THERE is an old British TV comedy series which was extremely popular more than
a decade ago called Only Fools and Horses. One of the main actors David Jason
brought much joy into everyone's life as the central character Del Boy. Jason,
known to millions as the bungling, dodgy salesman Derek Trotter in the TV series
Only Fools and Horses, has just received a knighthood and I doubt if anyone would
really object.At this time of year the Queen's Birthday Honours acknowledge contributions
to the British community largely from actors, major figures in the world of sport
and politics.
Every now and again you will
get a recipient who will object and refuse to accept whatever honour Her
Majesty wishes to bestow.There is one very interesting honour among the
894 names this year which has raised eyebrows. It is a knighthood for Iqbal
Sacranie, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain.
The MCB is one of those organisations which claims to represent the views
of british Muslims - I promise you it does not reflect my feeling or views.
And by accepting this so-called honour Iqbal Sacranie is confirming my worst
fears about the MCB leadership.
I mean, how as a Muslim can you accept an award which was designed to honour
crusaders ... you know the knights of Britain who wreaked havoc in the Holy Lands
causing rivers of the blood of innocent Muslims to flow knee-deep through Jerusalem?
How can a Muslim kneel before the Queen (no offence your Maj.) and swear an oath
of loyalty while bowing his head in submission?And if he ever decides to get
the full kit of a crusader he will have to go to a, wait for it, 'Christian suppliers'.
of course I might be jumping the gun here because like a few honourable people
before him, Iqbal Sacranie might just refuse the so-called Christian honour.
But looking at past form and the record of the Muslim Council of Britain it
is hard to see he will turn his back on the knighthood.After all, the MCB's
spokesman Inayat Bunglwala, another spineless individual in my view, couldn't
see anything wrong with the Americans and Britain bombing Afghanistan. Tell
that to the 31,200 innocent Afghan brothers and sisters who have been blown
apart by Crusader bombs. Sacranie, the Secretary General of the Muslim Council
of Britain says he will not dilute criticism of the establishment because he
has received a knighthood. Well how can he? He's never really criticised the
establishment in the first place. Every poodle has its poodle and Iqbal Sacranie
has been a willing lapdog of British prime Minister Tony Blair.
Sacranie told a TV jounralist that the
honour would not make it more difficult for him to speak out over issues
such as the Iraq war. Yes, well he's largely silent in the first place. Although
he was quite vocal about the Iraqi resistance ... calling them murderers
and terrorists just around the same time he sent two MCB members into the
caldron of Iraq to try and negotiate with the same resistance for the release
of a British hostage. they were lucky to get out alive. A bit like sending
someone from the Red Sox to go into the New York Yankees' stadium and ask: "Please sir, can we have our ball back." The
two MCB members were lucky to escape with their lives, which is more than
can be said for the British hostage who lost his.But the whole scenario prompted
Muslims in britain to ask why iqbal sacranie was getting so upset over the
fate of one, white man while more than 500 of our brothers were being held
hostage in Guantanamo Bay. I'm still waiting for a response to that one.
Of his crusader knighthood Sacranie went
on to say: "As a Muslim we work
in community work, charitable work, for the sole purpose of seeking pleasure
from your creator." Hmm, well it is a bit difficult to seek pleasure from
Allah when you are and scraping before Queen Elizabeth of England. I believe
at one point in the ceremony the words: "In the name of Jesus Christ,
Our Lord" might even be said. MI5 boss Elizabeth Manningham-Buller, Britain's
top spy, is also to be honoured and will soon be known as Dame Commander of
the Order of the Bath. So there you have it. A man who claims to represent
the face of ordinary British Muslims is to become a Crusader, and will take
his place at Buckingham Palace later this year among the ranks of comedians
and spies for his dubious Christian honour ... I guess that says it all. I
hope he falls on his pikestaff.Of course I do have a little pipedream I'd like
to share with you. As he kneels before the Queen she might just cry out: "Allahu
Akbar" and....................ends
Yvonne Ridley
http://www.yvonneridley.com/index.asp
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