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Why Does Britain's First Directly Elected Asian Mayor Wish To Silence Legitimate Debate?

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anotheoldgit | 14:27 Sun 13th Apr 2014 | News
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http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/an-investigation-is-not-islamophobia-9256552.html

/// We noted, for example, how he has given about £50,000 in grants to the Bengali media and a further £50,000 a year for "community media advice" to the chief correspondent of the most popular Bengali TV channel. That same channel has three times breached Ofcom impartiality rules by its blatantly biased coverage of the mayor. He counters that the relationship the two have is "professional". ///

There is something worrying when a Mayor of a mainly ethnic minority borough of London, not only tries to stop a BBC 'Panorama' report, but also channels public money toward self interest sources.
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naomi24

Incidentally, I would never defend any homophobic Muslim. The same way that I would not defend Muslims who have an antiquated view of women.

I have a very dim view of men who treat women as second class, and I have an equally dim view of *anyone* who views gay people as 'less than'.

However, I don't accept the description, "bearing in mind their attitude toward gay people" because that would be a blanket description of all Muslims, and in my experience, that's not true.

I suspect that part of it may be that I have only ever known very integrated, younger Muslims who have a very much less prescriptive view on the world.
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Orderlimit

/// "Unfortunately Mr Rahman has the "Islamaphobic" trump card to play " ///

/// And he can throw in the race card if the islamophobia ambush defence card fails. ///

/// Wonder which one of the two is currently more powerful at present?. ///

It has got to be the 'RACE CARD' since it playable by more than just those who believe in a certain religion.
The Private Eye column 'Rotten Boroughs' has been running for over 30 years. I believe it started charting Derek Hatton's Merseyside and the old GLC. In the past 3 decades hundreds if not thousands of Councils and elected officials have featured on its pages. Favouring friends and paying them from the public purse is a very common theme told many hundreds of times featuring the full spectrum of political parties.

This one features a muslim Mayor so it has pricked AOGs interest. I doubt it would have got a mention if the Mayor was a white christian Conservative.

I have not seen the Panorama programme, but Private Eye has reported on this Mayor many times. If he has done anything corrupt then I am sure the law will be used to stop him.
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sp1814

All very noble words sp, but you still haven't condemned this particular person even when his 'wrongdoings' have been laid out before you.
SP, //I don't accept the description, "bearing in mind their attitude toward gay people" because that would be a blanket description of all Muslims, and in my experience, that's not true. //

As you say you have only ever known very integrated, younger Muslims who have a very much less prescriptive view on the world, so no, it isn't true, but it's the status quo that Islam promotes to the faithful. That said, thanks for answering. I was genuinely curious.
// you still haven't condemned this particular person even when his 'wrongdoings' have been laid out before you. //

Because at the moment this is trial by television. When he is prosecuted and found guilty is the time to condemn him. As sp has never been to Tower Hamlets, I suspect he isn't particularly bothered if it has a Muslim Mayor.
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/// This one features a muslim Mayor so it has pricked AOGs interest. I doubt it would have got a mention if the Mayor was a white christian Conservative. ///

And it is because he happens to be a Muslim, that some would rather choose to shoot the messenger.
I think most have worked out your criteria for posting questions AOG. You are not really concerned by an elected official sqandering public money. That was not why you posted your question.
AOG

Yes - I got totally off track. The mayor should have requested a right to reply on the programme, rather than go on the offensive, and claim Islamophobia. Indeed, if there's one thing that won't ring true, is the idea of the BBC of all broadcasters, being Islamophobic.

So...it would appear that he has been a jerk of major proportions here.

And whilst we're in the mood to respond to questions...

there were 2 or 3 other threads about this programme and several previous threads about this 'crook'. Of course its quite possible all the posters had a 'hidden' agenda. Or maybe certain people on here have their own agenda, ie, attack aog regardless of what he posts.
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sp1814

Thanks for carrying out the research, reading through some of them you have done me a favour, what goes off in Tower Hamlets is nothing short of shocking.

*** Last year, a mob of 30 young Muslims stormed a local gay pub, the George and Dragon, beating and abusing patrons. ***

*** Homophobic crimes in the borough have risen by 80 per cent since 2007/8, and by 21 per cent over the last year, a period when there was a slight drop in London as a whole. ***

*** Peter Tatchell, the gay human rights campaigner, said: “The police said no-one was allowed to talk publicly about this because they didn’t want to upset the Muslim community. ***

/// However, a search of 'Tower Hamlets' in the News section reveals...but references to the mayor are quite old. ///

They may be old but it seems nothing has changed.
sp, you said you know the capital well, what just the nice bars, where gays are safe and can hang out together, strange that you never been in those other places you mention. I know pretty much all the areas mentioned, and most of the capital, not just living, but socialising, working, East End, West End, some old friends lived over by Mile End, but others are and have been dotted around the place.

emmie

I'm not a taxi driver.

Why would I go to places that I don't know, that none of my mates live in, and that are difficult to get to/from?

I mainly go out in Islington, the West End, Crouch End, Hoxton Square and Kings Cross.

I have little interest in other places...unless a new bar, restaurant, pub or whatever opens there.

Why would I go to Tower Hamlets?
emmie

This is remarkably snide of you:

"what just the nice bars, where gays are safe and can hang out together"

Really below you.
AOG

You wrote:

'They may be old but it seems nothing has changed'

Wrong again I'm afraid.

A tiny bit of research online would have proven that.

And by the way, I wasn't having a go by printing your list of threads - just responding to Svejk's point...there really aren't that many who post about TH. just you and R1Geezer (aka...TTT).

Not a criticism in this instance...rather a clarification.
you were the one who said you knew the capital really well, having grown up here, as to why would you go to TH, perhaps to visit, take a look, do some shopping, any reason, its not hard to get to and from either, good bus and train links. Stratford, which has Westfield and an older market centre, plus the Olympic park, now fully open to the public not just for sporting events in the QE stadium.
Sometimes you have to see things for yourself, do you know Petticoat Market, or Brick Lane, Walworth Road, East Street market, all worth a look, for browsing, having a coffee, and seeing just how diverse a place we live in.

i also know those areas you mention, working and socially -
as to Rahman, he has had ample opportunity to put his side of the case,
the matter has been referred to Eric Pickles who also featured in the Panorama programme - if any wrong doing it will be dealt with.
i have mentioned him before in other threads,
Question Author
sp1814

/// there really aren't that many who post about TH. just you and R1Geezer (aka...TTT). ///

/// Not a criticism in this instance...rather a clarification. ///

If that's not a criticism aimed at myself and R1Geezer for daring to post on Tower Hamlets, I don't know what is.

Are there now certain areas of London that one should not post on?
AOG

You have made a mistake. I will show you where.

Look at this...

Svejk wrote:

"there were 2 or 3 other threads about this programme and several previous threads about this 'crook'. Of course its quite possible all the posters had a 'hidden' agenda. Or maybe certain people on here have their own agenda, ie, attack aog regardless of what he posts."

So, I checked and there were no posts about 'Lutfur Rahman' on AB, and where he referred to 'all the posters', there were just you and R1Geezer, who doesn't even exist any more.

However, you've taken that to mean that I am criticising you for posting.

No. Just pointing out that there aren't a whole number of people posting about Tower Hamlets. Therfore, Svejk wasn't right to say that "all the posters had a 'hidden' agenda". Because there's only one.

And furthermore, I would strongly suggest that you do *not* have a hidden agenda at all.

Well, by that, I mean that your agenda is as hidden as a rhino might be hidden, whilst riding the tea cups at the funfair on Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

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