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Terror fears as young Muslim women 'turn to extremism'

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Published Date: 22 January 2008
GROWING numbers of young Muslim women are turning to violent extremism, the Government warned today.
In new guidance for universities, ministers set out how easily impressionable students can be "groomed" for al-Qaida-inspired activity by radicals on campus.

Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell said universities face a "serious but not widespread" threat from violent extremism.

The guidance said there was "no single profile" of potential recruits.

"But they are likely to be young – generally younger than 30 – and male, although the number of women who support and participate in violent extremism is increasing," the guidance said.

The assessment followed the conviction of "lyrical terrorist" Samina Malik, who worked at Heathrow Airport.

The 23-year-old wrote poems about martyrdom and the beheading of unbelievers and received a suspended jail term last year.



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  • Last Updated: 22 January 2008 11:13 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Eh Gov,

Dunfermline 22/01/2008 12:22:35
Oh yes, I believe the Govertment 'cause they have my safety at heart. They are not just playing politics with racism and immigration or trying to make the population live in fear of ethnic minorities so they can be seen as the party that will protect us.

Surely they would't do such thing.
2

brettgallacher,

edinburgh 22/01/2008 12:41:29
eh gov what your saying it was the fault off people on a tube or bus that they WERE blown up i was at glasgow airport when a MUSLIM I REPEAT MUSLIM SUICIDE BOMBER TRIED TO BLOW UP ME AND MY FAMILY THE FACTS ARE MINORITES IN THIS COUNTRY ARE TRYING TO ERADICATE OUR WAY OF LIFE
3

Mike S,

22/01/2008 12:48:39
Many young muslims in the UK do not feel they belong anywhere and so reverting to moslem extremism is a way of compensating. Asians brought up in this country can feel like strangers/foreigners when "they go back home" but they don't feel they fit in in the west. A stronger sense of nationalism helps give them a sense of identity and belonging so they become militant activists. The education system of the mosques and state schools are obviously not helping to bridge the gap.
4

IainA,

Edinburgh 22/01/2008 13:22:46
#2 Rulesbutnotrulers

There are indeed muslims who believe in compulsory sharia law for all - in certain areas of britain, muslims are running sharia courts, usually in private homes, no-ones been stoned or had their hand cut off yet, but they are ruling on 'everyday' things such as divorce (under UK law second wives are not recognised as legally married, but under muslim theocratic law, they are.)

The problem with this is that we already have a system of law in this country and generally speaking we should not be allowing clerics of any religion to exercise powers of "high and low justice". Whether that religion be Christianity, Islam or The Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster.

As a country we cannot afford to allow the self segregation that is happening across religious lines, with communities pursuing different systems of justice depending on their religion. The last time something like this happened, we had a civil war.

This is not an islamic country, any more than it is Hindu or Sikh or Buddhist or Jewish or Zoroastrian and we must make it very clear to the young Wahabbis' and Salafis' in the islamic community that this is not an islamic republic and that some actions go beyond the bounds of multiculturalism and multifaith tolerance.

For example, would we tolerate it if the Beth Din started imprisoning people? or if Hindu Brahmans started fining people for crimes against Dharma?

5

Eh Gov,

22/01/2008 13:53:26
I am not blamming the victims for anything, don't know where you got that from. I believe the govertment has an agenda, and creating hate and fear is a part of it, perhaps the UK will be invading Iran shortly ...

There are Muslim terrorists, but not all Muslims are terrorists and this sort of rubbish from the govertment doesn't help anyone. Don't forget the IRA bombers in the 60's, 70's and 80's, we didn't hate the Irish nation because of them.

There is a small minority of Muslims who will resort to terrorism.If we continue to isolate muslims and other ethnic groups from our community with stories like this the numbers of terrorists will increase; because hatred breads hate, as Mike S points out they will look to their own culture for support.

6

Xena - Warrior Princess,

22/01/2008 14:34:18
#6 I agree that all Muslims are not terrorists, on the other hand they are the ones who isolate themselves. A lot of them make no effort to integrate and as with anything else that people don't understand they fear it which breeds hatred. When they don't condemn the terrorists it also gives the impression that they agree with them.
7

oder,

Scotland 22/01/2008 15:06:48
Every where Islam is found there is a problem Sudan, India,Far Fast, Middle east,Islam is in conflict with every thing not Islamic the problem is world wide, there is very little that can be done locally to resolve
this situation as it will require a global answer and that will take some time as most in the west do not know what to do with the problem, however look on the bright side if the politicians keep on doing nothing the terrorists will give you the choice peace under Islam, or war.
the reason that moderate Muslims cannot condemn Osama and that ilk because they all read the holy book the Koran which orders non believers to be killed, and that is what AL QEADA does, this lack of condemnation by moderate Muslims show at least tacit support for terrorism. There is no shortage of Fatwa`s on film producers, newspapers, writers and anyone else in the west who have had the misfortune to annoy followers of the religion of peace,yet nothing can they do about their own kind who bring Islam into collision with non Muslims other than to say they are not Islamic, strange as this seems its not a problem when dealing with non Muslims.
If Islam has a image problem it is for Muslims to resolve it.
8

Why can't I use my usual name?,

Glasgow 22/01/2008 16:21:12
#8, I think that you'll find plenty muslim condenmation of Bin Laden.

OK, we all agree there is a problem, bigger or smaller. The depressing thing is that no-one seems to have any positive suggestions about how to deal with it. Government and the media seems to be pre-occupied with fuelling isolation, mistrust, prejudice and fear - enthusiastically backed up by many web-posters. It's not really helping though...
9

lielayer,

22/01/2008 17:13:15
Blair's eager participation in Bush's 'War on Terror' has brought Islamic terrorism home to Britain. His refusal to accept a causal link between the Iraq war and the London bombings of July 7, 2005, and subsequent terrorist plots, finally destroyed his reputation for integrity.

http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/index.php?storyID=6708
10

Kipling,

22/01/2008 19:32:58
So Muslim girls have their equivalent of a lad culture? Any glance at SHI'ITE muslim history (Iran in particular) will show that women were allowed a significant role. I find it strange that the West which prides itself on sexual equality should suddenly become frightened when Muslim women become involved. It's as if the presumed sexual INequality in Islam was very useful to the western way of life. The problem of the recent threat of course lies in Tony Bliar's Crusade to redeem Iraq from the nasty Mr Hussain (and indeed he was nasty, but not to the degree or with the intentions publicised by Mr Bliar). Tony and George Bush have been open about their 'christian' intentions, without remotely considering that there might be a backlash to the backlash. (What do you expect of a member of the legal profession, let alone a second-rater member.) It is the retaliation we are dealing with now. Many many years ago I met fundamentalist religious muslims abroad and in this country. I was impressed with their 'christian' kindness and religiosity. It was a reminder of where christianity started (the middle east) and where the christian principles were born.
11

boudica,

Glasgow 22/01/2008 19:53:41
The reason young Musdlims dont feel they belong here is down to their own Parents telling that is so ,they are told everything western is wrong .Honour Killing something that was never known here 20yrs ago is now becoming a fact and why because when one of these youngsters ( usually a Female) want to chose their own partners and not into an " Arranged" marriage even when it is too another Muslim are killed for the family Honour ...we even allow Muslim men to have more than 1 wife and our Government turns a blind eye so has not to upset the Muslim Community ..when is our Government going to stop pandering to all of this because appeasing them aint working it is about they stood up and said enough is enough
12

boudica,

22/01/2008 20:08:07
11 Kipling..I aint frightened of any Extremist be they male or female what scares me is a Country were the majorities " Human Rights" are ignored to satisfy a Minority and as for Christian Values they were born out of Jewish Tradition and not an Arab one 2 totally different Cultures and unlike the Arab one we have moved on from the Feudal system and as this Island still has a Celtic Majority whose Women were among the most feared Warriors .We can handle them ...No Probs haha
13

boudica,

Glasgow 22/01/2008 20:10:33
And Kipling dont you worry you keep baking your wee delicious cakes and we wil beat the Shi-ite out of them for ya ...hehe ( sorry coukldnt resist that one ..)
14

IainA,

Edinburgh 22/01/2008 20:27:11
#10 lielayer

I see, so when 7/7 happened it was Tony Blair's fault? And here was me thinking it was the fault of a group of religious extremists whose only answer to one war is to try and foment another one.

Yes, Tony Blair got us into a stupid, pointless and unnecessary war, told us a load of 'sexed up' lies from a student's dissertation he found on the web and generally deceived this country into spending our soldiers lives so that he could keep in with the Americans.

However, using your argument you could make an equally good case that Saddam Hussein caused 7/7 by being a megalomaniac dictator, murdering his own people, invading Kuwait and refusing to cooperate with the rest of the world.

If he hadn't done that, then America wouldn't have invaded, and Blair wouldn't have gone along with them.

Blaming Blair for terrorism is like blaming Poland for WWII.

15

IainA,

Edinburgh 22/01/2008 20:33:02
#10 lielayer

Just remind me again, what was the nationality of the 9/11 bombers....oh yes, Saudi Arabian weren't they?

Bush couldn't possibly attack the Saudi's as they have too much clout and oil, so he picked a nice visible target like Saddam Hussein.

If he had gone in and removed the house of Saud from power, 90 % of the islamic terrorism that is currently plaguing the west would have vanished overnight.

It's very hard to fund extremist madrassas all over the world if you're in the gaol.
16

lielayer,

22/01/2008 21:08:49
15
IainA

"I see, so when 7/7 happened it was Tony Blair's fault?"

A majority of Britons fault Tony Blair himself.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/7-London-Bombings-Iraq-War/dp/0745325637
17

chill out,

Scotland 22/01/2008 21:15:51
I personally feel less at threat than I did when there were Irish extremists blowing my friends up in England. I new Irish girls that had simpathy with the perpetrators, Why do we get really frightened - because we perceive Muslims as vastly different from ourselves. I don't see anything wrong with Islam, like many faiths they have their nutters, but most are ordinary British people who wont bite your head off and are busy trying to make a decent life for themselves in Britain. Lets be British about this, stop talking about race and religion, keep our heads and stop interfering in other countries. Many of your comments seem extremist to me!
18

Eh Gov,

Earth 22/01/2008 21:24:14
I think the comments on this story say it all really,don't they. we have people who think it was ok to invade IRAQ, and Afganistan to be responsible for the deaths of 000's of people. In the name of fighting terror ? and breaking the Axis of Evil, isn't this christian extrenism.


And above there are comments accusing Muslims of trying to destroy our way of life get real here; we are not the innocent victims in this, we started the murdering of innocent people.

We invaded another country without cause, what would we do if someone did that to one of our islands, hmmm oh yes we would declare war on them and send in the army navy airforce etc....
19

chill out,

Scotland 22/01/2008 21:25:39
When is someone going to invade Britain and hang Tony Blair and his cronies for invading a country and bringing untold misery to its population. Mr Hussein may have been tough on his people but he had a stable country given the factions there.
20

IainA,

Edinburgh 22/01/2008 21:31:31
#17 lielayer

Which makes them right how exactly? mere numbers don't make truth.

If I'm being honest though I would concede that Tony Blair did provide plenty of provocation for the extremists. That doesn't make it his fault.

#18 Chill out

You're quite right, the majority of muslims are decent, law abiding people who are being tarred with the same brand of extremism that a dangerous few practice. It's the extremists I don't care for and that's not because of their faith, it's because of their extremism. People like that are really only looking for a "just war" to allow them to vent their rage - 30 years ago it was the red brigades and the struggle to free Ireland. Today it's the crusaders and oppression by the unbelievers. The names change but the angry stupid, young men and women still go out to die at the behest of the manipulators seeking power and trying to take as many as possible with them.
21

IainA,

Edinburgh 22/01/2008 21:43:45
#20 chill out

Invade this country and hang Tony Blair and his cronies?

I was thinking maybe a criminal trial....

Why do you seem to feel that we should be punished by an invasion because one of our political leaders deceived us ? If you personally opposed the war - even if you too were deceived initially - and fought (if you'll pardon the irony) against it, what do you have to feel guilty for?

what is this attitude of self excoriating guilt that seems to pervade our country? Why don't we fix the problem instead of inviting punishment for it? Or make restitution?

You can't bring back the dead by offering yourself up to be killed.

#19 eh gov

No it isn't christian extremism, it's granting our government too much power then being fooled by demagoguery.

I don't think the UK government were on a mission to roll back the tide of the muslim invader from the gates of Vienna or expel the moors from Andalusia.

I think they had an eye to the main chance and took it without reckoning on the massive public backlash.

This was never a "christian" war, it was a war about oil and influence.
22

chill out,

Scotland 22/01/2008 21:51:38
.....
#21

yes, and by proliferating this hate talk with sweeping generalizations and sensationalist headlines such as "Terror Fears as young Muslime women turn to extremism" we contribute to the anger and work our way up into a frenzy. We should spend more time talking about the good things but then the papers wouldn't sell so much. Personally I never buy papers, I don't buy anything that writes this rubbish or elevates sport to such a position .
23

IainA,

Edinburgh 22/01/2008 22:29:52
#23 chill out

Really? I do the opposite and buy lots, from different ends of the political spectrum. magazines are good too - The Economist is very good, so is the New Scientist oddly enough, it is so non-political it makes some very telling political points.

Between that and the web I find it's the only way to get some sort of objectivity, in amongst the propaganda, there are a few nuggets of truth to be found.

Sometimes in the oddest places.

You're right though I can't be bothered with the sport. Rather play it or watch it than read about it.
24

oder,

Scotland 22/01/2008 23:15:12
9 Why can't I use my usual name?,Glasgow 22

you seem to miss the point that I am trying to make, in Islam the have methods of dealing with people who bring Islam into disrepute namely that the Islamic clergy/courts issue`s a fatwa against these persons/newspapers/film makers, it is in fact a licence/decree for any Muslim to kill these people no matter where they are, I am aware of Muslim condemnation of Bin laden and their cries of his un-Islamic behaviour, the problem for me at least is that its easy to have fatwa on a non Muslim for simply writing a story book yet here is a Muslim man who has done far worse! against not only the west but Muslims too! yet no fatwa on him? what is the thinking behind this? Bin Laden is either right or he`s wrong the Muslim clergy/courts need to clarify the situation their silence is tacit approval, deal with him as you do these other people who Muslims claim are un-Islamic or is that to extreme to expect fairness?

25

James (1),

22/01/2008 23:33:20
The human rights act is allowing this festering of hate to continue. You cannot act against people for infringing their rights. The very act that was meant to protect is slowly destroying British society. The very society that immigrants who wanted to come here found so attractive. Slowly and in some areas not so slowly, society is changing and to speak out against it makes you a racist. You can no longer make an observation based on what is happening. So people stay quiet and wait for what is inevitable coming. Someone will get to power because they will use this as a step ladder. Oops, sorry I should just keep quiet and watch.
26

lielayer,

23/01/2008 07:46:52
27
Dragonhead

"China has millions of Muslims in it's population, and does not have the same problems as the west with them,why? Because they are on an equal footing with all other citizens."

Amnesty International recently issued an extensive report on the policies of the Chinese government towards the Uighur minority in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). The 24-page document details the various legislative provisions recently introduced into Chinese law with a view to curbing "terrorist, separatist and illegal religious activities." Loosely translated, China is attempting to create domestic legal sanctions for the post-September 11th crackdown on Muslims and Islam in XUAR.

http://www.kudusyolu.com/yazi.php?dil=en&yzr=41&id=275
27

lielayer,

23/01/2008 09:51:00
27
Dragonhead

On 18 January 1788, the First Fleet of British convicts and settlers arrived in Botany Bay. On this date, Aboriginal Australia was invaded. The invasion would continue for many decades. Countless thousands of Aboriginal people would die from violence, disease and poor living conditions. Many others would lose their freedom, being forced into mission settlements and reserves.

http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Invasion+exploration+and+convicts

 

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