British Government Urged to Limit Free Speech.

It has been reported that thousands of Muslims have attended a rally in Birmingham to implore the government to ban criticism of Islam. This, from The News on the Tuesday just gone (hat-tip to The Religion Of Peace:

Thousands rally in UK to demand end to anti-Islam speeches BIRMINGHAM: Up to 25,000 British Pakistani men, women and children from across the UK gathered in Aston Park here to express their love for Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) and to call on the British government to introduce legislation that bars Islamophobes from insulting Islam under the garb of the freedom of speech. The participants, who also travelled from several parts of European cities, were led in a peaceful and colourful mile-long march by Hazrat Peer Alauddin Siddiqui. This is the fourth consecutive gathering for the biggest Melaad-un-Nabi (PBUH) of British Pakistanis in Britain but this year it was dedicated to "protect the honour and legacy of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH)". Speakers included interfaith leaders from Christian, Hindu, Sikh, and Jewish religions and parliamentarians from Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrats. Sardar Attique Khan, former Azad Kashmir prime minister, was the chief guest of the rally. Hazrat Peer Alauddin Siddiqui, who is a renowned Sufi scholar, told Geo News: "Thousands have come together to show peacefully to the western world that the production and promotion of a recent film insulting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has caused hurt to Muslims all over the world. We are a peaceful community and we will do everything to protect peace and respect for all on equal basis. It's not fair that some people insult Islam everyday and preach hatred through their actions and words but the lack of legislation encourages such elements. We want to tell our government that we welcome debate and constructive criticism of our religion but insults are unacceptable and inflammatory language is contributing to the rise of extremism amongst youth in western countries where youth mistakenly believe that the West hates Islam and Muslims." He announced that a rally of tens of thousands of Muslims will be held soon in Hyde Park to profess loyalty to Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) as well as to condemn the crudely made "Innocence of Muslims" movie which was recently released in the US and caused outrage in the Islamic world, including leading to a ban on Youtube in Pakistan. Peer Siddiqui told the audience that relations between Islamic and Western countries have improved in recent years and these years need to be strengthened but that is possible if all religions are respected and there should be law in place to ensure that Islam and Muslims are not singled out. "There is resentment amongst Muslims over the continuing failure of the western government for not doing enough to protect Muslims. Attacks on Muslims have increased and while we are law-abiding and peace-loving citizens of this country, we want our government to take our concern into account," he added and appealed to Muslims to stay peaceful against provocations. Speakers said that freedom of speech was a cherished value but abusing Islam is not freedom of speech. They said the best way forward is to engage constructively with Muslims about their religion. They said Muslims were making a great contribution towards everyday life in western countries and it is important that their contribution is recognized.

Bit of a strange one, this: although the report is dated last Tuesday, I can find no mention on the web of any demonstration occurring in Aston Park involving this Peer Alauddin Siddiqui. There was a similar event this time last year, it seems, but why this repeated report? This Pakistan-based publication may well be indulging in a little Groundhog reporting for propaganda purposes. I could be wrong & this could yet appear in the Birmingham weeklies, but in the meantime, let us examine what is being said:

First paragraph: a demonstration of 25000 would have generated news reports in this country, if anything of the like did happen then it was far smaller than claimed. Furthermore, the government will never pass legislation that singles out one religion for special protection.

Second paragraph: it is not credible that parliamentarians of any stripe would go to something like this would attend without publicising their activity. Also, why are they not named?

Third paragraph: this 'hurt' is entirely confected. Islamists realise now that public displays of anger are counter-productive but they desperately need to silence any honest appraisal of Mohammed or the cult he initiated in 622, so hurt feelings are the order of the day. The protestations that they are peaceful & want respect for all on an equal basis looks like a reflexive action obfuscating what Mr Siddiqui knows to be a lie, look at the country he comes from. Equality for all is actually contrary to Islamic teaching with regard to the dhimmi. To continue: Muslims in general do not welcome debate, citing anything short of craven submission as a declaration of war. Any debating point will be met with taqiyya – the legal lie to the infidel – or intimidation when taqiyya does not work. Finally, blaming Islamic terrorism on free speech was a nice touch, a threat without being a threat, so it's nothing to do with verses in the Koran telling Muslims to kill the infidel, is it, Mr Siddiqui? Here is a small selection:

And kill them wherever you find & catch them. Drive them out from where they have turned you out; for Fitna is worse than slaughter. 2:191 Allah wished to confirm the truth by His words: 'Wipe the infidels out to the last.' 8:7 Your Lord inspired the angels with the message: 'I am with you. Give firmness to the Believers. I will terrorise the unbelievers. Therefore smite them on their necks & every joint & incapacitate them. Strike off their heads & cut off each of their fingers & toes.' 8:12 So fight them until there is no more Fitna & all submit to the religion of Allah alone. 8:39 Fight & kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, harass them, lie in wait & ambush them using every stratagem of war. 9:5 The Messenger & those who believe with him, strive hard & fight with their wealth & lives in Allah's Cause. 9:88 Allah has purchased the believers, their lives & their goods. For them (in return) is the Garden. They fight in Allah's Cause, & they slay & are slain; they kill & are killed. 9:111

Fourth paragraph: you can protest Innocence of Muslims all you like, the UK will not censor the internet like Pakistan does. As this group was unable to muster 25000 for the Aston Park rally it is highly unlikely that 'tens of thousands' will gather in Hyde Park.

Fifth paragraph: all religions should be respected, should they, like Christianity in Egypt & Pakistan, Hinduism in Bangladesh? This is clear hypocrisy. Noticing that the most common propagator of religious hatred across the world is, in fact, Islam is now touted as singling out Muslims. Too bad.

Sixth paragraph: attacks on Muslims have not increased, attacks on non-Muslims have, though & that includes the heinous targeting of young English girls for sexual slavery. It is a wonder that this 'Peer' (used to be spelt 'Pir', now to give the impression that he's in the Lords?) has the brass neck to say such a thing when Muslims are growing more arrogant & militant all the time. The only resentment amongst Muslims is that engendered from having to share a country with unbelievers.

Seventh paragraph: abusing Islam is, indeed, freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is freedom to offend; there is no freedom to go through life without being offended. Also, the freedom of speech was originally written in to our culture as a protection against tyranny; those who wanted to impose tyranny could be called to account & be exposed.

Guess what, Muslims know this. They intend to impose their tyranny upon us in the form of shari'ah law & do not want anyone pointing out that it is a despicable raft of despotism & hate that would see us all cast into a hell of barbarism & darkness the like of which we constantly see in Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia & Bangladesh. Don't be fooled by hurt feelings.

There is a reason this happened in the UK (whichever year it happened). It is because, of all the European countries, we kowtowed over the Danish cartoons when the rest of Europe reprinted them. We engaged in self-censorship & are now seen as a soft touch. We cannot go on like this.

Was there something I've forgotten? Oh, yes, this: