The Muslim vote
Discussion
This sort of thing really irritates me. The Muslim Association of Britain is, to my mind, perpetuating the racial and religious divide by, once again, treating "the Muslim vote" as some sort of homogenous whole, rather than normal people with their own views and ideas. I'm sure that not all Muslims have exactly the same political and social views, just because of their religion and I think it is deeply damaging to campaign in this way. This reinforces the notion that all Muslims are, by definition of their religion, anti West, anti Christian and anti anything that doesn't fit perfectly with their own ideal.
Why does there even need to be a Muslim Association of Britain? The whole thing is deeply divisive.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4305099.stm
Muslims discuss election concerns
Issues that Muslims should be considering before voting in the next general election are to be debated by UK community representatives.
The event is being held by the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), which believes Muslim voters could influence the result in up to 50 constituencies.
Last year MAB, which opposed the war in Iraq, urged Muslims not to vote for Labour in the European elections.
But a spokesman stressed the meeting was "not necessarily anti-Labour".
"This meeting is not anti-party in particular, it's anti-policy, it's on the issues we are going to ask Muslims to vote on," MAB spokesman Dr Azzam Tamimi said of Tuesday's event.
"There are issues of concern to Muslims, and Muslims generally agree on them but have not in the past been aware of how a vote can serve these issues."
Dr Tamimi said the main issues Muslims should consider were what he referred to as the war on Iraq, the Palestinian situation, the erosion of civil liberties for Muslims in the UK and economic, social and education problems.
Approximately 1.1m of the UK's 1.6m Muslims are of voting age.
Previous election research has shown the overwhelming majority have traditionally voted Labour, but more recent studies have suggested Labour support has been falling away significantly among some Muslim voters.
Anger over the war in Iraq has appeared to be the main reason, with many saying it was "unjustified".
Representatives from a number of Muslim organisations will attend Tuesday's event.
Among them will be the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB).
The chairman of the MCB's public affairs committee, Sher Khan, said the war in Iraq would be a "significant factor" affecting Muslims' voting intentions.
"I think it's going to be quite significant because of the number of seats in which they could have an impact," Mr Khan said.
However, Professor John Curtice, of the University of Strathclyde, is sceptical about how much difference tactical voting by Muslims could make.
"For the most part the Labour constituencies where there's a large Muslim community are relatively safe, but there are one or two that are not quite so safe," Professor Curtice said.
The constituencies where Labour was most at risk from a Muslim tactical vote were Bethnal Green, in east London, and Rochdale in Lancashire, he added.
In Bethnal Green, former Labour MP George Galloway, who founded the anti-war party Respect, is standing against sitting MP Oona King, who had a 10,000-vote majority in 2001.
In Rochdale, the Liberal Democrats - the mainstream party a 2004 ICM survey showed was benefiting most from Muslim disaffection with Labour - secured second place in the 2001 election, securing just under 6,000 votes fewer than Labour's Lorna Fitzsimons.
But Professor Curtice said the Muslim anti-war vote could be split between the Liberal Democrats and Respect, meaning neither would benefit much at the ballot box.
"Ironically the Tories might be the beneficiaries if Labour does lose seats, which is generally the case," he said.
But Dr Tamimi said MAB's intention was not to "empower" the Tories.
"We know the next government will be Labour, but we are aiming to send a message that it will make a difference if the Muslims use their vote properly.
"If the next Labour government has a reduced majority that's a great achievement because having a very big majority has been very harmful for politics in this country," Dr Tamimi said.
Why does there even need to be a Muslim Association of Britain? The whole thing is deeply divisive.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4305099.stm
Muslims discuss election concerns
Issues that Muslims should be considering before voting in the next general election are to be debated by UK community representatives.
The event is being held by the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), which believes Muslim voters could influence the result in up to 50 constituencies.
Last year MAB, which opposed the war in Iraq, urged Muslims not to vote for Labour in the European elections.
But a spokesman stressed the meeting was "not necessarily anti-Labour".
"This meeting is not anti-party in particular, it's anti-policy, it's on the issues we are going to ask Muslims to vote on," MAB spokesman Dr Azzam Tamimi said of Tuesday's event.
"There are issues of concern to Muslims, and Muslims generally agree on them but have not in the past been aware of how a vote can serve these issues."
Dr Tamimi said the main issues Muslims should consider were what he referred to as the war on Iraq, the Palestinian situation, the erosion of civil liberties for Muslims in the UK and economic, social and education problems.
Approximately 1.1m of the UK's 1.6m Muslims are of voting age.
Previous election research has shown the overwhelming majority have traditionally voted Labour, but more recent studies have suggested Labour support has been falling away significantly among some Muslim voters.
Anger over the war in Iraq has appeared to be the main reason, with many saying it was "unjustified".
Representatives from a number of Muslim organisations will attend Tuesday's event.
Among them will be the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB).
The chairman of the MCB's public affairs committee, Sher Khan, said the war in Iraq would be a "significant factor" affecting Muslims' voting intentions.
"I think it's going to be quite significant because of the number of seats in which they could have an impact," Mr Khan said.
However, Professor John Curtice, of the University of Strathclyde, is sceptical about how much difference tactical voting by Muslims could make.
"For the most part the Labour constituencies where there's a large Muslim community are relatively safe, but there are one or two that are not quite so safe," Professor Curtice said.
The constituencies where Labour was most at risk from a Muslim tactical vote were Bethnal Green, in east London, and Rochdale in Lancashire, he added.
In Bethnal Green, former Labour MP George Galloway, who founded the anti-war party Respect, is standing against sitting MP Oona King, who had a 10,000-vote majority in 2001.
In Rochdale, the Liberal Democrats - the mainstream party a 2004 ICM survey showed was benefiting most from Muslim disaffection with Labour - secured second place in the 2001 election, securing just under 6,000 votes fewer than Labour's Lorna Fitzsimons.
But Professor Curtice said the Muslim anti-war vote could be split between the Liberal Democrats and Respect, meaning neither would benefit much at the ballot box.
"Ironically the Tories might be the beneficiaries if Labour does lose seats, which is generally the case," he said.
But Dr Tamimi said MAB's intention was not to "empower" the Tories.
"We know the next government will be Labour, but we are aiming to send a message that it will make a difference if the Muslims use their vote properly.
"If the next Labour government has a reduced majority that's a great achievement because having a very big majority has been very harmful for politics in this country," Dr Tamimi said.
What scares me is that with Europe opening up to allow more eastern European countries in and the fact that Muslims have a higher "breeding" rate than christians it is currently estimated that within Europe by the year 2020 the Muslim faith will become the majority. This means that since we are very much part of Europe we will effectively cease to live in a christian country !!!! Not that I'm religious at all infact I strongly object to having any beliefs rammed down my throat but it is worrying certainly if they'll want to ban alcohol and observe Ramadam (sp?) throughout europe 
mel said:
What scares me is that with Europe opening up to allow more eastern European countries in and the fact that Muslims have a higher "breeding" rate than christians it is currently estimated that within Europe by the year 2020 the Muslim faith will become the majority. This means that since we are very much part of Europe we will effectively cease to live in a christian country !!!! Not that I'm religious at all infact I strongly object to having any beliefs rammed down my throat but it is worrying certainly if they'll want to ban alcohol and observe Ramadam (sp?) throughout europe
Ahh, but then we'll become the minority and get positive discrimination in our favour
Mon Ami Mate said:
This sort of thing really irritates me. The Muslim Association of Britain is, to my mind, perpetuating the racial and religious divide by, once again, treating "the Muslim vote" as some sort of homogenous whole, rather than normal people with their own views and ideas. I'm sure that not all Muslims have exactly the same political and social views, just because of their religion and I think it is deeply damaging to campaign in this way. This reinforces the notion that all Muslims are, by definition of their religion, anti West, anti Christian and anti anything that doesn't fit perfectly with their own ideal.
Why does there even need to be a Muslim Association of Britain? The whole thing is deeply divisive.
Utterly agree mate. Well said.
BBC website said:... however, anything to get rid of that bl
The constituencies where Labour was most at risk from a Muslim tactical vote were Bethnal Green, in east London, and Rochdale in Lancashire, he added.
In Bethnal Green, former Labour MP George Galloway, who founded the anti-war party Respect, is standing against sitting MP Oona King, who had a 10,000-vote majority in 2001.
dy useless bint Oona King (my MP - arf arf!) has to be a good thing. Although George Galloway would be a difficult alternative. Oli.
nel said:
As an aside,are there any "muslim" countries that are actually run as a democracy?
Turkey
Iraq (:asbestosunderwearon
Not too many then.Why is it that the British muslims are a quite vociferous minority yet the ones in "moslem" countries seem to allow themselves to be dictated to.
BliarOut said:
Ahh, but then we'll become the minority and get positive discrimination in our favour
Nice dream BliarOut, but you only have to look at what happens to people who try to preach Christianity in the vast majority of Moslem countries, it's just plain illegal. Who knows what they'd say if you wanted to build a church!
esselte said:
esselte said:
As an aside,are there any "muslim" countries that are actually run as a democracy?
Turkey
Iraq (:asbestosunderwearon
Not too many then.Why is it that the British muslims are a quite vociferous minority yet the ones in "moslem" countries seem to allow themselves to be dictated to.
they can get away with here without family members being removed,
As bernard manning said "a dog born in a stable is still a dog not a horse"
Personally if any person of any faith wants to come and live in the UK then they should integrate not separate as happens now.
We are a secular society and Mr B. Liar's view of one people is complete bollox.
No faith based schools in UK would be a start, no schools to teach anything but ENGLISH as the main language. All children to attend schools in the same uniform, no allowance for minority faith based dress.
If you don't like it don't come here.
Personally if any person of any faith wants to come and live in the UK then they should integrate not separate as happens now.
We are a secular society and Mr B. Liar's view of one people is complete bollox.
No faith based schools in UK would be a start, no schools to teach anything but ENGLISH as the main language. All children to attend schools in the same uniform, no allowance for minority faith based dress.
If you don't like it don't come here.
TeamD said:
Nice dream BliarOut, but you only have to look at what happens to people who try to preach Christianity in the vast majority of Moslem countries, it's just plain illegal. Who knows what they'd say if you wanted to build a church!
Not true, in some countries - yes, but not the majority by any means.
Many ex-pat Brit communities abroad moan when they have no involvement/representation. That we moan when some larger minorities do is a bit hypocritical.
It's a shame that we need to look at some of the minorities to see a sense of belonging and community because many are too wrapped up in their own lives to make that effort (myself included).
In a few places in the UK, if an Asian lad gets himself into bother with the law it will get "dealt with" by the community, regardless of what happens. I don't see that happening with many scrotes who's families have been here for many generations. There are obvious downsides to this but voices from a cohesive group are usually listened to better than a few fractured calls.
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