A Conservative MP sensibly suggests that this week’s killing in Woolwich was not terrorism
In the days since the terrible murder of Lee Rigby, 25, in Woolwich, the BNP, the EDL and other racists have leapt on the description of it as “terrorism”.
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Alec Shelbourne MP, Parliamentary Private Secretary to Northern Ireland Minister Mike Penning, is, however, amongst the few to have seen this appalling incident for what it truly is. In a statement, the MP for Elmet and Rothwell, West Yorkshire stated:
“Just because someone says they have done it in the name of Islam does not make them terrorists… I do not think this should be described as terror”.
“Just because you stand say ‘God is Great’ to everybody, it does not mean it’s Islamic terror”.
“What’s the difference between Peter Sutcliffe saying he killed prostitutes because God told him to, and these people who are saying they are doing it in the name of Allah? It’s murder”.
“The implication is anybody who has not got a white face is implicated. If people have those views they must visit Auschwitz to understand where intolerance leads”.
“People should draw the connection between what happened in the 1920s and 1930s in Germany, and the conversations people think are acceptable now. We live in a cohesive society”.
Mr Shelbrooke’s remarks have been met with anger both from his constituents and on Twitter. They are wrong. Here is an MP who is wisely trying to encourage tolerance and reason.
Follow Alec Shelbrooke MP on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/AlecShelbrooke
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Readers have their say
8 comments
So if they are not terrorists they must be ‘freedom fighters’!!!!
‘Tolerance and reason’ would best be encouraged by the majority of the Muslim community organising nationwide demonstrations against those, within their community, who believe the Koran preaches and teaches the oppression of women and the introduction of Sharia law.
Incidentally, I suspect that the majority of fellow readers are cocooned from the extreme effects of Islamism in this country. The only mosque in the area is the elegant Ishmaeli one in S. Ken.
It is wrong to patronise poor people who have to live their lives in areas which have virtually been taken over by extreme religionists who have great antipathy to Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Sikhism, Jainist et al.
As for Shelbrooke…a man intolerant of the poor who even the Spectator describes as,
“Despite strong competition, Alec Shelbrooke is the new front-runner for the coveted title of Nastiest, Most Stupid Tory MP 2012”
Sir, regarding my comment on twitter, I was not referring to your thoughts on Terrorism or suggested the killers were terrorists. Peter Sutcliffe despised prostitutes, therefore he killed such. To similarise him to the killer of Lee Rigby (an Islamic extremist) who despises the whole of the British people and our beliefs, is quite naïve. As regards Nazi Germany (as you refer 1920’s 30’s Germany) I suggest you read up a bit more on your history.
Sorry Mr Noble who are you replying to? Me lost!!
No Peter, I was referring to his statement
Thanks I didn’t see it
I was being slow, Nik.
You are right: to equate our circumstances today with Germany in the ’20/30’s is stupid, The Jewish people were incredibly assimilated and didn’t try to physically damage Germany. Extreme Islam in this country goes out of its way to damage and destroy, in the name of God, this country.
The practioners of these extreme forms of Islam hold views on women, gay people etc quite alien to the culture of this country. Even those less extreme would like to divorce themselves from our legal system and operate an alternative Sharia system. This is is not the stuff of a ‘cohesive society.’
Sheldrake is a blunderer. He even tweeted that he was delighted to have been appointed to some PPS role as in Northern Ireland, but his fat finger made him write Northern Island….he then repeated. The guy is a clown.
Indeed. His comment “The implication is anybody who has not got a white face is implicated” contradicts everything he is saying here. And to say hacking a man to death, in broad daylight on a busy street “is not terror” beggars belief. The man is utterly clueless.
As a lifelong Labour voter who voted conservative for the first time because of Theresa May please note 5bat if she is deposed as PM l will not be voting conservative again, this also applies to my husband.