- Let’s be honest. There’s a clear link with Islam (£) by David Aaronovitch, The Times
- Intellectual property is an innovation killer by Joshua Lachkovic , KernalMag
- Dumb Idea Hall of Fame by Aaron David Miller, Foreign Policy
- Nadine Dorries threatens Cameron's Party Leadership by Nadine Dorries, Daily Mail
- Boris set for party leadership? by Traci Watson, USAToday
- Anti-Israel students deface Star of David at student conference by Jonny Paul, Jerusalem Post
- Jihadist Videos on University Facebook by Rupert Sutton, Huffington Post UK
- Skintland: Heads I Win, Tails You Lose by Alex Massie, Spectator UK
- Green tax on conservatories by James Slack and Tamara Cohen, Daily Mail
- Saudi princess: What I'd change about my country by Staff writers, BBC
So, Mehdi Hasan, can I call you an extremist (or at least a cab)?
It's difficult to see how anyone can take Mehdi Hasan seriously. Now Mail on Sunday types will be privy to his Icke-esque rants, too.
A risky headline, don’t you agree? But stick with me for a few moments and I’ll illustrate for you just how one intolerant leftist has wormed his way into the ‘mainstream’ of political discourse in this country. It’s imperative that after reading this, we all commit to ensuring he’s never taken seriously again.
Mehdi Hasan, the senior politics editor at the New Statesman has always been known to play fast and loose with the facts. One of his latest nonsensical tirades for the declining Guardian Comment is Free involves calling Prime Minister Cameron an extremist for not having enough women in his Cabinet. How academic of you, Mehdi. I didn’t know you were that keen on equality and tolerance.
In fact, the last thing I saw from Mehdi was a fascinating video (below) of him being rather intolerant and hateful towards the ‘kaffir’. Still I’ve heard no apology for this grossly offensive video. Far more offensive than lumping in extremists with the BNP, which is what Mehdi’s latest piece seems to warn against.
Disgusting, right? What about this one? I’m keen on hearing reactions in the comments below.
No doubt according to Mehdi, I will have taken these videos completely ‘out of context’. It’s the usual spiel. How could I have missed it? There are plenty of normal, every day situations when you’re addressing a Muslim crowd and just so happen to rail against Western values. How did I not see the context? Silly me.
But considering this snippet, doesn’t Mehdi fall foul of the new government Prevent definition of extremism? Let’s have a look:
“Extremism is vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. We also include in our definition of extremism calls for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country or overseas.”
Mutual respect and tolerance, eh? Oh dear Mehdi. It seems the title of your own piece may now be used against you… a little bit like now. And he also tries to wriggle his way through the argument on Prevent by selectively quoting government documents and cherry-picked theories from those who are frankly past their sell-by-date on this issue, just as he is.
In fact, he even goes so far as to quote government papers put together in part by a trustee of the notorious East London Mosque. This man was also a youth co-ordinator for the Islamic Forum of Europe, the same group that Jim Fitzpatrick MP rightly asserted had ‘infiltrated the Labour Party’ in East London in the same way the militant tendency had in the 1970s.
Mehdi Hasan of course leapt to the defence of the new Mayor, Lutfur Rahman, who has been expelled from the Labour Party and insists ‘there is no extremism in Tower Hamlets’. Shame this has become more prevalent since Lutfur took the reigns. I’m also not sure that Tower Hamlets is going to be able to bring down ‘the pariah state of Israel’ as the new mayor wishes, either.
Mehdi’s language also gives him away as more of a David Icke character, rather than the reputable journalist he wishes to come across as. Throwing around terms like ‘neocon’ and ‘pseudo-experts’, Mehdi tries desperately to delegitimize his opposition through a series of ad hominem attacks. It’s really rather pathetic (see what I did there?).
He manages to mention Jews (obviously) and reckons the Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) has done miracles in tackling extremism because they held a conference on it. Fantastic. But they still hosted Anwar al-Awlaki, did they not? They still commit speakers such as Hamza Tzortzis and al-Kawthari to their audiences, do they not? Next week in fact, they very much do.
So I guess the point in this piece was not to necessarily debunk Mehdi’s arguments – he does that for me with how slapdash he is. At least he’s not plagiarizing Eugene Robinson at the Washington Post this time. I think however, it’s time we debunked the man.
If you’re still unsure as to whether Mehdi is a principled character, let’s have a look at his latest endeavour. We know he hates the Daily Mail – he tells us so very often in one form or another. But guess where his new biography on the increasingly prosaic Ed Miliband is due to be serialised? Oh delicious irony. You do bless us sometimes.
It’s in the Mail on Sunday.
Raheem Kassam is the Executive Editor of The Commentator, he tweets at @raheemjkassam.
Arggh... why can't we have people like you writing in the mainstream media? Or at least, let's make THIS the mainstream media!
"...we all commit to ensuring he’s never taken seriously again."
Ermm...has anyone ever take Mehdi Hasan seriously in the first place?
I remember seeing him on Question Time last year, and thought he came across as an arrogant and aggressive guy. I think I called this one right. A thoroughly unpleasant man.
what a zombie. really how do you people in england tolerate this rubbish. it's not free speech, it's just the ravings of a madman. the problem seems to be that there are a large number of them that carry on like this.
He is in no way, shape or form an extremist. You like to belittle the idea that it was taken out of context, but that's exactly what has happened.
As I said, these quotes were discussed ad nauseum 2yrs ago and since then you cannot find a single quote or article by Hasan which proves he is a so-called "extremism" or "preacher of hate" (as you have called him in the past) simply because he isn't!
Why don't you analyse his work that he has produced over the past 2yrs and stop banging the lame-drum over this particular quote. In order words, why don't you start acting like a proper (or even reputable) journalist or is that too much work for you??
@2yyiam: Oh good, a response from someone in his camp!
Well you make a contradictory point. Either it's taken out of context or not, which is it? You assert that we should analyse more recent work for whether or not he is an extremist - implying that he was an extremism until two years ago? Or is it more the point that he got caught out two years ago and has since shut up in public/recorded events about such things? I'm not claiming Hasan is an Islamist, but this evidence certainly proves he's intolerant and a nasty piece of work. He calls Cameron an extremist for inequality (sic) in the Cabinet, so as far as I'm concerned - he's far game. Wouldn't you say so? Thanks for reading. I hope you've shared it around. We like a good debate.
I hope there's not an censorship going on at the Commentator - why are my comments in response to Kassam not being posted?
My previous response was not posted so let me try again @Kassam. I enjoy good debate, but you apparently don't. You've blocked me on Twitter for no reason - very petty!
The quote has been taken out of context, if you bothered to listen to the entire speech then you would understand.
If we take your ridiculous argument that he is an extremist then there should be further evidence before and after this particular quote showing that he is "intolerant and a nasty piece of work."
The fact is he isn't and there isn't any evidence. To keep trying to bring up this one quote taken out of context to have a go just for the sake of it is immature and amateur at best.
And someone pays you for this??
I don't think anyone would blame me for blocking you on Twitter for the abusive trolling you were doing, but alas you seem to think that's a part of good natured debate. It's not. Bring it back to cordial discussion and I'm always happy to engage.
Again, I'm not arguing he's an extremist, simply that as he can levy stupid claims about Cameron's cabinet, then I too can take his quite vile videos and use them against him in a similar manner. As I said in the piece, as I said above. He uses govt docs, so can I. It's an own goal on his part and you know it.
And uh... everyone can see the evidence thank you very much. I take it no one pays you for your musings, then?
Wow! I did not utter one word of abuse to you!! I've got the tweets that I sent you in my timeline, you deleted your responses, how many words of abuse are there?? (in descending order): (Part1) @RaheemJKassam so why have you blocked me? Not interested in having a discussion? Sat May 21 2011 17:34:32 @RaheemJKassam also, u didn't answer my other q. To be a hate-preacher surely there should be a series of inflammatory quotes. Got any? Fri May 20 2011 16:31:56 @RaheemJKassam so did u listen to the full speech?? Listen to it all and get back to me. He was quoting the Qur'an, do u follow that book? Fri May 20 2011 16:28:06
(Part2) @RaheemJKassam A speech taken out of context does not = "preaches hate." Find a valid example of this hate preaching b4 accusing him. Fri May 20 2011 15:54:31 @RaheemJKassam u've heard the whole 1hr speech? Taken completely out of context, he explained it. Any other eg of "hate-preaching" by him? Fri May 20 2011 15:43:16 @RaheemJKassam How he pseudo-journo? I read your article criticising his Obama piece. How are the YT smear videos related to his comments?? Fri May 20 2011 12:56:11
(Part 3) @RaheemJKassam wow you really are scrapping the barrel - do you actually read his articles? Why this agenda against Hasan?
I don't find any "abusive trolling," just trying to engage in debate and then you blocked me. The evidence is on my timeline.
Thanks 2yyiam. I think you'll find that asking someone raised as a Muslim whether they 'follow' the Qu'ran is rather petty and I interpreted it as abusive. Suggesting one doesn't know their own mother religion is just plain out of order. If you can't understand how that would cause offence, then perhaps this isn't the right discussion for you.
Now, since you know who I am and so much about me, perhaps you'd like to disclose your identity for the benefit of our readership and transparency in debate.
Thanks
What a bigot.
He is also always very aggressive - got a chip on his shoulder.
@2
"Why don't you analyse his work that he has produced over the past 2yrs and stop banging the lame-drum over this particular quote."
Oh, so, he was only a Muslim extremist 2 years ago, yes? He has reformed since then? Where has he renounced the hateful things he said about gays and atheists in the past?
I'm very upset that the NS would employ this man. I'm a regular reader and won't be buying it again anytime soon!
As for this 2yiam chap - just as aggressive. What is wrong with these guys?
Seems like this guy needs to be taken down a peg or two. Who does he think he is!!!!
You're getting rather good as pasting this guy. Raheem Kassam - political assassin!
This is why I find all of this fruitless, just as I did 2 yrs ago as did many others at the time.
I'm not sure how I am being aggressive - I'm trying to highlight how the quote has been taken completely out of context, if people actually bother to listen to the whole speech then they would realise.
@SamBerk what comments about gays are you referring to?
@Kassam, so what is it petty or abusive? They can't be the same thing. The reason I asked that is because as Hasan highlights, it is the Quran that describes atheists as a people of no intelligence. Now, whether you agree or not with that is a different matter.
If you do follow the Quran, then you will know that to deny the existence of God is a grave crime and the Quran equates it to having no intelligence. To then turn Hasan into a "hate-preacher" or "nasty piece of work" as you try to claim is aggressive and wrong.
As for transparency, I'm a muslim, male, fed up with all the Islamphobic rants that come from the media ad hoc and often with no real basis, just like this.
Thank you Raheem Kassam for shining light into dark places here at The Commentator. Thanks too to all who are contributing to this new and very special space on the Net. Its a first port of call in keeping up with what is really happening on a day to day basis. i really value being able to use The Commontator for the latest and truest news available.!!
You all together are using your excellent talents in bringing truth and clarity to the forefront in a time of confusion, and if I might say deceptive trashy reporting, in some of the media publications.
@2: Call me a reformist but I don't think atheists have no intelligence. There's a certain level of flexibility that people of all faiths must have with their texts, given the length of time they've been around for. It helps not at all for you, or Hasan to be excusing this.
@Angela: Thank you so much for your kind words. Keep reading - there are plenty of dark places, and we're wielding the torch as best we can!
I am not excusing anything, I am trying to highlight how this has been taken out of context by everyone ignoring the entire speech.
There is much more I'd like to discuss about this, but 750 characters rather limits me. Perhaps it would be better to email and then you can publish whatever you like from our conversations.
Looking around the website there is no email listed for you - would you oblige and we can discuss this further?
@2: I've sent you an e-mail using the address you provided to comment with. I look forward to hearing from you.
Illuminating.
Mehdi Hasan wrote of His Grace:
"...which the oddball right-wing blogger Archbishop Cranmer seems to have seized upon in his rambling blog post this morning... I find his inability to understand simple English astonishing..."; (and via Twitter): "You're really not very bright, are you?... You wouldn’t know what ‘substance' was if it hit you in the middle of your imaginary beard... Your arguments are remarkably fact-free... pathetic...idiotic..."
His Grace considers it a badge of honour.
I've seen this Hasan on a number of tv/news shows. He's about as subtle as a brick through a window. No taqiyya going on there, that's for sure! He likes his Islam straight up. Does anyone read the New Statesman apart from BBC employees, Guardian readers and commie pinkoes (have I covered everyone?)? Seriously?
Another great piece Raheem - & nice to see His Grace making an appearance in the comments.
I wonder if there are any toys left in the pram in that infantile New Statesman world that Mehdi & his aggressive devotees inhabit?
@Kassam are you going to get a chance to reply sometime soon to my email?? Thanks
He may not be an extremist, but he certainly comes across as a sympathiser on a regular basis. In the minds of these types, to voice concern in this area is to be a racist/bigot/islamophobe etc. It has long been a tactic of the left not to engage in rational discussion in regard to their most precious causes, rather to throw about labels with the deliberate intent of silencing opposition. With an issue as threatening to civil society as the increase in this type of agressively intolerant religious world view, we must not allow ourselves to be bullied into silence. This is too important an issue.
Also - good to see a blogger taking part in the comments section.
@Sarah D
"Sarah D Says: 11 June 2011 Wow, I did not realise he was THAT bad. Why hasn't he been deported?"
Come on, grow up, he's a British citizen. You're not helping.
The man is a bigoted pseud and deserves to be exposed as such, but he hasn't done anything remotely deserving of "deportation".
I enjoyed reading this, well written and with sly digs.
Your responses to some of the dafter comments were good to read too, do not let them get you down.
Could the title not have been "Right winger in left winger hatred shocker" ?
2yyiam - first of all, crying Islamophobia to deflect truth will not stop people speaking their minds. I read Mehdi Hassan's article in the Guardian - he was roundly trounced, thank goodness by people who saw through his tenuous arguments. Wake up. The infidel is not as stupid as you think.
Could someone post a link to the whole speech, so we can actually listen to the whole thing?
Thanks
Ah, but the bbc love him, he always seems to appear on Question Time and other bbc shows. I guess its ok for a muslim to reffer to non muslims as Kaffir. By the way, thats the muslim equivalent of a white man calling a black man a nigger. But as we all know there are rules for us and rules for the protected species. I seem to remember a white woman called Emma West being arrested and now sitting in jail for doing less.
Would 2yyaim be the same gentleman who looks after the wiki entry about the buffoon Mehdi and removes any links, discussions of how vile he is?
Would 2yyaim be the same gentleman who looks after the wiki entry about the buffoon Mehdi and removes any links, discussions of how vile he is?
I haven't read all the above but failed to find a way of emailing Mehdi Hasan and the Guardian despite "comment is free" don't like any questioning of their articles. Hasan was today quoted in a Guardian article by Alex Needham about the Hajj exhibition at the Brit Museum. He says " The Saudis would be very pleased by the exhibition. "They've got a huge boost for the Hajj which they need in terms of cash revenue. In that sense, they've made a very direct connection with British Muslims."
IN FACT, numbers of Hajj visas are extremely severely limited to the extent that only a very tiny %age of Moslems can go. I live in a Moslem country and most locals are really disappointed that despite a lifetime's wait, they never get a visa. The saudis don't need the money; oil revenue is the major revenue component. Incredible that Hasan doesn't know this. do a websearch.
I just did some EASY web research, and the web is full of allegations that the Saudis destroyed 95% of Mecca's historic religious buildings. Other widespread web allegations include the militaristic way that the Saudis deal with pilgrims: 8 years of fires and stampedes in which so many were killed. The BM exhibition blots out all the modern skyscrapers surrounding Mecca, and about which many allegations about contracts are rife.
My allegation is that Mehdi Hasan is utterly & completely clueless and does zero research. Shame.
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Spot on. He is vile!