Tackling Extremism

Interesting article by Rachel Shabi

"Forget David Cameron’s five-year plan on terrorism........"

".......Denmark once had the highest European figures, relative to size, for citizens emigrating to fight with Isis. In 2013, 30 citizens made the journey to the Middle East; by 2014, it lost just one"

It certainly seems a more natural and organic way of tackling the issue than somehow forcing integration by how exactly!? In David Cameron's disappointingly predictable speech.

Syria, Terrorists and Islam: This is what I think

Terrorists within IS in Syria give Islamic reasons for why they are fighting to dominate land and people and it can seriously mess with the mind of a Muslim in the West trying to work out what they think. Especially a young Muslim, especially a new revert and especially when the topic is so difficult to discuss openly and honestly.

It would be beneficial for everyone to talk about what's going on in Syria, what is going on in the group calling themself IS and what Islam is really about but with Muslims and non-Muslims alike, it's simply not possible. This inability to be able to have transparent discussions only serves to feed the beast that many people fear.

There's nothing wrong with being radical (guardian article); nothing wrong with being a fundementalist and wanting to stick to the core tenents of a thing; nothing wrong with Jihad which has a wider deeper and more personal meaning than simply 'Holy War'; nothing wrong with the possibility of an Islamic State.

                                                     _______________________

When you're in a room full of non-Muslims you learn not to think, you just have to react with the 'right' words when the topic of IS comes up. You learn what people want to hear and you have to react quickly. As a Muslim in a room full of non-Muslims, every second you don't speak, the silence, even when others are chatting away, grows louder and louder in the room until you leave that room and then others feel they can express their concerns to each other. Or they just raise their eyebrows and blow their cheeks. I've been in several situations and seen this happen because others didn't realise I was Muslim as I wasn't wearing hijab.

If a non-Muslim actually asks you what you think, don't stumble over your words omg. Say the right words and say them confidently. This isn't the time for a discussion, no one wants to know what you think, they just want you to say the words they want to hear.

This happened to me recently @LBC with @ShelaghFogarty talk show. A previous caller was saying how recorded testimonies of people who have gone out to join ISIS and come back regretting it would help stop others from going. I called in to say why that wouldn't work. After listening to my point, Shelagh asked me some questions of her own and I didn't say what she needed to hear. Several people on afterwards expressed their concerns about me personally, including Shelagh herself, because of what I hadn't said (clearly none of them listened to what I did actual say), it mean't that I had to send a text in 15 minutes later saying what everyone wanted to hear.

Non-Muslims need to stop being so alarm and encourage people to express their views without jumping on their head at the first sign of opinions and views they don't understand or don't like.

                                                              __________________

When you're a Muslim, in a room with only Muslims, the same thing happens. The topics of Iraq, Syria or IS comes up and the learned response is silence because it's improper to say anything bad about another Muslim. The correct thing to say when another Muslim seems to do something bad is that they are weak and we should make du'a (prayer) for them.

As a Muslim, you would be wrong for judging another Muslim when you are not in their situation and you didn't see what they did or know why they did it. You would be wrong for expressing that person isn't a true Muslim. You would be wrong for criticising another Muslim for taking action when those voicing the criticism do so from the comfort of their sofas.

All wars are messy and every nation that has been birthed has had victors who subjugated those in the land they conquered. They say that the men and women committing heinous crimes in Syria are not terrorists but freedom-fighters who are willing to do what is necessary to achieve something good for Islam. They mix up truth with opinion and tell you that Shari'a Law is the ideal for every Muslim and a land where true Islam can be followed is an increasing possibility, instead of seeing Muslim-majority countries sell out to the West.

Some people say that the IS group is so large and mixed, it's made up of sincere Muslims who are fighting for an Islamic State and treat those they capture with kindness as the Qur'an demands, while others in the group are sadistic and cruel terrorists who are along for the ride and don't even follow Islam at all, preferring to live out their sick fantasies without an ounce of humanity.

Do you think certain types of people are attracted to certain religions?

Do you think that evil is simply someone who is so switched off and so far gone that they have little or no humanity inside themself to be able to extend it to even another person?

Do you think that the group can be so large and out of control that the cruel sadistic ones are the only ones we get to hear about in the media?

Do you think terrorists will use any reason as a vehicle to be who and what they are, living out their sick ways for the cause of Islam today but really, it could have been any reason.

Unfortunately I have more questions than I have answers.

Whistleblowing for Dummies

Did you ever whistle blow anyone to protect a more vulnerable person? I had to over this last six months and omg the system nor anyone in the system is on your side.

Naively, you think management is going to be thankful that you rooted out a waster for them. Nope. They're pissed at you because they spent months training that person and that person picks up a ton of hours when work is short-staffed.

You think your collegues have got your back because you get along well with them but they all wig out thinking if they speak up they will piss off the manager with consequences!

You don't realise the manager is going to do their best to down play the whole thing, then single you out as trouble for them, mess with your hours and your working conditions until you butt heads with them and get a disciplinary yourself because you called them a retarded liar or was it a lying dog, I can't remember but they didn't appreciate it.

Then you expect to present your appeal evidence to head office - Manager's Error That Caused This Situation/Mitigating Circumstances - and for them to be balanced and unbiased haha...

omg, luckily the person I blew my whistle on got scared and left to go work in another non caring industry. Good job really. I'm just stuck with six months of 'Appropriate Behaviour When Addressing a Manager' until the warning is off my record.

Yeah thanks!

My life in Islam; The Good, The Bad and The Obnoxious

The Good

The way Islam defines relationships, let's face it, that's what life is all about; good relationships. From an outsider's perspective (because I used to be an outsider) it looks restrictive, especially for women and it looks as though women are dominated by men. Those are misconceptions that the media like to throw around, citing  examples of bad relationships that happen in any family from any religion. Islam has bad examples too but that's not normative.

The norm is that children respect their parents so so much throughout their childhood and take responsibility for them in their elderly life, they do not put their career first and shove their elders into homes to visit for ten minutes once a week.

The intimate relationship between a man and a woman is private, not on display to the world by touching and kissing in public which often makes others feel uncomfortable anyway which is why they say "Get a room!".

What looks like domination to an outsider, is simply two people serving each other in a humble way through Islamically defined roles. Just because two people have defined roles, doesn't imply one is any more valued that the other. This is a misconception people like to draw from assumption. I am very well respected by my husband and he seeks my opinion on most things because we are in a relationship together. My money I make is my own and he will not even consider including it in general family income. I can choose to if I want to though.

It's true, men and women are seperate but it limits any misunderstandings and keeps any temptations, glances, ponderings and imaginations, from either side, to a minimum.

Because Allah (subhana wa ta ala) is first in our relationship, and all that the Prophet (s.a.w.) taught is the way we worship and please Allah (S.W.T), it prevents us resorting to selfish arguments HA!, well it prevents my husband resorting to selfish arguments, I still have some way to learn to be disciplined about this. He is just like "we'll speak again when you are able to" and goes somewhere quiet.

The Bad

Living in the west (I've always lived here; I'm an English convert (revert) to Islam) is difficult. There is music everywhere, in every shop almost = haram (forbidden). There is the clothing issue where a lot of people hardly wear any and I don't like to see that.

Drinking alchohol = haram and the effects and consequences it has on society.

Other Muslims and how they manage to live in the west. Some manage fine but for weaker Muslims or those who use the title and do little else, it is horrid to see. Outsiders view these Muslims as liberal or modern, but some are hardly really Muslims at all. Same as Christians who do not act or live in any recognisable Christian way at all. Makes me sad.

The Obnoxious

Being spat at when I wear my niqab

Being called the worst names for being a white English girl who married into Islam. From..."What a waste..." direct and pithy I suppose. To the even less imaginative chav saying  "Traitor whore". I always think...yeah I have only been with my husband while you have lost count so who is closer to that definition exactly? Anyways... I don't lose sleep over ignorant chavs.

Angry drunks seeing the hijab/niqab...what they really think is unleashed because they're wasted.

Some randoms in my life who made a difference.

The man who lived near me in Bristol who walked up the escalator on every second step. OCD he told me after I asked him a million times what was up with him. He told me some of his life and I told him some of mine. He disliked me at first, annoying, and kept telling me to mind my own business. We were very similar both had challenges in life. I was bold but he was reserved. I knew him before I went back home for that one week and I knew him after I went back into care and couldn't speak any more. I went to the same places but I couldn't talk to him but I still turned up knowing I would see him. I remember sitting in the mall in silence with him. He knew something was badly wrong and didn't ask me but he touched my hair (in a nice way) and told me I would be ok.

Crazyass family I stayed with over one Christmas. Didn't overload me with meaningless gifts but the mum made me a pencil case with my name embroidered onto it. Loved it so much.

Police Officer who picked me up so many times when I ran away. He sat talking to me several times in his car about anger management and my aggression. Got one shop to drop the charges against me for shop lifting if I agreed not to return to that shop. I wasn't ready to listen but he did really try to help me.

Woman at the bus stop who told me I looked so pretty and when I asked her in what way, she told me specifically what she liked about my features ha! Embarrassing, her answer but it was so lovely to be told that by someone.

The social worker who enrolled me at kick boxing classes. "Less talking; more action" she used to tell me. I told her "You first" and so then I had to turn up at these dumb classes. It proved to be a lifeline for me and gave me confidence not to carry a knife any more.

The dumbest mongral cat who used to sit meowling at the window of an empty shop! We swapped food for affection and the occasional bath in my sink. It was a good trade.

A teacher at a school in Liverpool. She was a rubbish teacher but a nice person. Kind, consistent and not preoccupied. 100% attention. I felt valued in her company.

A Muslimah who introduced me to Islam. Not easy to talk about your religion but I am thankful to Allah (subhana wa ta ala) that she did.

My online 'Grandad' who encourages and challenges me.

Radio presenter. Warm, friendly smartass, inclusive, compassionate and very clever. Listening to him helps my vocabulary and critical thinking.

We can all make a difference to someone.

Offending Rates Among Children In Care Investigated

"The state not only has a duty to be a parent, but it has a moral responsibility to be a really good parent"

I am as disgusted at Lord Laming's statements now as I was about his report in March 2009 when I was still in the system myself.

Most often, children are in care and offending because they have been offended against.

This is an overview of my experience in care, parented by the fucking govt.

I went into care at age 5. I had multiple fractures and had been beat on hard by idk who, probably some waster who was around my mum. So not difficult for the govt, via the local authority, to be a better parent than that. You would think uh?

5-8 years I was moved three times. Not just homes but complete areas. I had an older sister in care who I didn't get to see and an area and school that I was familiar with, that I was removed from without any explanation or apology to me. So aside from my bumpy start in life, which i'm sure I would have got over being so young, my parenting by the system started with some no mark making decisions about my fucking life, to move me around like some chess pawn, to hit their targets and report back at one of their, coffee and bitch, meetings.

I'm not bitter; I'm angry because STILL no fucker is listening.

Maybe Mr Laming will actually get it if he and me spoke face to face and he felt my fury and contempt for his moral obligations.

By nine I was moved area and school again and I felt so scared where I lived that I carried a knife everywhere and took it out twice to use, thankfully not fatally or seriously injurious but enough to make me ashamed these days.

I did have a code though. I developed my own at 13 when I came out of my emotional coma and started speaking again after five years of silence. Very few people around me had any moral substance or character. No one spoke about honour or duty, dignity or other virtues. Mostly it was just randoms controlling my life for their own benefit and convenience.

Do you know Lord Laming, what it is like to not be able to relax where you live?? I am sure you do a hard days work and you get home and relax. I could never do that, never. Most of the kids in care with me could never do that either. You have a constant hard belly where you are anxious and your adrenaline is on high alert in case someone takes your stuff or gets up in your face about something so badly that it escalates real fast into a fight. Maybe you looked at their boyfriend, moved their shoe or changed the channel on the TV, sure normal for kids to ruck about this stuff...but not normal in this environment is that someone will end up bleeding. Where are the en loco parentis in this place??? Outside having a chat and a line with some blokes who regularly take a few of the girls out to 'parties' and buy them 'gifts'.

This is all better than what my mum provided for me uh???

James O Brien (@LBC @mrjamesob) goes on about reading books and how impotent it is. I only just have realised that reading (and learning in general) is something you can only do when you're relaxed, and not constantly living your life in a high state of red alert and anxiety. How the FUCK can you expect kids living like this to suddenly get into the classroom and be interested in fucking history when their head is filled with their own history they need to make sense of. How can they sit and learn about Sentence Structure, Algebra and Pygfuckingmalion when they know a heap of trouble is waiting for them back at the house or on the way home and that next week you're moving them again anyway!!!

From 10 until 16 more of the same, add some fucked-up foster carers, well-meaning but over-worked/under-resourced social workers, idiotic key workers who just wanted to be your friend rather than do anything meaningful for your life, bit of shop lifting, some random vandalism, an education system that races forward and leaves you behind if you move catchment areas too much and yeah... I will take responsibility for being offensive. Right about when you take responsibility for being an arrogant fuckwad who knows FUCK ALL!!!

The only Lord that I respect is Allah (subhana wa ta 3la)

Knife Crime: Stop Search. LBC

I got a bit lost today speaking to @mrjamesob (weekdays 10am - 1pm) @LBC, on the topic of Knife Crime and the discussion about whether Stop/Search is a successful measure in preventing knife crime by removing them from the streets. I rang in to say why it wasn't.

I figured he might ask me then, what I thought would be a solution to the recent rise in knife crime and I was busy trying to think of an effective policy when I was live on air and momentarily lost my trail of thought!

Stop/Search would only be acceptable if it was properly targeted at known gang members and previously convicted criminals, which of course, is heavily reliant on the good intelligence and local knowledge of police officers coupled with enough of them out walking their communities and not banged up in the office with 6 months of paperwork before they are let out on good behaviour.

If it was targeted specifically at known individuals and not the random lazyass way it has been employed in the past, there might be more successful convictions for the offense, better relations with young people who are just minding their own business and less chance of fear being a factor in people carrying defensively, which is what I used to do.

I went into care at 5, stayed in care until 8 when I went back 'home'. Totally friken excited as my mum had cleaned herself up and we were a family again but I ended up coming back into care a week later. From that point I stopped speaking to and trusting everyone. I was silent for 5 years until 13, I was distant, aggressive and vulnerable. I knew I was vulnerable because I saw what happened to other people and so I started to carry a knife to defend myself. I didn't see I had a choice.

If social services had adequate protective policies in place I probably wouldn't have started carrying one but at that time, the only answer they had was to move me! This makes kids more at risk from sick fucks because you are the new kid again and you have to learn quickly about the people you're living with.

If the police had an effective strategy in dealing with knife crime, then a ton of other people wouldn't feel they needed to leave the house with what they see as a protective weapon.

At 13 I had started to lean kick boxing and never looked back. It's my fitness thing and my confident safeguard in fighting off any idiot who gets in my face and won't go away when politely asked to. I will be teaching my girl kickboxing and my step son is well able to deal with people. His dad already taught him.

All kids should be taught self-defense.