Do the events at Batley Grammar School over showing cartoons of The Prophet Mohammed tell us anything about the nature of Islam? With the benefit of hindsight provided by the Charlie Hebdo slaughter in 2015 and the more recent public beheading of Samuel Paty, I think they do. Nevertheless, I think it was foolish of the teacher at Batley Grammar School to show the cartoon pictures of The Prophet Mohammed to his class. While I would have a perfect right to do so, I certainly would not have done it. Not out of fear but in order not to offend my Muslim students or my Muslim friends, and I have many of both.
I fully defend the right of Muslims to be offended by anything. In turn, I find their downgrading of the Son of God to the status of mere prophet, however well they respect Him, offensive. But when I am in an Islamic country I do not proselytise to that effect as it would deliberately offend my hosts. Even when I am working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where I would face the death penalty, the reason I do not proselytise is mainly to avoid deliberate offence. Although I do also quite like my head where it is. Moreover, I do not proselytise about it in this country. While I find this aspect of their theology intolerable—therefore, I am not and never will be a Muslim—I tolerate Muslims and do not protest outside Mosques.
The nature of the protests outside Bately Grammar School are wrong at many levels. Certainly, Christians are capable of protest. I walked past protesters when I went to view Monty Python’s Life of Brian in 1979; a film I still laugh my way through regularly. More recent and ongoing protests by pro-life demonstrators near abortion clinics are another manifestation, but in the UK these people do not issue death threats to the abortionists who can continue to go about their grisly trade with impunity. In contrast, as I write, the school in Bately is closed, the teacher in question is hiding in fear of his life. The head teacher is apologising to the protesters and has suspended the teacher at the centre of the protests. Death threats are clearly illegal, and I hope that those who have issued such threats will be brought to justice.
The fact the protests are taking place in the first place is perplexing. We, and the Bately demonstrators, do not live in an Islamic country. We no longer have blasphemy laws and, let’s face it, they were cartoons. So, what does it tell us about the nature of Islam? Muslims and Christians can be reconciled; many are, and I include many Muslims in the UK and across the world amongst my closest friends. But, while I am sure the most extreme actions related to the issue of showing cartoons of The Prophet Mohammed are alien to most UK Muslims, the various events related to this issue demonstrate that our ideas may be harder to reconcile.
On Talk Radio on the day following the protests, Julia Hartley-Brewer interviewed several prominent Muslims about the Bately protests. Mohammed Shafiq, Chief Executive of The Ramadhan Foundation, was quick to condemn the nature of the protests as were others interviewed. But Mohammed Sajid Hussain, Founder, Purpose of Life had to be pushed very hard by Hartley-Brewer to state unambiguously that beheading someone for showing cartoons was worse than actually showing the cartoons. Worse, mind you, not completely unacceptable. These and other people interviewed by Hartley-Brewer represent the moderate end of the spectrum of UK Muslims. I hope those at the other end of the spectrum are being watched closely by the police.
I welcome the Muslim minority of the UK who make a significant contribution to the life of the country. But if we do not abandon unworkable and failed ideas of multiculturalism, which allow the incubation of extremist ideas, and return to the notions of integration and the rule of law—to whatever ‘community’ you belong—how long before we have our next beheading?
Opinions from the Unity News Network (UNN) editorial team & various contributors. | UNN always clearly distinguishes between news and opinion pieces and as an open minded outlet we publish views from a variety of people and organisation that do not necessarily reflect the views of UNN or its writers. Articles published under UNN Opinions are always opinion pieces and if published on behalf of a contributor will contain that authors name at the start of the piece.
