Islamophobia comes to Town

It’s plainly rife where I live. And where was this pernicious article published?

AN anti-Islamic article aiming to "liven up" a church magazine has sparked outrage after it branded the religion a "threat".

Who is this shadowy group attacking Muslims in the street?

The 80-year-old divorcee claimed in her column for the St John's Church publication that young Christian schoolchildren were being brainwashed with Islamic ideology.

Mind you, I’d like to read what she originally wrote before the censorship kicked in.

Both magazine editor Nick Hawkins – who admitted toning down the original submission because it was "too extreme" – and the Reverend John Chandler this week defended the piece, which was sent out to all homes in Hildenborough.

And the usual from the professionally offended:

But residents and the West Kent Muslim Association (WKMA) have called it "unacceptable" and "harmful to the community".

Well mateys. I’m a resident and I’m not in the slightest bit offended.

And of course a politician has to jump on the publicity bandwagon. It’s all so predictable.

Tonbridge Green Party's Steve Dawe said he hoped the article – which sits alongside more benign offerings about coffee mornings and whist drives – was a one-off.

And on a final note.

Mrs Clark, of Bramble Close, said she stood by her views, saying: "This used to be a Christian country."

Good for you Mrs Clark.

If you want to see what she wrote there is a transcript in the comments following the article In Thisiskent.

UPDATE:

of course there is always one of the Righteous in the comments.

I think this piece in the Hildenborough parish magazine was a step too far but was probably written by someone whose understanding of Islam is limited to what she sees and hears in the British media. I'm not surprised that the Editor of the magazine and the local vicar defended the article, as the Christian community in Hildenborough is quite evangelical in its make up, However, if the Editor wants to liven things up then he must be prepared to publish balancing articles which may in turn cause offence to the Christian community. Personally I am an atheist and don't have a lot of time for any particular religion but I respect people's beliefs and would expect them to respect mine. Christianity is meant to be a tolerant religion and the article in question does nothing to promote that. I suspect that what Mrs Clark is actually afraid of is extremism and what she has to realise is that extremism in any religion is a destructive force. I think the Editor of Keys should print some form of disclaimer, retraction or apology for this article, if not then I would support Steve Dawe in his suggestion that this should be a matter for the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Terence Morrison.