Is Islam good for London?

1/3

I'm Islamic: don't panic!" is the cheerful slogan emblazoned on a T shirt in one London street market - a cheeky London response to an issue that has become one of the most pressing of the times.

In a city with a Muslim population of well over half a million and growing and against a background of the terror threat that affects us all, the question of how a modern diverse city can live with Islam - and vice versa - has a fresh salience.

Is there a modern, moderate Islam, that can co-exist happily with a society based on the values of choice and freedom? If so, does it assert itself strongly enough against fundamentalism intended to drive a wedge between communities - ultimately with recourse to the violence of the London bombings?

And what about the issues of tolerance raised by the proliferation of the head covering and veilwearing or burka and the very different conception of the rights of women within Islam?

The Evening Standard's opinion poll this week shows seven out of 10 people believe Muslims make a "positive contribution" to the economy of the capital.

But the fears of a divided city are illustrated by the figure of over half believing that Muslims are in danger of becoming isolated from those around them.

The sense of unease is mutual, with one leading figure causing an outcry comparing the mood to the 1930s in Germany. We set out to explore a simple but vital question: Is Islam good for London.

The result was a packed and heated debate that aired passions, grievances and strongly held beliefs on both sides.

You can read what our panellists and audience thought about Islam by scrolling further down the page - or click on the links below to watch video highlights of the debate...

1. Introduction to the Influentials Debate: Is Islam Good For London?
Introduced by Veronica Wadley, Evening Standard Editor - includes a background to : the debates and the 1000 Magazine.
2. Introduction to the panel by Anne McElvoy, Executive Editor of the Evening Standard
Panel consists of : Author of The Islamist - Ed Husain, Assistant Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain -Inayat Bunglawala, Historian -Professor Michael Burleigh, Columnist - Rod Liddle, Author and writer - Joan Smith.
3. Question posed by Nick Cohen - Evening Standard writer
Shouldn't Londoners be tougher in attacking the apologists of radical Islam and a bit more confident in upholding the democratic arguments against them?
Answers from each panel member including debate on : the tendency to confuse Islam with Muslims, Islam as an ideology, is London good for Islam, mainstream interpretations of Islam, identity and religion, secular society, totalitarianism and universal human rights.
4. Comment from audience member Nic Careem
Offers the opinion that the question should be re-phrased to ask Has Islam been Good For London? He also challenges panellist Rod Liddle on his knowledge of Islam. Response from each panel member including debate on: figures of consciousness, freedom of speech, distinction between the religion and Muslims, stoning as a punishment, gay rights, women's rights and other faiths.
5. Comment from audience member Jemima Khan
It is important to differentiate between practised Islam and Islam taken directly from the Koran, interpretation is vital.
6. Questions from the audience and response from the panel
Including: comparing Islam in the Middle Ages to other religions, evolution of religions, and women wearing veils. Includes comment from ITN's Guy Kerr.
7. Comment from panel members
Including: opposing the veil, notions of masculinity, patriarchal religion, masked society, separatist ideology, universal human rights, essence of democracy, banning organisations, primary school children wearing veils and wearing overt religious symbols.
8. Comment from audience member Denis McShane MP
Raising questions about previous quotes made by Inayat Bunglawala regarding Jewish people. Response from panel members including debate on: forced arranged marriages, Islamaphobes, singling Islam out for criticism, comparisons with the 1930's, perceived hatred of the West and death threats.
9. Comment from audience member Miriam Scharf, an East London teacher
Comments that politics seem to be missing from the debate and poses the question: Why do so many Muslim children have such a strong identity with Islam when they are living in a secular society and democracy? Response from panellists includes: looking at where ideas are coming from, reaping what London has sown, the Iraq war and it's consequences, western society, anti-materialism, dignity and respect for the family, islamic radicalism, Middle East disputes, imprisoned writers, extremism, foreign policy.
10. Comment from audience member: What has London done that has created the problem? Has foreign policy supported and generated terror?
Response from the panel including comment on: engaging the situation positively, amending mistakes, historical problems since the 1980's, jihad in Britain, comment on terrorist activity in Switzerland.
11. Comment from audience member Alan Craig, Newham Councillor
Comment on Halal meat being the only offering in Forest Gate schools and the proposed development of an Olympic 'mega-mosque'. Comment from the panel including: books inciting hatred in mosques, the Islam cartoons and the Satanic Verses.
12. Question from Chair, Anne McElvoy: Have we got the limits of tolerance right?
Response from panel members includes: pamphlets distributed in mosques, misogyny and homophobia, multiple places of religion existing in democratic society, non-static faith, processes of learning and common belief in human rights. Includes closing thoughts from the panel.

SO IS ISLAM GOOD FOR LONDON: WHAT THE AUDIENCE SAID

* We should rephrase the question. It should be: has London been good for Islam? But turning to the question of 'has Islam been good for London', I believe it has. I believe Judaism has been good for London. I believe Buddhism has been good for London. I believe non-religion has been good for London. Nic Careem

* It is important to differentiate between Islam as practised in many Muslim countries and Islam as it is in the Koran. It depends on what you want to find and how you interpret it. I would agree that Islam is not necessarily as evolved [as civil society in the West]. I think that is true for all religions in the world. Jemima Khan

* If you'd seen broken women crying in my constituency surgery because of what was done to them in arranged marriages, that nonsense would last a second. [In response to backing for arranged marriages from abroad. Denis McShane MP

* Why do so many Muslim children have such an identity with Islam when they live in such a secular society? My girls are probably hijabing now more than before we bombed Iraq and Afghanistan. It is all about foreign policy. Miriam Scharf, East End teacher

* The people who should be the target are not here and who will not debate. If London is to benefit from Islam, people like Mr Bunglawala must debate properly and stick by what they said. When is he going to complain about the policies conducted by radical Muslims in the Muslim world? Anthony Gleese

* The way hijabing is portrayed is wrong. Where the modest dress comes is about freeing women to be part of public spaces. Men should be modestly dressed, too. The fact that Muslim women are held back in Muslim countries is something I and other Muslim women are working to address. These discussions always speak over Muslim women who wear the veil. We who have chosen [to wear the veil] are trying to live the spirit of modesty for women. Shelina Janmohamed, Muslim blogger

* THE NEXT DEBATE: Should the city give more to good causes? Weds 12 Dec, Tate Modern, SE1.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in