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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Violence and terrorism has never been justified in Islam | |
| (7 months later) | |
| Sun 18 Jun 2017 00.05 BST | |
| Last modified on Sat 2 Dec 2017 03.08 GMT | |
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| I admire the courage of Sara Khan and her organisation, Inspire, for challenging the narrative of co-religionist hate preachers who, in a society dedicated to free speech, are still free to instil hate in the minds of young Muslims and radicalise them into becoming terrorists, as Anjem Choudary did (“Stop fretting over religious sensitivities. We must push hard against Islamists”, Comment). | I admire the courage of Sara Khan and her organisation, Inspire, for challenging the narrative of co-religionist hate preachers who, in a society dedicated to free speech, are still free to instil hate in the minds of young Muslims and radicalise them into becoming terrorists, as Anjem Choudary did (“Stop fretting over religious sensitivities. We must push hard against Islamists”, Comment). |
| She is absolutely right to condemn the political correctness and religious sensitivities to the Muslim community that suppress debate and inhibit a solution. With 23,000 potential jihadis at large, Muslim leaders must hammer home the message that, no matter what the grievance, violence and terrorism are never justified in Islam.Stan LabovitchWindsor | She is absolutely right to condemn the political correctness and religious sensitivities to the Muslim community that suppress debate and inhibit a solution. With 23,000 potential jihadis at large, Muslim leaders must hammer home the message that, no matter what the grievance, violence and terrorism are never justified in Islam.Stan LabovitchWindsor |
| Sara Khan’s column might have entrenched fear in the hearts of readers, but it did little to put the attacks in Manchester and London in context of the overall terror threat to Britain. She seems to be unaware that the safe spaces for young Muslims to speak and for imams to address normative Islamic beliefs have been scrupulously censored by the government’s Prevent strategy. She also appears to be unbothered about the lack of consistency in the definition of “extremism”, a label used for centuries by authorities to silence dissidents. | Sara Khan’s column might have entrenched fear in the hearts of readers, but it did little to put the attacks in Manchester and London in context of the overall terror threat to Britain. She seems to be unaware that the safe spaces for young Muslims to speak and for imams to address normative Islamic beliefs have been scrupulously censored by the government’s Prevent strategy. She also appears to be unbothered about the lack of consistency in the definition of “extremism”, a label used for centuries by authorities to silence dissidents. |
| For too long, counter-extremism “experts” with no influence within Muslim communities have dominated the media landscape, without being held to account over how they spend taxpayers’ money. Instead, they have mastered the art of parroting flawed theories that are in line with what the government of the day wants to hear. | For too long, counter-extremism “experts” with no influence within Muslim communities have dominated the media landscape, without being held to account over how they spend taxpayers’ money. Instead, they have mastered the art of parroting flawed theories that are in line with what the government of the day wants to hear. |
| As for her attempt to smear me and the news website I edit, it’s comforting to know that she desperately resorted to citing a Facebook post in which I spoke about sharing a hypothetical “boat journey” with 20th-century Muslim revivalist figures and equated it with “support for jihadi ideologues” – clutching at straws much?Dilly HussainDeputy editor of 5Pillars | As for her attempt to smear me and the news website I edit, it’s comforting to know that she desperately resorted to citing a Facebook post in which I spoke about sharing a hypothetical “boat journey” with 20th-century Muslim revivalist figures and equated it with “support for jihadi ideologues” – clutching at straws much?Dilly HussainDeputy editor of 5Pillars |
| Manspreading is no accident | Manspreading is no accident |
| Angela Saini’s interesting article on why “women are tougher” (Magazine), while referring to research identifying the genetic advantage of their superior robustness, also lists the sheer diversity of roles necessarily undertaken by women. | Angela Saini’s interesting article on why “women are tougher” (Magazine), while referring to research identifying the genetic advantage of their superior robustness, also lists the sheer diversity of roles necessarily undertaken by women. |
| Men, having perceived the usefulness of this, have relied on it and arguably abused it, but it was surprising to find that Lucy Siegle, of all people (“Manspreading a menace?”, Comment), felt she should defend, with the lame excuse of it being “often accidental”, the arrogant and selfish behaviour rather euphemistically called manspreading. As one of the “small, neat people” she assumes have an easier life, I have to protest that, as we grow bigger with each generation, so the vertically challenged have no choice but to “not get in the way” by folding “into increasingly tiny spaces”. A sense of entitlement is innate in men. It is inexcusable, but will endure as long as it is tolerated by women and not even acknowledged by men.Carolyn KirtonAberdeen | Men, having perceived the usefulness of this, have relied on it and arguably abused it, but it was surprising to find that Lucy Siegle, of all people (“Manspreading a menace?”, Comment), felt she should defend, with the lame excuse of it being “often accidental”, the arrogant and selfish behaviour rather euphemistically called manspreading. As one of the “small, neat people” she assumes have an easier life, I have to protest that, as we grow bigger with each generation, so the vertically challenged have no choice but to “not get in the way” by folding “into increasingly tiny spaces”. A sense of entitlement is innate in men. It is inexcusable, but will endure as long as it is tolerated by women and not even acknowledged by men.Carolyn KirtonAberdeen |
| Property parasites | Property parasites |
| Rowan Moore’s review of Big Capital (Review) could hardly be more apropos. The “beds in sheds” scandal deserves much more attention than it is receiving. Moore’s reference to “parasitic consultancies” is particularly relevant. Indeed, I have discovered that developers can choose to have oversight of their work done by private agencies rather than the council.Rev Andrew McLuskeyStanwell, Surrey | Rowan Moore’s review of Big Capital (Review) could hardly be more apropos. The “beds in sheds” scandal deserves much more attention than it is receiving. Moore’s reference to “parasitic consultancies” is particularly relevant. Indeed, I have discovered that developers can choose to have oversight of their work done by private agencies rather than the council.Rev Andrew McLuskeyStanwell, Surrey |
| Postal voters missing out | Postal voters missing out |
| A higher number of votes are being cast by postal voting, yet there does not seem to be any analysis of this. Many postal votes for the recent election will have been submitted before the party manifestos were published. Most will have been cast before the campaign was affected by significant events. How many voters would have altered their choice as the campaign continued? | A higher number of votes are being cast by postal voting, yet there does not seem to be any analysis of this. Many postal votes for the recent election will have been submitted before the party manifestos were published. Most will have been cast before the campaign was affected by significant events. How many voters would have altered their choice as the campaign continued? |
| Even if we cannot have a breakdown of the votes cast and are less likely to be able to estimate if and how that might have changed, there is a strong argument for making the submission of postal votes after the manifestos are published. In this way, every voter has access to the same information.Lynette MuddemanBeccles, Suffolk | Even if we cannot have a breakdown of the votes cast and are less likely to be able to estimate if and how that might have changed, there is a strong argument for making the submission of postal votes after the manifestos are published. In this way, every voter has access to the same information.Lynette MuddemanBeccles, Suffolk |
| Uncomfortable viewing | Uncomfortable viewing |
| Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat may find his support for the removal of theatre intervals will modify in direct proportion to the size of his prostate. It’s all a matter of time and space (“Give us a break! Theatre bosses dismiss calls to ditch intervals”, News.)Pete HartleyPreston | Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat may find his support for the removal of theatre intervals will modify in direct proportion to the size of his prostate. It’s all a matter of time and space (“Give us a break! Theatre bosses dismiss calls to ditch intervals”, News.)Pete HartleyPreston |
| In defence of Lynda Snell | In defence of Lynda Snell |
| Nick Cohen likens Theresa May to Lynda Snell (“I was wrong about Corbyn’s chances…”, Comment). Really? One is someone who, while bossy, seems to like people, turns out to have a personality that at least people can get on with and draws an albeit reluctant admiration because she actually gets things done. The other, unfortunately (at least as I write), is our prime minister.John OldNuneaton | Nick Cohen likens Theresa May to Lynda Snell (“I was wrong about Corbyn’s chances…”, Comment). Really? One is someone who, while bossy, seems to like people, turns out to have a personality that at least people can get on with and draws an albeit reluctant admiration because she actually gets things done. The other, unfortunately (at least as I write), is our prime minister.John OldNuneaton |
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