FAIR STRONGLY CONDEMNS GEERT WILDER’S FILM “FITNA”.

The moral simplicity and pure self-publicising opportunism of Geert Wilder's film is outrageous, and the mental gutter into which he has dragged intellectual discourse a sad reflection of the state into which Islamophobes have sunk.

Projecting himself the upright, respectable citizen, Wilder sees his crusade as a noble cause, an important exposition of some high-minded “truths” regarding Islam, the Qur’an, and Muslims. In reality there is no shortage of fallacious comment, faulty logic, outright lies, and exaggerated distortion.

Wilder’s film is little more than an attempt to divide communities through heavily playing on people’s deepest fears and emotions, generating anger, and inciting hatred. Like all racists and extremists, he seems oblivious to the fact that his film is also threatening the safety and security of vulnerable groups, damaging community cohesion and threatening national interests.

FAIR is delighted that Muslims have upheld the true message and ethics of Islam by responding peacefully and with measured thought to the film. We strongly urge all right-minded and just people to do the same.

FAIR also thanks all those people in the Netherlands and elsewhere who have rightly condemned the film, including those in the media who have refused to either air it or post it on websites.

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FAIR is disappointed over the reporting and timing of comments by MP Woolas on ‘Cousin Marriages’.

Open season on Islam is in full swing, this time MP Phil Woolas feels it is his duty to highlight the issue of genetic illnesses suffered by children whose parents are first cousins. We thank him for the attention he has brought to this important matter but are surprised at the insensitivity of his timing given the uproar that is still raging over the Archbishop's comments concerning Shariah law in Britain.

Furthermore, we are perplexed as to how a primarily cultural issue has become a full blown Islamic one? The Islamophobic undertones of newspaper reporting is barely disguised, as pictures of yet more blacked out women appear incongruously under giant headlines attacking cousin marriages. We fail to see the connection. Surely focus should be on seeking positive solutions.

FAIR is disappointed to see that journalists are exploiting the story as yet more evidence of Islam’s backwardness instead of empathizing for the children and families concerned.

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ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY’S SPEECH AND SHARIAH LAW

FAIR believes in working towards improving social cohesion in Britain but does not feel that the application of Shariah Law within the British legal system would necessarily work towards achieving this.

Allowing the dust of hysteria to settle for a moment, the number one priority for British Muslims is to curb rising levels of Islamophobia, and add to the welfare of not only their own but all British communities.

Furthermore, the Muslim community has been left in the strange position of being lambasted for a position it has not advocated or taken.

Putting this entire episode in context FAIR believes that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams has not advocated the replacement of British Law with the Shariah but rather voiced opinions on a number of complex issues. What he meant is perhaps best elucidated by him.

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As part of the Muslim Safety Forum (MSF), FAIR has worked closely with the Metropolitan Police, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) National and the Community Tension Team on the joint project to combat crimes against the Muslim community.

Islamophobia - Don't Suffer in Silence is a crime reporting scheme, set up in Tower Hamlets, which aims to encourage Muslims to report faith hate crimes. ...More  

Following the recent rise of Islamophobic incidences, FAIR are monitoring and recording such incidences against Muslims, if you have been or know of anyone who has been a victim of such crime, send us details of such incidences by email at fair@fairuk.org or call us on our helplines below.
 

The Rise of Islamophobia in Europe - Institute of Race Relations' European Race Bulletin Winter 2008 No 62 provides a snapshot of the mosaic of campaigns against Muslim places of worship and religious symbols across Europe. More information...