ChatterBank45 mins ago
When Does An 'Ordinary' Muslim Become An Extremist?
We're often told that there is a difference between 'ordinary' Muslims and extremists, so ignoring those who call for violence and Islamic domination as they march in support of Palestine, but thinking only of the Muslim school children and their parents and supporters who are making news by intimidating students into adopting the hijab, to observe Islamic fasting rituals, and to withdraw from some school activities because they are considered 'haram'; the student who is battling her school in court (at the taxpayers' expense) for the 'right' to pray during school hours, the protestors outside schools, causing one to close early in order to protect staff and pupils, and those who are threatening teachers to the extent that they fear travelling on public transport, one of whom is still, after a very long time, in hiding. The people who are responsible for all of this carry on their regular everyday lives living among us. Are they 'ordinary' Muslims - or are they extremists?
Answers
No best answer has yet been selected by naomi24. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.it seems to me that a sensible place to draw the line is in condoning or carrying out acts of violence in the name of their god... that's not to say that every muslim who doesn't do that is a good person because that would be silly... but i think that is probably the most sensible point to start talking about extremists
i must say naomi i think your agenda here is to suggest that there are no "ordinary muslims" and it seems that some other posters have taken you up on that invitation so mission accomplished i suppose
Tying to answer the OP. I would class the 'school threateners' etc. more as dangerous activists. Plenty of activists go o.t.t. and into bullying etc. and I'm certainly not defending their actions, which should be stopped and could, given the right circumstances and encouragement, move into blatant terrorism. The sort that beheads people.
I am on record as saying that I do not think 'ordinary' Muslims will stand against activists and terrorists. I've seen that happen after the Bradford riots, when the police called at school to see if the staff could identify miscreants from their photos taken during the riots.
One lad we identified, but the police said that it was not necessary because his father had taken him into the Police station and handed him over, knowing that his son had been involved. Well done and good for the dad! The next day the father called the police and said that he had been mistaken and rescinded his evidence, now saying that the lad had been at his cousins at the time. Our staff later proved that this was inaccurate.
Before that happened we heard from jubilant, and incautious, pupils that the imams had visited the father and 'persuaded' him that he had been mistaken. I have concluded that extremists will prevail because even well-integrated and settled Muslims will not stand in their way.
After the riots, there was a different air about - and those riots were nasty and racist, although they have been mainly airbrushed.
Related Questions
Sorry, we can't find any related questions. Try using the search bar at the top of the page to search for some keywords, or choose a topic and submit your own question.