The trouble with Islam

international | rights, freedoms and repression | other press

Monday February 20, 2006 15:38

by pat c

This is an extract from a WSM article on Islam. It is timely that it should be brought forward again. It challenges many of the ortodoxies of the "Left" and Liberals who have prostrated themselves before Islam. Thes e perhaps are the most important couple of sentences:

"Anarchists have a long and proud tradition of fighting the power of organised religion, including in countries like Spain fighting fascist gangs formed on a religious basis. While we recognise the freedom of people to hold a religion we also recognise that there has to be a freedom from religion - an idea that runs against the basis of Islam."

Read and enjoy. The full article is at the link below.

The trouble with Islam

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The September 11 attacks, the Afghan war that followed from it and the ongoing war in Israel/Palestine have once again raised the issue of Islam in the minds of many anarchists in Ireland and Britain. Not just because of the role Islam has in shaping those conflicts but also because militant Islam has become a far more noticeable presence on solidarity demonstrations.

In Ireland we have seen the Hezbollah flag flown on demonstrations in Dublin and chants of 'God is Great' raised. On some London demonstrations it has been reported that chants of "Slay the Jews" and "Death to the socialists" have been raised. Another report on the same demonstration revealed that "ultrareactionaries of such organisations as Al Muhajiroun, ... held placards reading, 'Palestine is Muslim'. They chanted, "Skud, Skud Israel" and "Gas, gas Tel Aviv" .. In Trafalgar Square they hurled abuse (and a few missiles) at Tirza Waisel of the Israeli group, Just Peace."[1]

The left in general has not responded to this. Some groups like the British SWP have gone so far as to describe left criticism of the Islamic religion as 'Islamophobia' echoing the official line of their government which insists "The real Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance and understanding." While there is a real need for the left to defend people who are Muslims from state and non-state victimisation in the aftermath of 9-11 this should not at any time imply a defence of the Islamic religion. Freedom of religion must also allow freedom from religion! At a SWP organised anti-war meeting in Birmingham, England it was reported that Islamic fundamentalists there "segregated the meeting, guiding/intimidating Muslim women into a women's only section, apprehended a Muslim looking woman because she had allegedly been drinking, prevented the critics of Muslim fundamentalists from entering the meeting and used violence against them."[2]

The left in Ireland has been unsure how to rise to this challenge, although on the Palestine solidarity march in Dublin on April 27th 2002 anarchists did march with placards reading 'End the occupation: Support Israeli refuseniks' in English, Hebrew and Arabic and chanted 'No Gods, no Masters, no States, no Wars". But otherwise fundamentalist chants have remained unchallenged.

Over 130 years ago the anarchist Micheal Bakunin wrote "I reverse the phrase of Voltaire, and say that, if God really existed, it would be necessary to abolish him." Writing of the Christian churches in Europe, he said "In talking to us of God they propose, they desire, to elevate us, emancipate us, ennoble us, and, on the contrary, they crush and degrade us. With the name of God they imagine that they can establish fraternity among men, and, on the contrary, they create pride, contempt; they sow discord, hatred, war; they establish slavery." These words today are applicable to Islam.

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Comments (3 of 3)

A minor rant

by Paul - .

Mon Feb 20, 2006 23:09

Totally agreed

This is what does make me mental, if you make a criticism of either Israel or muslim fundamentalism you are accused of being anti-semitic or an islamophobe respectively.

This is the politics of bullies and all it does is constrict the discourse.

Of course this is a criticism againt the left as well as the right. Both find it easier to reach for stereotypes to hammer home their points. In my view this is unacceptable practice and does as much to infringe upon the ideal of freedom of expression as those who abuse this right or those who choose not to understant this freedom.

Peace

Paul

How come you tolerate israeli flag on ireland

by Iqbal khan

Mon May 15, 2006 00:26

Its good to see interest in Islam developing.You will find extremists in every religion and nation.Its wise not to label the whole community because of a minority viewpoint.When I came to Ireland people thought I was going to the breeding ground of IRA too.
People object to see Hizbullah flag yet you go past the Israeli flag without thinking twice....

Iqbal

Mon May 15, 2006 10:58

"People object to see Hizbullah flag yet you go past the Israeli flag without thinking twice...."

You dont see either the Israeli or Hizbullah flags very often in Ireland. Its difficult to get your hands on an Israeli flag. I remember a demo to the Israeli Embassy a couple of years ago and the only reason we had an Israeli flag to burn was because a comrade travelling down from Belfast stopped on the loyalist Sandy Row and snatched a flag from a pole. The Zioniosts had their revenge on us though, as the (cheap) flag was burning it also melted and caused a couple of minor burns.

It is worth pointing out that it was Fatah members on a demonstration in Dublin who objected to the Hizbullah flag being carried.

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The trouble with Islam

Comments (3 of 3)