Image credits: Shaanop https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
In Britain there are problems with Islamism. Problems which we’d rather stick our fingers in our ears about until something happens. I have discussed this before.
Although racism is never justified, I do think there are some concerns about Islamic migration to the West which are not motivated by race. Terrorism, anti LGBT, integration issues aren’t right wing panics, these things have actually happened.
The Muslim population of Britain is uniquely socially conservative, even compared to equivalent diaspora groups for various reasons; migration flows, racism, ghettos, post 9/11 fallout, culture, Saudi Arabian funding mosques. An article by Kenan Malik explains this.
I think it is useless to say anyone concerned or who mention it is racist or stupid or to downplay it and we need to do something to change these extremists or make them at least irrelevant.
Equally, anti Muslim hate is rising fast, we need to work out how to change the minds or at least cool the heads of people who may sway towards likes of Reform UK.
I believe think the inability to talk about Islamism increases racism, which creates more terrorists and it’s circular.
The “Islamo-left” have sometimes come to the defence or justified the acts of Islamists in a misplaced sense of anti imperialism/racism or tried to downplay awful incidents.
On the other hand there are examples of ex Muslim or Muslim political figures such as Ayaan Hirsi Ali or Ben Habib of Reform UK who criticise Islamism but do it from a right wing position. I don’t think they are racist (would be odd!) but certainly not progressives.
The answer is progressive Muslims. Humza Yousaf has been pro Palestine and although I don’t like the SNP, they are left wing.
In my research of Muslim politicians I found Yousaf has time and again proven himself to be not only anti-jihadist but actually secular in his approach to politics.
Here is Yousaf tweeting “Cartoons don’t insult me or my religion the brutal murder of innocent people does #JeSuisCharlie” in 2015.
A few days ago, he tweeted “Do not let terrorists divide us” acknowledging Pakistan’s terror attack in India, condemning India for the reaction and encouraging unity. Great.
This may seem normal but it actually isn’t. There are a sizable number of people online, who I will not link, who have actually denied Pakistan committed a terrorist attack or just jumped straight into attacking India. We saw in London rival Indian and Pakistani protestors goad each over.
He also said he won’t use his faith to affect legislation as quoted on 5 Pillars. The irony is 5 Pillars has previously, and again I won’t link (refuse to give clicks to people/groups that push hatred) done fluff pieces about the Taliban.
The online Muslim media in the UK is beyond the pale; 5 Pillars, Dilly Hussain, Mo Hijab, Ali Dawah are all extreme and openly Islamist. They are very clear; we want politics to be infused with Islamic ways. They are open and collectively have hundreds of millions if not billions of views.
Thankfully in the “real word” Muslim politicians tend to be reasonable. Notwithstanding professional idiots such as Tahir Ali MP, the likes of Sadiq Khan and Yousaf have rarely actually used their religion to affect policy decisions. Essentially, secularist.
In fact, Khan and Yousaf are both pro LGBT believe it or not. Despite the accusation that Yousaf was not because he missed a vote once on same sex marriage due to government business, he has since publicly stated he believes in banning conversion therapy and supports LGBT relationships.
There have been cases of Christian MPs being anti LGBT even when reaching high places so this isn’t totally to be expected.
If the most senior Muslim politicians can put their faith to one side when it comes to politics, that is a blow to the far right and Islamists alike.
In addition, they can court Muslim voters who may prioritise Gaza positions above all (as seen with the 4 independents in England) because they remain pro Palestine, generally left wing whilst at the same time being secular.
The grooming case is the same concept as jihadism. The reason there was so much anger was that, again, here was a real life case based on pure evil. Jihadists, paedophiles – does it get worse?
Instead of the left getting out their calculators and explaining it is a minority or waving it away as racist, point out the Muslims involved who were against their fellow “Muslims” involved in this nonsense.
The lead prosecutor of the grooming gangs was Nazir Afzal, a Muslim. Almost nobody seems to remember this on the right wing.
Afzal was appointed Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England in 2011 and led several high-profile cases, including the prosecution of the Rochdale grooming gang.
The British Pakistani is also known for his work on cases involving violence against women, forced marriage, and honour killings.
Beating Muslims who may become radicalised or people such as Tahir Ali with the views of atheists or members of other faiths won’t work.
From their point of view, why would it? You need to hear these things from people who understand. The same logic goes for any group. It isn’t racism, it is just how humans operate.
Equally I don’t think like many (most?) leftists, racists are people you can never win over again and are lost causes and bad people.
Uplifting examples such as Yousaf, Khan and Afzal will show that not all Muslims believe in or justify the unacceptable actions of a few.
When it comes to discussing issues such as grooming gangs, murder plots etc. the answer should be to uplift the Muslims who opposed that nonsense. Don’t downplay it. Anyone normal won’t listen to you.
LGBT does seem a harder one to get over as that is not a small minority. That is a majority in the UK, sadly.
However, Yousaf and Khan show this is not an impossible hurdle and rather than accepting it or assuming all Muslims think this way, we actually have very prominent examples that can hopefully break down barriers.
By uplifting progressive Muslims we attack the far right (racist and Islamist) in one fell swoop.
The Bains Agenda 
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