It looks News Bunny Norton, the Evening Cancer editor, has decided to grab himself a slice of the diversity action by employing a Muslim columnist.
Farooq Siddique of the the publicly funded Bristol Muslim Cultural Society – who no doubt we have to refer to as a “community leader” – published his first article yesterday. And very offensive it is too.
Choosing to discuss the Holocaust as it was Holocaust Memorial Day on Monday, Siddique blithely announces half way through his column:
[The Holocaust] was, in fact, part of an ongoing pattern of behaviour that has long been associated with “Christian Europe” by the Muslim world.
I’m not sure what the purpose of the quotes around “Christian Europe” are meant to denote, but the statement appears to be promoting the worst kind of racial prejudice and stereotypes.
I wonder if Norton would print a column saying “Blowing yourself up on public transport is, in fact, part of an ongoing pattern of behaviour that has long been associated with “Muslims” by the Western world.
Possibly not. As it is untrue, offensive and ridiculous.
Siddique then comes out with this little gem:
Finally, there is the [Holocaust’s] link to Palestine. I am not going to debate who suffered more, the Jews in Europe during the war or the Palestinians since 1947. But the link with the Holocaust is very much clear.
Well fancy that! He’s not going to debate who suffered more … Er, maybe because his comparison is fatuous, offensive and doesn’t bear scrutiny.
Between 1933 and 1945 the Jewish population of Europe was reduced by two-thirds from 9m to 3m. Since 1967 the Palestinian population has trebled. OK, there’s plenty to criticise about Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians but to accuse the Israelis of genocide is fanatical nonsense.
Siddique seems to be intent on ramping up the vicious rhetoric just like the people of violence on both sides of Palestine/Israeli conflict constantly do. Or does he think directly comparing the State of Israel to the Nazi regime in a Holocaust Memorial article is the way forward to peace and harmony?
What a cunt.
I think it’s more offensive because he wrote this unsubtle article for Holocaust Memorial Day. Deeply unpleasant.
I didn’t find it as offensive as I find all of yours comments about it, and him. What he’s trying to say, as I can see, is that the Holocaust didn’t affect muslims as much as other groups of society, i.e. the jewish people around the world (as they were the victims), and the rest of white europe (who now feel guilty for idly standing by). What I think we all need to realise is that things happened in history that should never be repeated, some people like to rimind others about it, some like to revel in it, and some people, just want to be left alone.
White Europe? Hmmm.
Idly standing by? Have you heard of the second world war Ed? Or are you too busy wanting to be left alone?
I have heard of how the jewish people were turned away from England during the second world war.
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