Did the Muslims Have an Impact on British Elections?

Leave it to my better half to find some really interesting information about our Muslim friends and their possible impact on British elections.

On this page you will find the ethnic breakdown of the 1.6 million Muslims living in Britain (based on 2001 figures), and that most of them are Pakistanis and others from the Indian sub-continent.

Here is an interesting graph that maps natural increases in population compared to increases due to immigration/net migration and other factors:

In 2003 the UK was home to 59.6 million people.

This was an 18 per cent increase from 50.3 million in 1951, and a 3.2 per cent increase over the last decade (1993 to 2003). Until the mid-1990s, this growth was mainly due to natural increase as the number of births exceeded the number of deaths. Since the late 1990s, there has still been natural increase but net international migration into the UK from abroad has been an increasingly important factor in population growth.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see what's happening: The native white and/or other non-Muslim growth rate has declined, and the number of immigrants (of mostly Muslim origins) has increased.

This chart gives a complete breakdown of all the seats in Parliament by voting district, along with percentages and actual numbers of Muslims and likely Muslim voters in each district, plus projected Muslim impact on elections. You'll note that even in areas like Basingstoke where Muslims make up a small percentage (0.6%) of the overall population they often have a VERY HIGH impact rating, and that in almost all areas the Muslim voter estimate number is between 30 and 50% of the total number of Muslims. In areas like Bethnal Green and Bow they make up almost 40% (39.2%) of the total population.

But it's the rest of the site that really got me going. It's more of the same "whitey is just picking on the poooooor moooslims and violating their civil rights" nonsense we have been hearing. This from their Civil Liberties page:

A report from FAIR - the Forum against Islamophobia & Racism - published in 2003 - notes that:

"Many from the Muslim communities in Britain have been suggesting that since September 11 2001, all matters connected either directly or indirectly to Muslims has evolved into a situation where the authorities respond by defining any issue connected to Muslims as being a criminal. 'law and order' problem"

In a fair-minded society, everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. British Muslims unfortunately have grounds to believe that this standard is not being extended to all sections of society: a climate of fear is being stoked against Muslims. There must be a balance between the powers given to ensure state security with civil liberties - but this is teetering towards one extreme. These are difficult times that call for sobriety and maturity.

The victim mentality emerges, and it gets better:

"As British Muslims we have the right and duty to use wise counsel and all our powers of argument and persuasion to impress our government the duty to uphold the rule of law and follow ethical policies at home and abroad. As citizens of Britain, we have a social contract to maintain the peace and stability of this country. No one must be tempted to commit any criminal or subversive activity".
Source: From the newsletter of The Muslim Council of Britain, Issue 4, November 2001.

It's like their natural tendency is toward violence, and they need to be restrained by their Muslim elders. What is going on here?

Now take a look at the "Inventory of Justice Undone" page. What a list! Very thorough, I must say. Nothing about it screams out, "Militant!" to me. Nope, not one bit...

This page tells them how to vote based on "ten key questions for Muslim voters to put to their prospective parliamentary candidates."

The General Elections 2005

"For the first time in a British General Election, there has been considerable interest in the voting intentions of the Muslim community. Traditionally regarded as a captive Labour vote bank, it is a constituency that cannot be taken for granted.

Three issues have prompted Muslims to rethink their natural allegiance to Labour:

- First, the type of a draconian anti-terrorism legislation introduced even prior to 9/11 (for example the list of proscribed organizations - mostly bodies that could claim to be involved in liberation struggles - issued by the Home Office in March 2001)
- Second, the crude carrot-and-stick approach of New Labour politicians, that has contributed to Islamophobia - for example, Blunkett in December 2001 calling on immigrants to adopt "British norms of acceptability"...
- Third, the way the nation was led into the Iraq War under false pretences in order to demonstrate solidarity with the US.

I like the word Islamophobia, only I'm not scared; just very angry.

Now we get advice from the "scholars:"

Sheikh Suhaib Hasan-

Looking at the situation of the Muslim community and their need to have their interests met, it becomes advisable for the Muslims to achieve this purpose through the available political system. Through voting, a man can bring to Parliament such candidates who sympathise with the Muslim cause.

Sheikh Michael Mumisa-

I would like to argue [here] that while I do not share the view that voting in Britain is tantamount to apostasy, the question regarding Muslims' participation in so-called non-Islamic systems of government is not an isolated view but part of centuries of Islamic political thought and theo-legal discourse...That is the way that Muslims living in non-Muslim countries in the West should look upon participation in the political life there. In this context, taking part in [the US] elections is required, so that goodness may overcome evil and justice would prevail. It is not a sign of affiliation to the polytheists, nor is it a kind of support for the oppressors.

Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra-

I consider muslim political participation, especially in a non-muslim country, as a form of jihad.

Read it all. I love the parts about being "slaves" and living with "oppressors." And what kind of mindset does it take to even suggest that voting in a foreign land where one is legal to do so could be "tantamount to apostacy?" Didn't they come to England of their own accord? The common thread through all the "scholarly advice" is for Muslims to make changes, not to adapt and assimilate. Their whole concern seems to be how to reconcile the laws of the land they now inhabit with their Muslim laws, not the other way around, simply learning the ways of their new home and fitting in. Nope, "You, infidel, will conform to our ways...or else." That's always the veiled threat in all their talk of peace and brotherhood. Piffle.

In parlaimentary elections, a re-elected Prime Minister has confidence shown in him by his party gaining a few seats, not losing over half of them. Do you think, after reading through all this, that the Muslims didn't have an effect on the rather large loss of Labour party seats? If nothing else, I believe it clearly demonstrates how well organized and co-ordinated the Muslim propaganda machine is, and that for a great number of Muslins there is at least difficulty, if not an inability, and/or an unwillingness to cope with and adapt to cultures other than their own.


*Note of Thanks: Mae has a great knack for finding stuff like this for me, helping me develop the idea, and letting me run with it from there. She also takes care of all the technical aspects, leaving me free to write and rant. Good on ya, baby!