (well let's be serious, I mean Islamic fundamentalism. Christian fundamentalism is still a viable target) or vocally goes against the popular opinons against the war in Iraq and the against the US in general.

Mr. Hagen, thanks for ruffling some feathers that need to be ruffled. They were starting to get a bit rotten. Speaking against fundamentalists is very much different than speaking against all Muslims everywhere. The very title of this article belies a prejudice as (the) quotation from Mr. Hagen specifically says "Islamic Fundamentalists."

Timothy McLaughlin
(still) A resident of the USA, Pennsylvania
*****

I found your article "Anti-Muslim remarks rock the boat" very interesting, however, the most interesting issue is the fact that Mr Hagen's party is now the second-largest in Norway.

Only the Labor Party is larger than Mr Hagen's Progress Party.

Something revealing about the Norwegian electorate's attraction to xenophobic statements?

Atilla Iftikhar
Hamburg
*****

Hagen's remarks appear to simply be commentary on everyday news.

Socialists apparently do not understand that Islamic fundamentalists probably have more hatred for them than they do for the Christian Right. These alleged intellectuals are simply convenient dupes for them.

Neil Ralph Tangen
Starbuck, Minnesota, USA
*****


This is an article from www.aftenposten.no.
Updated: 02. august 2004 kl.13:30
It can be found at this address: http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article832771.ece





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