Poverty + Islamophobia = Radicalisation - allegedly

Senedd Cardiff Bay                                                                                           Credit: Wales Online

"Poverty and Islamophobia are partly to blame for the radicalisation of Muslims in Wales" according to Islam expert, Professor Sophie Gilliat-Ray from Cardiff's Islam UK Centre. Welsh Government ministers are so taken in by this ludicrous claim that they are speaking to Muslims in a bid to "tackle extremism and Islamophobia".

The Welsh people have been the butt of jokes for years suffering poverty and bigotry but they do not use poverty and Welshophobia as an excuse to resort to extremism. Why? Because their faith is based on the Christian belief of love and forgiveness, not in an ideology which promises paradise for crimes against the innocent.

According to the Postgraduate Funding web site, the Islam-UK Centre was founded in 2005 and "works towards the promotion of better understanding of Islam and the life of Muslims in Britain". Its activities "address issues which are central to the situation of Muslims" in contemporary Britain. With the help of a "very generous gift to the University", the Jameel Scholarships have been established to enable the very best students to come to Cardiff – those who have the intellect and determination to apply their knowledge "for the benefit of Muslim communities in the UK", and to promote "better understanding of Islam" in wider society.

The promotion of Islam is obvious but 'the better understanding of Islam' is a euphemism for blind acceptance. Islam means submission and obedience. To question any aspect of Islam is deemed Islamophobic. In an earlier entry, 'The road to ruin', I referred to UK Mosque Open Day which was being promoted on social media listing participating places of worship. "Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man"!

Cardiff school children at an open day at Dar Ul-Usra Mosque in Cardiff  Source: Wales Online

Muslims like to tell us what we should believe, particularly that Islam is a religion of peace but this is not reflected in the world around us. That most Muslims live peacefully is hardly relevant when their ideology dictates otherwise. Most Germans did not gas Jews and homosexuals but there were sufficient numbers willing to do so. Most Muslims do not behead people because they are not followers of Islam but many do.

In contrast to the fear and repression of Islam, Britons (for now, see previous entry) live in a Christian country with a faith based on the Gospel message: "A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

That can be the only excuse for the Archbishop of Canterbury, joined by the archbishops of Wales, Scotland and Ireland, to accept invitations from Muslim leaders as they seek to convince people that "inter-faith relations in Britain are strong, despite global tensions such as IS atrocities and the refugee crisis". Such dialogue serves only to validate a warped ideology which seeks the demise of Christianity.

Shepherds are tasked with protecting their flocks. Instead they flirt with danger. Islam is contrary to the Christian faith. This is clearly illustrated in the Middle East where ISIS is determined to erase all traces of Christianity.

Poverty and the phony charge of Islamophobia are not responsible for radicalisation. Some of the worst atrocities have been perpetrated by highly educated Muslims. Playing the victim and demanding more concessions is the name of the game. The only hope for peace is opening Islam to rigorous debate, not validating the ideology through inter-faith relations. But that is regarded by Muslims as Islamophobia and ministers play along with it!