One Law for All seminar

[balaclava]

My principal reason for joining this forum was to find answers to some questions I have on the actions of groups like the UAF.

I watched some clips on YouTube from the One Law for All .org seminar titled ‘Enemies not Allies - Seminar on the far-Right and Pro-Islamist Left’ which addressed some of my questions.

Some of the speakers seemed overly focused on their own particular agenda but I was much entertained by
a clip showing Douglas Murray and Maryam Namazie in a Q&A session.
(Maryam Namazie a left wing (communist) ex Muslim news reporter; Douglas Murray Director at the Centre
for Social Cohesion)

Being ‘restricted’ I am not allowed to post attachments and I am not sure if that includes links. But if you type into Youtube . . . . Seminar on the far-Right and Pro-Islamist Left: Douglas Murray & Maryam Namazie Q&A . . . . you'll find the clip.

Here are some quotes to give you taster:
“Left wing gays for Palestine - if gays were in Palestine they’d have to move to Israel.
“The problem with the pro-Islamist left is because they see ‘the enemies of their enemies as their friend’ and because they see the Islamic movement as anti-imperialist they defend it irrespective of what these movements or states do”

I'd be interested to hear the views of the comrades here on Maryam Namazie comments in particular. In this clip she follows Douglas Murray who I thought spoke well but I am sure most of you will disagree with his views. If you can stay in there long enough to get through Murray and tell me where you agree/disagree with
Namazie I'd appreciate it.

[balaclava]

Here's the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wgAliHwrNo&feature=player_embedded

[#FF0000]

There is no "Pro-islamist" left. They are people who see that this "omg islam terrorism" hype hurts regular people who are Muslim.

That's it.

[Palingenisis]

There is no "Pro-islamist" left. They are people who see that this "omg islam terrorism" hype hurts regular people who are Muslim.

That's it.

Actually some Trots in the UK were in a political party called Respect that included some pretty reactionary Islamists. Both the SWP UK and "Maoist"-Third Worldists have the mistaken habit of seeing Political Islam as progressive.

[#FF0000]

Actually some Trots in the UK were in a political party called Respect that included some pretty reactionary Islamists. Both the SWP UK and "Maoist"-Third Worldists have the mistaken habit of seeing Political Islam as progressive.

Yeah but I think it's safe to say it's the exception rather than the rule.

[balaclava]

There is no "Pro-islamist" left. They are people who see that this "omg islam terrorism" hype hurts regular people who are Muslim.

That's it.

Hmmm . . . in that case how do you counter that, apart from the fact that these people called this seminar in the first place with ‘pro-Islamic Left’ in the title, many of them spoke of seeing left wing activists supporting Muslims activists at various venues?

[#FF0000]

Hmmm . . . in that case how do you counter that, apart from the fact that these people called this seminar in the first place with ‘pro-Islamic Left’ in the title, many of them spoke of seeing left wing activists supporting Muslims activists at various venues?

Because the people who run this show see people defending Muslims as people who are defending political Islam and who want Sharia Law everywhere when that is not remotely the case.

[Dean]

Hmmm . . . in that case how do you counter that, apart from the fact that these people called this seminar in the first place with ‘pro-Islamic Left’ in the title, many of them spoke of seeing left wing activists supporting Muslims activists at various venues?

Islam has some fundamental values which parallel Christian and Jewish traditions of social justice and egalitarianism. Political Islam is one of the biggest tendencies in contradiction to neoliberal policy in the Middle East and Asia. A lot of this religious tradition to the left of neoliberalism is parallel to mainstream leftism - indeed, many Islamic parties could be seen like the Democrats to the neoliberal autocrats comparable to Republicans.

Clearly, most leftists don't support Islamic politics. But we overlap on key issues. And, like Christian traditions, they are often invoked by a pluralist belief system. Its not really enough to condemn a movement, to be called Islamic.

[balaclava]

Are the UAF a 'Left' wing group?