Trevor Phillips talks sense
Discussion
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2060276,00.html
Accept free speech, Muslims told
Muslims in Britain must accept that British values include a commitment to freedom of speech, even if that meant offending people, the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality said.
Speaking after the uproar over cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, Sir Trevor Phillips said that the right to offend was an “absolutely precious” part of British identity. He also suggested that Muslims who wanted Sharia should leave the country.
But Sir Trevor said that non-Muslims must also accept the right of imams to denounce homosexuality in a way that many would find offensive. “One point of Britishness is that people can say what they like about the way we should live, however absurd, however unpopular it is,” he told Jonathan Dimbleby on ITV1.
“That’s why freedom of expression — including Muslim leaders’ right to say they think homosexuality is harmful — is absolutely precious.”
Sir Trevor rejected the idea of Sharia for Muslims. “We have one set of laws, and that’s the end of the story. Anybody who lives here has to accept that. If you want to have laws decided in another way, you have to live somewhere else.”
Accept free speech, Muslims told
Muslims in Britain must accept that British values include a commitment to freedom of speech, even if that meant offending people, the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality said.
Speaking after the uproar over cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, Sir Trevor Phillips said that the right to offend was an “absolutely precious” part of British identity. He also suggested that Muslims who wanted Sharia should leave the country.
But Sir Trevor said that non-Muslims must also accept the right of imams to denounce homosexuality in a way that many would find offensive. “One point of Britishness is that people can say what they like about the way we should live, however absurd, however unpopular it is,” he told Jonathan Dimbleby on ITV1.
“That’s why freedom of expression — including Muslim leaders’ right to say they think homosexuality is harmful — is absolutely precious.”
Sir Trevor rejected the idea of Sharia for Muslims. “We have one set of laws, and that’s the end of the story. Anybody who lives here has to accept that. If you want to have laws decided in another way, you have to live somewhere else.”
He'll probably be denounced as a racist 
However, if the Imams are allowed to "denounce" homsexuality for example, does that mean Peter Tatchell and co can denounce Islam as a homophobic religion?
Feel free to state an opinion, however no-one is in a position to denounce anyone until they put their own house in order.
However, if the Imams are allowed to "denounce" homsexuality for example, does that mean Peter Tatchell and co can denounce Islam as a homophobic religion?
Feel free to state an opinion, however no-one is in a position to denounce anyone until they put their own house in order.
monkeyhanger said:
He'll probably be denounced as a racist
However, if the Imams are allowed to "denounce" homsexuality for example, does that mean Peter Tatchell and co can denounce Islam as a homophobic religion?
Feel free to state an opinion, however no-one is in a position to denounce anyone until they put their own house in order.
Dammit man, if we had to put our own house in order first nobody could say anything!
anonymous said:
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Personally I think they should be allowed to say what they think. (it does however depend on how they say it, inciting violence is out, libel & slander is out).
If free speech means anything then offending someones delicate sensibilities is fair game. Without free speech freedom soon dies.
anonymous said:
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Thing is, a chap like Griffin will make as many enemies as he will supporters. I've always felt that freedom of speech requires responsibility but that's my own moral code not anyone elses and if you want to gob off upsetting people prepare to take the consequences, but that in itself has it's own level of responsibility.
anonymous said:
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if you dont give em enough rope... they'll never get enough to hang themselves with.
the best way to deal with nut cases (both sides) is to have them in the open, and not sulk about in the shadows gaining support.
i happen to agree with the jist Enoch Powell was getting at - its just like Maggie Thatchers 'society' speech it has been selectively taken out of context to cause offence and the real meaning behind it is lost...
monkeyhanger said:
However, if the Imams are allowed to "denounce" homsexuality for example, does that mean Peter Tatchell and co can denounce Islam as a homophobic religion?
Well, they should be.
The problem is I can't manage his High Holiness Gay God Julian Clary pronouncing a Phatphwoa! of Death by *********** on any Imams that overstep the mark.
Sadly the opposite would appear to be quite possible.
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