Bishop of Rochester Criticises Muslim 'Victim Mentality'
The Bishop of Rochester has criticised members of the Muslim community in Britain for what he called their "victim mentality".
by Maria Mackay
Posted: Monday, November 6, 2006, 7:10 (GMT)
The Bishop of Rochester has criticised what he called the 'victim mentality' of many Muslims in Britain.
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali told The Sunday Times that some Muslims had a "dual psychology" in which they sought "victimhood and domination".
"Their complaint often boils down to the position that it is always right to intervene when Muslims are victims, as in Bosnia or Kosovo, and always wrong when the Muslims are the oppressors or terrorists, as with the Taliban or in Iraq," he said.
Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said that the comments by the Church of England's only Asian bishop were "not very helpful for community relationships".
Bishop Nazir-Ali also said that radical Islam had been allowed to flourish in Britain because of a failure to counter these beliefs had allowed and that stricter checks should be implemented to filter out extremist clerics from the country. These included a check on qualifications, English language proficiency and an understanding of British life and culture.
"The two main causes of the present situation [rising extremism] are fundamentalist imams and material on the internet."
The Bishop of Rochester, whose father converted from Islam, also dipped into the debate over whether Muslim women should wear full-face veils, saying that they were not suitable in some circumstances such as teaching.
"I can see nothing in Islam that prescribes the wearing of a full-face veil. In the supermarket those at the cash tills need to be recognised. Teaching is another context in which society requires recognition and identification."
Bishop Nazir-Ali moved to Britain in the 1980s and became the youngest bishop in the world at 35.
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Added: Monday, November 6, 2006, 12:38 (GMT)
I find the article rather matter of fact, and I think the immediate reaction of the Muslim Council underlines the very comment it seeks to repudiate. Not all Muslim women are oppressed, or forced to wear the niqab, and many western women are oppressed, and abused, and their outward appearance has little to do with this. However, it seems to me that any criticism of Islam is immediately derided as 'racist' or 'bigotted'. I find the full body veil very intimidating, there have been too many instances where the those bent on violence have worn masks and this leads to the feeling of intimidation. I have lived through 30 years of 'Troubles.' I know many women, local as well as immigrant, who wear headscarves, so that is not quite the same, and I have no doubt that there are occasions when the full veil may be considered important. Normal social interaction demands some understanding and common sense. I am sure there are many situations where these women would feel outraged by the immodesty of western women, topless waitresses for example. But this is not the total sum of western society, most people do not want to be served by topless waitresses, or waiters. As a teacher, I frequently flet that whatever I did I was in a no-win situation. Similarly in the security forces in NI, I was often in the same situation. Because I was white, I was always regarded as a racist, whether I was or not. As a Protestant I was regarded as a bigot. As a member of the Security Forces I was regarded as person who beats up nationalists and catholics. As a teacher I was regarded as being inefficient and useless because young people were not mannerly, were committing crime, were taking drugs or alcohol, and were not learning. Now as a simple citizen of the United Kingdom, I feel that I am to suffer intimidation because it suits someone else's religious beliefs, and I would still stand up for their right to hold those beliefs. I think that young immigrant families have to undergo some basic education about our society, and its values. Individual freedom is something I value, and for which I have served in the security forces. But individual freedom is not total, it is conditional. We are free within the bounds of our society, which are in fact much wider than many other western societies. This demands that every one should act with the sensibilities of others in mind, whether it is wearing veils or ghastly thongs. Instead of crying foul every time someone comments on their religion, or culture, the Muslim Council should be telling us what their culture is about, how we can reach out to meet Muslims, and show our common humanity. They should also advise their own people that there are certain standards expected of them in this society, which belongs to all of us, not just the Muslims. The Bishop of Rochester is right to speak out about what is seen as separatist, and isolationist within our society, much more debate is needed.
David Murray, Cookstown Co Tyrone NI
Added: Monday, November 6, 2006, 11:57 (GMT)
I thought the comments made by the Bishop of Rochester today on Radio 4 were spot on and helped provide me with a greater understanding of some the confusion that I suffer and feel others suffer as a result of a destablisiation of those Christian values that underpin our society.
Frank, Guildford. UK
Added: Monday, November 6, 2006, 10:57 (GMT)
The Bishop is absolutely correct. I hope Rowan Williams will now come out in solid support.
The "moral vacuum" that the Bishop refers to can only be filled by a re-invigorated Church that's clear about what it stands for and that's much more enthusiastic than it has been about carrying its message to Muslims in Britain.
It's only the simple, direct and conciliatory message of Christian hope and charity that will truly resolve Muslims' "dual psychology" that Bishop Michael has quite properly raised concerns about.
sebastian, Yeovil, UK
