Mosque visit cancelled

[johnlambert]

Is it right for the mosque in Blackburn to cancel the visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in protest to the war in Iraq?

I have no particular view either way but im interested in what other ABer's think

[Whickerman]

I'm about to get shot down and called antiwestern etc, but mosque or not, if she was coming to my house I'd be torn between refusing her entry as a protest, or letting her in and trying to change her mind on the issue

[johnlambert]

Good answer but do you really think you could change her mind? Just look at the reaction on blair's face when anyone suggests that any of his policies are wrong, it's just one of utter contempt

[Loosehead]

Don't know if it's right or not John but an observation:

In order to cancel it they must originally have accepted it. Presumably they only accepted it so they could cancel it!

Reminds me of the "Yes Minister" episode:

Talking about an Arab/Isreali peace neg....

Minister: "Humphrey do you think the Arabs will turn up?"

Humphrey: "Of course minister"

Minister: "You seem very sure"

Humphrey: "Well of couse they'll turn up, if they don't turn up they won't be able to walk out!"

Ring any bells

[jump79]

It also reminds me of the recent walkout by Chirac at some such EU meeting, when the speaker switched to English. Chirac then promptly returned when the terrible ordeal was over and the meeting continued.

It made a point and got attention.
Same case here. Although I don' think anything major will happen because of it, would it have made a difference if she had been allowed at the mosque?
A few photos, smiles, small talk, then back in her limo.

[noxlumos]

I think it is perfectly acceptable for them to cancel her visit and although it's true that they must have accepted to cancel and so forth, that arrangement may have been made a very long time ago and certain things may have since come out that has made the mosque leaders change their mind about welcoming her.I personally think she's the nearest thing to the anti-christ I have ever come across, smug, self serving and totally without any sort of human decency.

[Lonnie]

Its their Mosque, so they can ask who they want, and change their mind if they want, for whatever reason.

[Big Al1st]

Just read about it on the BBC Site. Actually the leaders of the mosque wanted her to visit as, although they disagree with her, they feel that high focussed visits can only do good.

However, certain parties opposed to the visit threatened to disrupt early morning prayers and it was considered that because of security reasons the visit had to be cancelled.

Regardless of what one may think of USA/Iraq ect. it is another classic example of fanatics winning out on the threat of violence and disturbance. It just seems ironic that the mosque is now at the receiving end of what other people/countries have experienced when Islamic fanatics get into full flow. Regardless of the right and wrongs of her visit, and what she stands for, it is another example of free speech/movement in this country being curtailed for what ever reason.

[jedimistress]

Bit like Hitler being invited to a Synagogue. The woman is quite blatantly a meglomaniac.

[Booldawg]

Well, to be fair, I guess it matters who you show allegiance too. As far as the muslim community is aware then the US is the enemy, so fair play to them. Of course I have to point out that the minority of muslim extremist is as rare as the minority of BNP supporters