But was it wrong…?

I don't 'account for' his remarks at all, maiz.

I do think a lot of people misunderstand how the word Islamophobia is being mis-used though.

Anderson's comments were clearly racist and are indefensible. The Conservatives have got themselves in a pickle because they have let comments made by Anderson and Braverman (and Johnson, for that matter) go without much in the way of sanctions instead of being clear about the standards that are expected of people in public office.

Labradora

Considered criticism of any aspect of Islam(or Judaism or Christianity) is not Islamophobia or ( Judaismophobia or Christianophobia ) either.

Obviously one pays notice to context , timing, language and tone when criticising anything or anybody , but you should be allowed to do it without being dismissed as being racist.

Fair comment 😃

Anderson is an arse, I can cope with idiots in the Tory party, I cant cope with attempts to restrict speech which is simply a way to exert power and control. No thanks. It is minorities who always always suffer when you try and legislate around speech.

I don't think that condemning a slanderous and racist comment is an attempt to 'restrict speech'.

No condem all you like as I did by using the word arse .
It's the guidance around Islamaphobia that's currently being waved about that is concerning me.

These massive protests are frightening and out of control. If a group of angry islamists gathered I don't think the police could stop them.
There have been provocative posts on line of people telling women what to wear, to get out of certain areas,saying we will soon have sharia law etc.
This gives the impression possibly wrong that we will soon be taken over by Islam.
Twitter seems to be pushing this idea for ome reason.

kircubbin2000

These massive protests are frightening and out of control. If a group of angry islamists gathered I don't think the police could stop them.
There have been provocative posts on line of people telling women what to wear, to get out of certain areas,saying we will soon have sharia law etc.
This gives the impression possibly wrong that we will soon be taken over by Islam.
Twitter seems to be pushing this idea for ome reason.

That is the reasoning the MET used when deciding to allow the demonstrations.

If they tried to stop them there was a risk of seriously escalated violence and probably loss of life.

I agree with that decision, the marches have been well controlled, there have been a few arrested but no widespread disorder

Labradora

The BBC seems to think that Anderson actually used the term "Islamist" .
Anderson doesn't strike me as the sharpest knife in the block and I honestly wonder if he himself understands the terms that he is using.
A main point has to be whether Anderson's belief that the Mayor(and/or London itself) is under the disproportionate CONTROL of any group is correct or not.
If Sadiq and the London Council are not under the disproportionate control of any group then one of the most significant issues re Anderson's statement is that , simply, it is a factually WRONG statement.
Of course he would be wrong to conflate All Muslims with the the term "Islamists" which I have always understood to mean extremists .
I think Easybee and Baggs make good points.

I agree.

It seems to me that anyone expressing legitimate fears about extremists who, in the name of Islam, call for ‘jihad’ and ‘intifada’ is immediately jumped upon as being ‘racist’. Islam is a religion practised by many different nationalities and races, just as Christianity is. So that in itself is wildly inaccurate, just another stick with which to beat those with perfectly valid concerns. After all we were once permitted to be concerned about IRA terrorism in this country without being accused of narrowly blaming all citizens of the Irish Republic! As regards Anderson’s views on Sadiq Khan, I don’t much care for the Mayor of London’s stance on many matters, nor of the Met policing of the marches, but I don’t think Khan is controlled by extremists. However it was very ill advised of both the Mayor and the Met to take on an ‘ advisor’ with known Palestinian sympathies. This person has now been let go, which is in itself, telling. Mistakes like this lead to accusations from both sides which are not at all constructive. We must face and fight intimidation and terrorism from wherever it comes and not be afraid of upsetting those who would seek to give it a free pass for fear of offending some sensibilities. Our democracy deserves no less.

I think Lee Anderson was only saying what a great number of people are saying. He may not have selected the best way to express this. I know people who are not political or racist but are very concerned as to what is happening around London.

Obviously the result of the Rochdale election should make the political parties sit up and take notice. They're not listening and need to get back to grass roots

Baggs

'Many opinions are wrong but this doesn't mean that they should not be expressed. I think there exists a real (i.e. not phobic) fear of extreme Islamism, which is not the same as being unreasonably prejudiced against Muslims. The latter would be wrong.'

Couldn't agree more!

Isn’t Islamophobia related to religion NOT race?

Rish! s ramble outside #10 sounded as if he had dragged out an essay he had written when he was reading PPE at Oxford.

Indeed it ought to be glammagran. But it suits a certain narrative for it not to be so and use it as a criticism of Muslims.

It has in fact become quite commonplace to describe any criticism of Islam as racist.

This cannot be right. Islam, like Christianity, is offered to all mankind, and has adherents of all colours. It is a belief system, not a genetic code. All belief systems must be open to challenge.

To call someone racist is a serious charge.

How many weeks has London been disrupted by pro-Palestinian marches though now? 15? 16? It’s not right. Disrupting business and sectioning off roads thereby inconveniencing people in general. Enough now surely? We get the message and no-one in the Middle East care anyway. France definitely has the right idea. Ban these marches.

Exactly. Load of bull in my opinion.

Iam64

MaizieD

Anderson's statement was not an opinion. It was a completely unfounded racist slander designed to perpetuate fear.

Exactly
If the word black or Jew was substituted they’d be no argument. Nor should there be

I agree

Couldn't agree more

Frankly I’m sick and tired of all religion at the moment. It seems to me that the the Jews and the Moslems have nothing good to say about anyone or anything ! I wish they’d all pipe down, agree to differ, and act like grown ups !
Rant over

..

Wasn't there a saying (c) 9/11 on the lines of -

"All Muslims aren't terrorists
But
All terrorists are Muslims'

Is this still a reality?

..

Dillonsgranma

Frankly I’m sick and tired of all religion at the moment. It seems to me that the the Jews and the Moslems have nothing good to say about anyone or anything ! I wish they’d all pipe down, agree to differ, and act like grown ups !
Rant over

The problem isn’t religion, it’s politics and land

Barbadosbelle

..

Wasn't there a saying (c) 9/11 on the lines of -

"All Muslims aren't terrorists
But
All terrorists are Muslims'

Is this still a reality?

..

Of course it isn't. It never was a reality.

The man is a disgrace and his remarks were most definitely islamaphobic but like many Tories he just can't own that