During the pandemic, extremist organisations have spread their ideologies online on a much larger scale than before. There was a massive increase in the use of Telegram by extremist groups after April 2020 and radicals are always on the lookout for new messaging platforms. Isis has been experimenting with a number of platforms to disseminate its violent ideology, as reported by Etidal - an international counter-extremism hub.
So I went on a journey speaking to former extremists to find out how they were radicalised and what factors led to their reformation. There were three lessons I learnt. 1. Having a strong moral upbringing protects from radicalisation later on. 2. Traveling shows you how different cultures and faiths peacefully coexist 3. Spending time with those different to you humanises them These experiences are found in all three of the following people I spoke with. Drew As long as a child’s upbringing is based on solid moral foundations and a respectful and tolerant worldview, they’re less likely to complete the radicalisation process and be involved in violence, even if exposed to extremist content later in life. I spoke to Drew who had a liberal upbringing and was taught to be accepting of others. But being autistic and exposed to online gaming communities during the Gamergate controversy, which was a culture war around female representation in games, he started harbouring hateful views towards feminists, immigrants and Muslims. Each Muslim terror attack ingrained those views further. But after the Nice attacks in France when there was an increase of Islamophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment, he realised this was not the way he had been brought up. After seeing anti-Semitic posters in university, the gravity of his worldview hit home and he abandoned the anger he had towards other groups. Drew also went traveling to Europe after the Nice attacks and visited the city, where he saw people of different faiths mourning together. Yossi Distance and generalisations about those we have anger towards contributes to radicalisation. Yossi is a Jew originally from New York whose dad survived the holocaust. He hated Germans and the rest of the world after hearing his father’s stories. But his parents also taught him respect and living life with dignity. As a teenager he joined the Jewish Defence League and even prepared terrorist attacks. But he could never take the leap to violence. He could be friends with terrorists but couldn’t become one of them. Deaths caused by the JDL shocked him and when the group got more extreme he re-examined his beliefs and travelled to Europe. Here he described “small acts of kindness” and curiosity about Jews by Europeans as moments which led to his deradicalisation. He started to remember that while his father warned him about the world, he also taught him to be a good person. Yossi moved to Jerusalem and spent time praying with Muslims and Christians eventually developing a “deep love for Islam”. Now he’s involved in peace efforts between Israelis and Palestinians. Alex When we learn about other faiths and cultures based on isolated incidents in the media, it’s easy to develop animosity towards them. Alex grew up in Texas thinking that all Muslims lived in the Middle East and were extremists. Though he never believed it, these thoughts were difficult to challenge as he’d never spent time with Muslims. “My lack of education and exposure to Muslims muddled my perception of them,” he said. His mother taught him to respect everyone; she was the daughter of an army colonel and spent time in Libya, Greece, Japan and other countries. Alex moved to Singapore as part of a student exchange programme and lived with a Muslim family during Ramadan, observing their “kindness, devotion and commitment to their children”. He said: “Living with different cultures really humanises people and too often in the US, ethnic and racial groups live in the same city but separate areas so you could go your whole life not having to meet a Muslim.” He credits the change of his views to his mother and spending time with the Muslim family. He noticed that in Singapore schools have cultural education days and its Ethnic Integration Policy prevents the formation of ethnic enclaves placing quotas on how many residents of one racial group can live in a building. I decided to speak to people like Drew, Yossi and Alex to understand why people turn to extremism, how they turn back from it and what we can do to prevent radicalisation. It was part of a UN project called EDIN - Empowering Dialogue & Interfaith Networks - to equip young faith leaders and young media makers to tackle hate speech online. My conversations have reinforced the need to remove the barriers to open conversations, meet people different from you, and give children strong moral frameworks with which to see the world. Covid has meant extremists have turned to online media even more to spread their hateful views. But there are a host of young media makers and faith leaders like me providing the counter-narrative.
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Extremist thought is allowed to linger too long in this country and freedom of speech is no excuse5/30/2017 It was a welcome move by LBC to finally remove Katie Hopkins from her provocative show. However, it took an especially grotesque tweet to do so which shows how overly tolerant or simply blind we’ve become to the abuse of free speech taking place. For far too long we’ve allowed extremists, Muslim and non-Muslim the airtime to spout their hate-filled and divisive rhetoric. Anjum Choudary similarly was was placed on platform upon platform, news channel upon news channel before being sentenced to imprisonment for supporting terrorism. Why does it take a heinous attack and a vile tweet calling for mass extermination of Muslims, to make us realise what the issue is here? The Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “publicity is the oxygen sustaining most terrorist or extremist groups”. And he was right because without publicity the recruiting mechanism of extremists would fail. And yet we play right into their hands by giving extremists ample airtime. He also recommended arming police (something we’re now seeing on the streets), monitoring Mosque sermons and for the media to limit extremist exposure. The Caliph’s own sermons are broadcast live throughout the world and published often the same day on various media platforms. Fortunately, Britain has a good record of curbing extremism, be it political or otherwise. In the 1930s the National Government was successful in repressing political extremism through legislation and likewise limited the IRA’s influence in the late 1980s to the mid 1990s. Similarly the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 outlined measures to prevent radicalisation and cease terrorist activities. In recent years the government has banned certain hate speakers from entering the UK - a thoroughly commendable step. Some however seem to think removing hate-filled rhetoric is an attack on free speech. It isn’t, it’s an attack on toxic messages which lead to terror. We did it in the past with the IRA and we do it today by banning those who would create disorder. Hate speech, provocation and taking advantage of the climate of extremism are not justified under free speech. Otherwise we wouldn’t have laws, regulations and rules banning racism, anti-semitism and hate. Those defending Hopkins’ right to air her poisonous views like to cherry-pick our laws just as the extremists cherry-pick religious verses. Article 10 of the Human Rights Act while upholding freedom of expression does not permit the misuse of it. It allows restrictions to protect morals, public safety and prevent disorder. Extremists don’t win when we censor material which is likely to pervert our young. They win when their ideology is publicly aired and shared by all the media outlets. Our tabloid newspapers are quick to jump on the divisive bandwagon too. It’s about time we have greater restrictions on such who flagrantly flout principles of journalistic integrity let alone of human decency. We saw this when Kelvin McKenzie was rightly sacked for his crude comments against Everton footballer, Ross Barkley. McKenzie has a history of impropriety and it shouldn’t have taken this long to remove him. The media is bound by reporting restrictions anyway when it comes to court proceedings or police investigations. Why should it be any different when it’s about public safety, decency and limiting extremist output? Freedoms come with responsibility and restrictions because there exist among us those who use those freedoms to further their own perverse and selfish agendas. Muslim or non-Muslim, extremists are among us. But so are the infinitely decent and right-minded people who value diversity, respect and responsible free speech. And as long as these people exist, there’s hope yet that the radicals will never gain ground. Also published in The Muslim Times. The leader of the oldest and largest organised Muslim community in Britain said hundreds of thousands are joining his community because of its peaceful teachings. The comments, made at the annual Peace Symposium of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community this year, came after renewed fears of radicalisation in the aftermath of the London attack. The Caliph of the community, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “You will never find any case of radicalisation in our community. “Hundreds of thousands are joining the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community because of our teachings of love, peace and harmony. Just last year, 535,000 joined us.” He explained the reasons why members of his community are never radicalised. He said the teachings and fundamentals of the religion are made clear with guidance directly through the Caliph in any points of dissension. He explained, for example, Islamic terminology like Jihad is often misunderstood and misrepresented. He said: “The true Jihad is the one where you strive for self-reformation”. This is in contrast to many other Muslim organisations who still have to provide such a distinct interpretation of commonly misunderstood Islamic concepts. The Ahmadiyya community has been clear on this interpretation since its founder started the organisation in 1889. It has published thousands of books and leaflets clarifying such misconceptions. He further explained that according to him, integration did not mean abandoning the principles of one’s faith. Rather, he said it meant one should love one’s nation and work for its betterment. The community’s organised structure and extensive work with its youth is another factor preventing radicalisation. The auxiliary branch of the organisation - the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association engages its members in various activities like tree-planting, homeless feeding, workshops, sports days and spring retreats. However, many Muslims do not consider the group to be true representatives of Islam. A contentious theological point has caused rifts between mainstream Muslims and Ahmadis often resulting in persecution and ostracization of the latter. Mainstream Muslims say Prophet Muhammad was the final Prophet and none can come after him. However, Ahmadi Muslims say Prophet Muhammad was the final ‘law-bearing’ Prophet but Prophets subordinate to him can still appear. They say their founder Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was the awaited Messiah and a subordinate Prophet to Muhammad. This has led Ahmadis to be labeled as heretics and non-Muslims and even resulted in persecution in the UK and abroad. Algeria has begun a recent crackdown on the community, arresting its national president in February as human rights groups call on the government to uphold religious freedom. The government says arrests were for individual crimes and not targeted at the community. Likewise, last year an Ahmadi shopkeeper was murdered in Glasgow by a man from Bradford who was radicalised by hate-speech against the group. The community was forced to migrate from Pakistan to London in 1984 after the dictator General Zia outlawed it and cracked down on its followers. Since then, they have been headquartered in Wandsworth, London. They are spread in over 200 countries with tens of millions of members. When the 2005 London bombings took place, I was on my way to the school bus as I heard what had just happened. I couldn’t believe it was true until I got home and saw all the pictures on the news. This time the pictures, notifications and reports flooded in from everywhere and so did the heroic brave stories of those who tried to help the victims and the police who put themselves in between the danger and the public - ready to sacrifice their lives. This time I didn’t care if it was a Muslim or not because it didn’t matter and never does since all terrorists share the same ideology - that of hate. I cared how we’d react. Jo Cox’s murder is always in the back of my mind because I still don’t believe our nation as a whole woke up that day to the toxic effects of divisive speech, suspicion and hate. This time, while I was shaken, shocked, and terribly aghast at the vile nature of the attack, my heart felt a sense of pride at our nation’s response to such reprehensible deeds. Columnist Simon Jenkins made a sagacious point, one which the Muslim leader, Caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has also made in the past. The Caliph said: “Publicity is the oxygen sustaining most terrorist or extremist groups." Mr. Jenkins said: “The terrorists’ aim is not just to kill a few but to terrify a multitude. For politicians and media to overreact would play into their hands.” That is, publicity is the oxygen which extremists thrive on and rather than overreact and publicise terror acts, giving them notoriety, we should focus on the great work of the public and emergency services. Many were inspired by the brave attempts of Bournemouth MP, Tobias Ellwood who desperately tried to save PC Keith Palmer by administering CPR. Politicians showed solidarity and resolve as they were locked in the Commons Chambers tweeting how they had heard gunshots and had little idea of what happened. The Prime Minister likewise rightly condemned the ‘sick and depraved’ attack. They didn’t cower or express fear but remained calm and composed as you’d hope your leaders would in such times as these. It gives hope our country is still run by talented, professional and sincere individuals. Perhaps even more inspiring were the emergency services who we just never appreciate enough. Doctors and nurses literally ran from nearby St. Thomas’s Hospital to the scene at Westminster bridge where passers-by were helping the injured. This is how our nation comes together and good overcomes evil. The police were mobilised within minutes and videos emerged of policeman at Westminster evacuating the area, trying to save the public, shouting for them to get under cover. Extra patrols were deployed across the country overnight to protect citizens and armed officers stood guard everywhere. Likewise our intelligence and security services’ work made this the exception, not the rule. Fifty attacks have been averted by counter-terrorism police since 7/7 but this was one they didn’t see coming. Investigators will continue to make raids and arrests and capture anyone else linked to the attacker and their quiet work behind the scenes keeps us safe in the long run. Brendon Cox has become the voice of reason since his wife’s murder in trying to build bridges and continue his wife’s work in that regard. He expressed heartening thoughts saying the ‘sense of public support’ and ‘thousand of acts of kindness’ helped him in the aftermath. Messages of hope have been drawn on the floor at Trafalgar Square and last night a vigil took place where members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community stood alongside all others with large banners saying ‘love for all, hatred for none’, wearing t-shirts with the words ‘I am a Muslim’ so everyone knows how Islam stands for loyalty and unity. They reiterated the point that the Qur’an teaches whosoever kills an innocent person, it’s as if they’ve killed all mankind, and whosoever saves a life, it’s as if they’ve saved all mankind. With the efforts of the public and emergency services, humanity was saved more times than it was killed when the crazed man drove across Westminster bridge. Masood was criminal turned terrorist. He can never be a reason to divide us or a reason to think his actions were inspired by any religious motive. He had previous convictions and was involved with petty crime at a young age - like others who turn out as killers.
Brendon Cox was again the one to respond with the wisest of words: “We have to remember that the person who did this is no more representative of British Muslims than the person who killed Jo is representative of people that are from Yorkshire." Normal services resumed the day after and Parliament was in session as usual. Even though this tube sign which went viral turned out to be fake, it perfectly summed up the British response: ‘All terrorists are politely reminded that THIS IS LONDON and whatever you do to us, we will drink tea and jolly well carry on.’ Even if one tube message was fake, at least this one was real: ‘The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of them all.’ Never have more pertinent words been written. After this attack, the greatness of our nation reveals itself even more. Now more than ever, it’s vital to not only appreciate the great things about this wonderful nation, but also to respond with that much more love, trust and unity towards every single person who lives alongside us in modern Britain. Muslim leader and Hiroshima survivor to warn of nuclear war and urge for peace after London terror3/23/2017 This month, Hiroshima survivor Ms. Setsuko Thurlow will give a speech in London as she claims the 2017 ‘Advancement of Peace’ Prize presented by the Caliph of the oldest Muslim organisation in Britain. It’s for her anti-nuclear activism describing the horrors of living through nuclear devastation in what she calls ‘hell on earth’. We must listen to what she has to say, especially in light of repeated warnings a nuclear war is on the horizon. She was 13 when the bombs fell in her homeland and now campaigns for nuclear disarmament. In a politically tense and nuclear-filled world, hearing what the survivor of an atomic bomb has to say will be the most sagacious approach to preventing a repeat of a tragedy that could conceivably hit any city in the world - such are the wide-ranging nuclear capabilities of nations today. Nine countries possess more than 15,000 nuclear weapons. Modern day conflicts and violence could easily lead to the conclusion that man has forgotten the death and carnage caused by former generations. Centuries of human violence, bloodshed and wars see no end with only 10 countries considered free from conflict according to the Global Peace Index. The seemingly great strides in unity, pluralism and civility after World War 2 face ruin with populism, terrorism and war ripping through any endeavour of peace today. Forecasts of a third global war are increasingly being made with some suggesting the stage is already set, while others believe it has already begun. For example, in the buildup to World War 2, far-right nationalist parties gained ground, the League of Nations proved ineffective and economic recession had hit the markets hard. It just sounds ever too familiar. Today we have a UN ineffective at dealing with the conflicts, poverty and war widely prevalent, creeping far-right movements in Europe and America and erratic global financial markets. The similitudes are deafening. Echos of the Cold War reverberate almost daily and the great powers are already at war, albeit a proxy war with Syria the biggest victim of the power struggle. The outlook seems bleak in the grand scheme of things but there can still be found glimmers of light and hope. The keynote speaker at the event who will present the peace prize, His Holiness Caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has long been warning of the devastating effects of nuclear war. He said at a previous conference: “The weapons available today are so destructive that they could lead to generation after generation of children being born with severe genetic or physical defects. Drinking water, food and vegetation will be all contaminated by radiation. We can only imagine what type of diseases such contamination will lead to. It is my ardent wish and hope that the leaders of all major nations come to understand this dreadful reality. And so instead of adopting aggressive policies and utilising force to achieve their aims and objectives, they should strive to adopt policies that promote and secure justice.” Meanwhile, NGOs, charities and activists like Ms. Setsuko Thurlow continue in their efforts to disarm nations of destructive weapons. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is advocating a ban on nuclear weapons in the same category as chemical and biological weapons. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is joined by 191 states including 5 of the nine possessing nuclear armaments. Only India, Israel and Pakistan are the nuclear powers who haven’t signed up. Ms.Thurlow says the excuse of a deterrent is nonsense. “We have been lucky the past 71 years but we can’t keep pushing our luck. As long as those weapons exist, we keep competing and are leading ourselves to catastrophe. She frequently tells her story of experiencing the bombs as a schoolgirl in Japan, urging for the complete abolition of the catastrophic weapons. Both her and the Caliph are expected to speak on the issue when she’s presented with the accolade for her efforts. The peace prize is awarded by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community at the annual Peace Symposium in the UK’s biggest Mosque, based in Morden. Previous winners include Lord Eric Avebury and Abdul Sattar Edhi. It will take place on the 25th of March and I for one will be eager to hear what both have to say. It was the most high profile murder in decades on British soil which equally shook and horrified the nation if not the world. It wasn’t just any MP, it was a young, talented, principled, adored and respected representative of the people. Far more than you could say about many other politicians today.
Her funeral held today, overshadowed by the Nice attack in France, the terror of which is exactly what she stood against, was while a private affair, followed by thousands of those who appreciate what she stood for. But not a month has passed since the gruesome and unjust way she was taken and it’s evident nothing has really changed. Immediately after her murder, shock and disbelief was expressed, Parliamentary tributes were made, EU referendum campaigning was put on hold, her family issued a defiant and dignified response and even Canadian MPs held a minute’s silence in respect. It really felt like one of the worst cases of murder in British history - the murder of a passionate stateswomen in her prime. You’d have thought things would change, the country would unite and politicians would follow her example. How saddeningly wrong you would have been. Just days later, as if nothing had happened, the country albeit marginally, voted to leave the EU. No sooner had we left than racist xenophobes felt they suddenly had the license to expel ever ‘foreigner’ out the country. Jo Cox was murdered because she strove with all aspects of society to unite everyone and build a better Britain. In her maiden Parliamentary speech she expressed how her constituency had been ‘deeply enhanced’ by immigrants, whether they be Pakistani Muslims or Irish Catholics. Yet no sooner had we left the EU than the divides in Britain which she sought to curb began to widen. After the dreadful attacks in Nice deemed to be terrorism (one still wonders why her murder wasn't labelled as such), the swathes of anti-Muslim sentiment not least from Katie Hopkins, the ill-informed and rudely brash personality, pervaded the online sphere. This was even before any facts of the perpetrator had been confirmed. If those like her, continue to blame Islam then they’re of the same mindset which killed Jo Cox. Muslims are just as much victims of such attacks as anyone else. The Nice attacker was a French Tunisian and a petty criminal. Being involved in crime is as un-Islamic as it gets. Jo Cox’s husband right from the outset called for all to ‘fight against the hatred that killed her’, because hate has no religion, nationality, ethnicity or colour. Whether black hatred in America, Polish hate-crime post-brexit or anti-Muslim sentiment whenever a terror attack happens, it’s not for one section of society to condemn it. It’s the duty of every peaceful and progressive citizen to do so, not just by words but by actions, like Jo Cox did all through her life not only as an MP but as an impressive, avid charity and humanitarian worker. More than ever today, after her funeral, amidst all the anguish, hate, division and confusion, we must remember what she died for. We must condemn every act of violence and hatred because that’s what led to her death. And if it wasn’t a wake up call then, it has to be now. Hate-speech is toxic and leads to violence. Our biggest threats aren’t across our borders thousands of miles away, they are right here in our homeland, amongst our own people. If we’re really to honour her memory and prevent anything like that ever happening again, then in her own words we must remember, ‘We are far more united than the things that divide us.’ With over 12 million affected, the current refugee crisis is the worst the world has seen since World War 2 according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). As Syrians, once established professionals with stable careers and incomes, are forced to flee their homes while others are driven to feeding themselves with grass, the world response has been divergent if anything.
Some have opened up their borders only to find the massive influx too big a burden to accommodate. Others have pledged to take in relatively minute numbers. While a few have sealed their borders to incoming refugees. Strikingly, Hungary was the most vociferous in its anti-refugee rhetoric saying “Muslim migrants pose a threat to Europe’s prosperity, security and Christian values”. Despite there being genuine concerns over how possible economic migrants and radical foreign fighters could slip into Europe posing as refugees, Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban wasn’t shy about airing his xenophobic views. However, the situation is more complex than first meets the eye. The sheer number and frequency of refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria has left the world reeling. 4.6 million refugees are in need of settlement, pouring into neighbouring countries as over 2 million Syrians have flocked to Turkey alone for safety from the conflict. The EU gave Ankara €3bn last November as Turkey now seeks to grant work permits to refugees to build more stable lives. There hasn’t been a united international response or any quota system by the UN which would allocate numbers to specific countries across the world. While the EU did implement a quota system to distribute 120,000 refugees across Europe, this number is negligible as compared with the millions displaced which is why an international response is needed. Some EU states, in the Eastern bloc meanwhile, refuse to take in their share of refugees and oppose the EU’s plan causing rifts within the Union. Further in almost every affected country, there have been significant elements opposed to refugees as Islamophobic sentiment rises and paranoia of terrorists seeping into Europe reaches unparalleled highs, more so since the Paris attacks last November. Reports suggest the Istanbul bomber who killed 10 German tourists came posing as a refugee, thus heightening security protocols and making life even more difficult for prospective asylum seekers. US Presidential candidate, Donald Trump has exasperated the paranoia against Muslims the last few months by generalising the issue having painted all Muslim with the same brush. In the last few months, he’s called for a complete ban on all Muslims even stepping in to the country. It remains to be seen how seriously his radical, at times comical views are taken. Although President Obama has planned to resettle a meagre 10,000 refugees, he faces criticism from both spectrums. Members of Congress and others in the political sphere censured him citing ‘national security concerns and ‘the culmination of a failed foreign policy’ as criticisms of Obama’s call to house 10,000. One the other hand, advocacy groups like the human rights non-profit, Human Rights First said that 10,000 is ‘far too little’ and 100,000 would be more nearer the mark. Canada, Germany and Finland on the flipside, it seemed, were quick to welcome in refugees with open arms with the Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila even offering his own home to refugees. Finland committed to receiving 32,000 refugees but the response from some resident Finns has been less than welcoming as racist groups seek to belie the government’s magnanimity towards Syrian refugees. Canada welcomed its 10,000th refugee this week, mere months after announcing the initiative in a move praised by the UNHCR. Recently elected Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau personally welcomed the first to arrive by handing them winter coats and reassuring them ‘you’re safe at home now’. Canada’s response seems to be one of the most well thought, open hearted and swift plans as they pledge to take in 25,000 by the end of February 2016. As compared with Britain’s pledge to resettle 20,000 by 2020 and US’s 10,000, Canada is far ahead in its proactive attitude towards the refugee crisis. Perhaps the most intriguing response is seen by Germany who, with their open door policy are said to have admitted up to a million, a third of which are from Syria. Almost 40,000 were granted refugee status last August. But with such numbers come similar problems. As Germany struggles under the strain of the massive influx, Merkel faces opposition within her own ranks while right-wing fascist groups seethe at the sight of so many immigrants. Just months after refugees were welcomed so enthusiastically by cheering crowds, the mood has shifted as the cracks begin to show. Angela Merkel now seeks to ‘drastically decrease’ the number of refugees entering. While Syrian refugees are mainly still being accepted, hundreds are still being turned back especially as pressure grows on Merkel to curb the influx after the Cologne assaults on New Year’s by migrants. Without entering into the immigration debate, it’s safe to say migrants and refugees alike bring many benefits, one being the desire of most to simply work hard and live as normal citizens. Lest we forget, Steve Jobs was born of Syrian immigrants to the US and likewise in the UK floods this winter, Syrian refugees were assisting by filling up sandbags. A group of Syrian refugees were also reported to have helped and escorted a harassed women through the mob to safety during the New Year’s Cologne assaults on women. There’s no doubt many Syrians simply want to return home, in safety. However, the unlikelihood of that happening amidst the increased bombing by Western powers means refugees are here to stay and with their hard work ethic, it may not be such a bad thing for respective nations. Some cited Germany’s aging population and depleted workforce as reasons for their open door policy. Such able bodied, hardworking refugees may have been too good a deal to turn down. In any case, a long term solution is needed to help the Syrian diaspora from what is being described as the worst humanitarian crisis of our time. Implementing a worldwide quota system, while easing the burden on countries stretched with the crisis would only help ease the situation for a while – until the next conflict brings in another host of refugees. It’s blatantly obvious therefore the only solution to the current deluge of refugees is to end the conflict so Syrians can return home, which is where they’d rather be. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V, in his tour of Holland last year commented on the solution to the refugee crisis. He stated that atrocities committed by governments and extremists against citizens of one’s own country must be stopped. Further, he advised that any migrants, who are genuine asylum seekers must be given opportunities to settle down temporarily until the situation in their own country improves. He went on to say that neighbouring countries have the primary responsibility to house the refugees and all must be vigilant lest ISIS members posing as refugees mingle in with genuine seekers of asylum. In any case, the decision to bomb Syria and Iraq by Western forces in the aftermath of the Paris attacks wasn’t going to be conducive to solving the refugee crisis let alone the strife in the region. Politicians and key decisions makers across the world would be wise to sit down at the UN to discuss a united effort to end the conflict. With numerous sides playing with fire, one backing the other, there seems little hope for an end to the war. Justin Trudeau recalled all fighter jets soon after his election, paving the way for his country to be part of the solution – taking in refugees, rather than the cause – military intervention in a complex situation. Perhaps other world leaders could follow suit rather than plunging headlong into an already convoluted war. The only lasting solution is to take a step back from the conflict. The funding of external rebel factions needs to cease while a peacekeeping force through the UN consisting of mainly Arab Muslim nations sent to restore order in the area. If Muslim nations take care of their own affairs and not sought outside help, there would be less chance for those with vested interests to meddle in the affairs of the Middle East. World nations can then altruistically help build back Syrian infrastructure and re-house the rightful occupants. It’s clear something is awry when those who've devoted their lives to heal people, go on strike and stop the work they spent years sweating for.
With disputes over contract changes which would actually increase basic pay but remove extra pay at weekends, junior doctors have vented their fury at the government by striking for the 4th time in this dispute. And with further strikes and a full walk out planned later this month, A&E services will be without cover. It’s a strange situation when doctors who pledge to care for patients leave them hanging. It’s even more perplexing considering their actions harm not the government who their dispute is with, but the NHS and the sick. Over 5,000 operations have already had to be postponed due to the strike and the planned strike on the 26th and 27th will bear heavily on other NHS staff who will have to be drafted in to cover for the absent doctors. The government is adamant to impose their new contract which at face value isn’t so bad. Basic pay will increase by 13.5% which is a lot! That means the starting salary which is currently around £23,000 will go up to almost £26,000. The only downside being that working unsociable hours like nights and weekends will reap no significant extra benefit. For doctors that is. For the NHS and the government it’ll be cheaper to provide doctors on weekends. And there’s the crux of the matter. The health secretary wants to improve care on weekends and by making a seven day week he can do so. Having been resigned to a hospital bed myself last year, I can testify that more doctors on weekends are needed. There were none when I was struck with the rare but painful eczema herpeticum infection on my face. It left me with spots and crusts covering my eyes. I was seen on Friday night and prescribed medication. Then was told there’s no doctors on the weekend to oversee my healing. It was on Monday morning when a doctor came around to see how I had improved. To be fair, doctors work hard and have a difficult job. I wish the government could do more to support them. Everyone working in the NHS deserves a pay raise plus some. What is unacceptable though is taking the government to ransom by striking out. Negotiations can continue and legal action by the British Medical Association is being taken. If junior doctors feel so strongly about this issue then they should take such steps. However neither side should be so rigid and the government imposing the new contract seems a little dictatorial. By the same coin, junior doctors rebelling is almost childlike, as if they’re not getting their way. We live in a sophisticated modern society and strikes are no way to go about protesting a supposed injustice. Medical leaders at the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges made the most sagacious points saying that patient care must come first and the planned strikes be suspended. Further they suggested that the government hold back from imposing the contract and for both parties to re-enter the negotiating table. It’s the only viable option to find a compromise but it starts with junior doctors going back to their jobs and not holding the government ransom by risking patient lives, burdening the NHS more than it already is. Junior doctor Calum Miller similarly believes that strikes aren’t the way to go. He goes to the extent of calling them ‘embarrassing’. It’s as if working on weekends for less pay is a dagger to the heart of junior doctors. Lest we forget, workers of every sector and students have had to endure cuts and changes. I still remember having to forgo my EMA payment and the £9000 tuition fees made my eyes water. But with apprenticeships and a plethora of other opportunities, it may turn out to be better in the long run. In essence, what Hunt is seeking to do is for the benefit of patients who are the primary concerns here, not the salaries of doctors. If I had it my way and the financial situation allowed it, I would certainly increase pay and give bonuses to doctors and nurses who are invaluable to the well-being of the nation. I might even knock some coins off of certain ministers who are paid excessively. Imagine the outcry. However, with increased threat of strikes and the fierce dispute over the proposed contract, junior doctors and not ministers for once, face the risk of becoming the pantomime villains. It’s not something we imagine dignified leaders in first world developed countries and civilised nations doing. Or is it? For some time now we've known there have been suspect dealings going on right from the top and how money leads people to commit illegal activities. The 2008 economic downturn exposed the fraudulent practices of bankers and traders. The 2010 MP’s expenses scandal revealed how MPs had been cheating the system.
We've known how money drives people to kill, to commit fraud and to carry out theft. What we didn't bet on was how widespread the problem actually is. Surely there were honest, decent, selfless leaders and righteous figures out there, you’d have thought. Mammon and the worship of material gains has crippled entire nations. Pakistan’s corrupt politicians is just one example. As is the suffering millions faced (and still do) as a result of immoral dealings with money which reached great depression levels in 2008. Greece’s economy still hasn't recovered and civil unrest inevitable follows. The Panama Papers brought out the secrets which lie hidden underneath the powerful, international magnates of the world. Hiding money from authorities can only lead one to assume illegitimate gains, unethical usage or tax evasion. True, there may be legitimate reasons to hide your money, like to save it from thieves or opportunists out to get your wealth. But the resignation of Iceland’s Prime Minister over the scandal smells of wrongdoing as does the anxiety ripping through the wealthy elite. At the heart of financial scandals is lust for money, power and coveting of material goods. Mammon and its worship rules and corrupts the world today. Money doesn't make the world go around, only the wealthy in their over priced yachts. Many will highlight (and justifiably) the hypocrisy and sanctimonious talk of politicians over budget cuts and tax evasion. Little did we know how far involved the world's financial elite were in the same things they bid citizens not to do. With 11 million documents leaked from only one offshore law firm, God knows what will be found when others are opened up. The undue lust over it and excessive thirst for it has created corrupt leaders and immoral behaviours. To curb such injustice it’s imperative we give money less value than it deserves. It won’t buy you happiness or intelligence. It can’t give you comfort or joy. It doesn't solve as much problems as it creates, unless used wisely of course. It’s not a commodity which can be useful in the long run. Inflation reduces its worth and our greed towards it only increases it. The more we demand it, the more it’s supplied. That’s not to say money isn't important or beneficial. It’s a vital and convenient medium of exchange. It keeps our economy ticking and our lives easy. What is detrimental though is our excessive love of it which leads to wealthy people hiding it, hoarding it and hankering over it. The more you have the more you want and the less you want to give away. But that's no excuse for illegal or illegitimate practices which have pervaded world institutions and personalities for some years now. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, It’s imperative the following is said to those who misuse and unlawfully hide, hoard and hanker after wealth: Dear wealthy individual, If you are one of those who have been implicated in the Panama Papers or any other type of questionable financial practices, please think about what you’re doing. We live in a global village and our actions affect thousands of people who may even be sitting on the other side of the world. I know wealth is something alluring and it seems our entire lives and well-being depend upon it. But while a necessary function of modern society, it has detrimental effects if misused. By forgoing mandatory tax contributions and earning unlawful income, you deprive the nation of essential money which it desperately needs for its maintenance. Through such dealings, you harm the very people and system on which your successes are built. Many wealthy people use their honestly hard earned income to benefit humanity at large. Take Bill Gates, self made multi billionaire. He uses his wealth for philanthropy and like others has joined ‘The Giving Pledge’, a pledge by the wealthy to dedicate the majority of their wealth to charitable purposes. True happiness can’t be found in the superficial figures of our bank accounts or temporary assets around the globe. True joy and prosperity is in using those resources to assist and help those in need, and there’s a lot of them in the world today. And more than enough wealth to go around. Yours faithfully, Me A concerned citizen Airports are notoriously known for their high levels of security checks and precautions. It makes an attack at an airport all the more shocking, frightening and inscrutable. If a place so heavily guarded can be attacked, are we safe anywhere? What people forget though is that security at airports is primarily meant to safeguard planes and their passengers onboard, not airport terminals necessarily. Don’t be surprised then if we see more security at airport entrances forthcoming. No matter how much precaution we take or security measures we make, if we don’t look while we cross the road or poison ourselves with an unhealthy diet or drive recklessly, we’re bound to be hurt. Let alone giving our enemy the means to attack us. The point being, we can be as careful at our airports, train stations and public buildings as we like but until we stop handing our enemies the means to attack us, until we stop letting our own youth be contaminated with exaggerated images in the media and calls to join the pseudo caliphate online, until we look to the core reasons for the problems and stop blaming the religion of 1.6 billion peaceful adherents, the situation will only continue to be exasperated. That’s not to say we shouldn’t take precautions or heighten security. Of course we should, it’s the only logical, albeit short term but necessary response to an attack. All viable steps need to be taken to protect the innocent and disrupt plans of extremists. But if we really wish to stop these attacks from happening, all across the globe, in Turkey, Belgium, Paris or Nigeria, and God knows where else, a long term plan and accurate, considered action is essential. Daesh would love to claim responsibility for every terror attack, the opportunists will strike fear by attributing such terrorist attacks to themselves heightening anxiety of their enemies and increasing legitimacy amongst their supporters. Ironically they’re the illegitimate issue of Western intervention and hardline rebel extremists. They’re so far removed from Islam that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (on whom be peace) disassociated himself from Daesh and the like 1400 years ago. He prophesized such heinous people calling themselves Muslims will be born and warned the Muslims not to estrange themselves from him by killing others. But that won’t stop power-hungry Daesh in using Islam to gain power, wealth and influence. Studies have shown not religion but anger at foreign occupation and revenge as the real motivations for suicide attacks. The media has its part to play in all this as well. It’s always striking, the double standards of the news. Paris and Brussels are attacked and we have grandiose displays of solidarity and outpours of sympathy, rightly so I may add. But where is that same unity and goodwill when Ankara or Beirut are bombed? In the global village we live in, such apathy and duality is unacceptable. No doubt we feel more grief and shock when those near us geographically or culturally are hurt. Every undue loss of life through terrorism, wherever in the world it happens, casts a dark shadow over humanity and makes one reel in horror at the depths of human depravity. So if we must condemn one attack, we must condemn all attacks and show solidarity with all countries since it’s the only way to defeat the germ that is ISIS. And why all this anti-Islamic rhetoric only when a European country is attacked? Don’t people realise that Muslims and Muslim countries are also victims of Daesh who purposely misconstrue teachings of Islam? There are steps we can take to stop such attacks though. It’s quite easy for us to place sanctions on Iran and Russia in a heartbeat but when it comes to shutting off the supply lines and funding of Daesh, our MPs lazily rather vote to bomb cities and towns as if macho men looking to come to the rescue. Perhaps applying pressure on the 40 countries in business with Daesh to cease trade would help. Putin knows who they are but apparently we don’t like talking to him much. We can attack countries on the pretext of liberation, we can support murderers and exporters of terror with the excuse of keeping diplomatic relations (I’m talking about Saudi Arabia) and we can pay billions to countries to keep refugees out of our own backyard. When it all comes back to bite us on our doorstep though, suddenly we’re left wondering, analysing as to what just happened and why. A few days ago one prominent Muslim leader in London addressed dignitaries including Dominic Grieve, Zac Goldsmith and Justine Greening who were in attendance. The annual Peace Symposium was hosted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK and their Caliph, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad made a call for all leaders to exercise justice in world affairs since it’s the only way to maintain peace. Justice is being abandoned for worldly, materialistic desires, even by those pretending otherwise or using religion (which is the antithesis of materialism, vanity and avarice) as a cover for their illegitimate conquests. On the one hand, when oil is at stake, all sense of humanity, decency and justice goes out the window in blind thirst for black gold.
On the other hand, all teachings of religion regarding honesty, truth, equality and fairness are ignored when it comes to land, power and influence. Instead Daesh cherry pick violent verses outside of their context to further their own motives disregarding all verses of peace, justice and goodness which constitutes the majority of the Muslim holy book. It was further stated by the aforementioned Muslim leader that the media shouldn’t give excessive coverage to extremists or sensationalise stories. The fact is that news companies have a vital responsibility in reporting the news in a fair, balanced and truthful way. Despite this important obligation, most prefer to gain viewing figures and sales over contributing to maintaining a peaceful society free from hype and sensationalism. The case and point is right before our eyes. While many criticise Muslims for not doing enough, Muslims speaking out against these atrocities are as if non-existentto the media. No wonder many think Muslims are silent and don’t condemn these terrorists. There are perhaps millions of Muslims ready to speak out against Daesh and in the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association for example, thousands gather every year to pledge loyalty and allegiance to this very country. When a handful go to join Daesh though, suddenly we have the news story of the year. It won’t be fair to say the media is completely biased though. Many do interview peaceful Muslims and present both sides of the story. However, unless we stop giving terrorists free publicity and stop overly prolonging coverage of their heinous crimes while overlooking all the good Muslims out there, it’s not likely these attacks will stop any time soon. |
AuthorAtif Rashid writes about faith, extremism & mental health. Categories
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