Call to prosecute anti-Muslim Facebook groupRiazat ButtFriday September 28, 2007Guardian Unlimited
People accusing Muslims of drugging, beating and raping Sikh women should be prosecuted for inciting religious hatred, an expert on religion has told Guardian Unlimited.Philip Lewis, who is the Bishop of Bradford's aide on interfaith matters, was responding to claims posted by a group on the social networking site Facebook.The group is called STOP OUR SIKH SISTERS BEING DRUGGED, RAPED, BEATEN AND USED FOR PROSTITUTION and claims that Sikh, Hindu and white girls from the ages of 13 to 22 are "being held against their will, drugged and gang raped" for the "pleasure" of Muslim extremists.There is no evidence on the site to support the claims and Singh Kaur, the group's creator, provides no information about sources. But the group has attracted 2,900 members with nearly all of them young British Sikhs.Dr Lewis said: "If there is a serious concern being raised then it's a matter for the police. If there is not a case to be answered, people need to be prosecuted."It is pernicious rumour-mongering that needs to be exposed. It's a form of slander. It is exacerbating relations between communities."He said the issue was not on the radar of religious groups in Bradford, one of the "hotspots" cited by the group.A Scotland Yard spokesman said there was no evidence that such activity was taking place in London, another allegedly "affected area".One anti-racism activist urged people to either come forward with evidence or stop agitating.Rob Deeks works for Aik Saath, a project that brings together Sikh, Muslim and Hindu youths from the Slough area, in Berkshire. It was set up after clashes between young people from different Asian communities.He said: "Whoever is behind it is doing a good job of stirring up ill feeling. What's more worrying is there are 3,000 people who believe these claims."The Facebook row is the latest salvo in an ongoing dispute between Hindu, Sikh and Muslim communities about forced or aggressive conversions.Senior figures from Hindu and Sikh groups have accused Muslims of using underhand, sometimes violent, methods to convert girls to Islam. There has never been a formal investigation and there is no official complaint on record.However one Sikh organisation said there was evidence of "heavy proselytising" on university campuses. Indarjit Singh, from the Network of Sikh Organisations, said: "The community is very concerned."
http://media.guardian.co.uk/newmedia/story/0,,2179379,00.htmlThis article is about a group on facebook voicing their opinion on muslims who are trying to convert Indians, mainly females. the significance of this is that it is causing some contraversy because some people think it is not right to have the group there as it may come across as racist. Personally,i dont think the group is racist it is just raising awareness because the issue needs to be addressed as it is becoming more of problem in todays society and needs to stop soon.
People accusing Muslims of drugging, beating and raping Sikh women should be prosecuted for inciting religious hatred, an expert on religion has told Guardian Unlimited.Philip Lewis, who is the Bishop of Bradford's aide on interfaith matters, was responding to claims posted by a group on the social networking site Facebook.The group is called STOP OUR SIKH SISTERS BEING DRUGGED, RAPED, BEATEN AND USED FOR PROSTITUTION and claims that Sikh, Hindu and white girls from the ages of 13 to 22 are "being held against their will, drugged and gang raped" for the "pleasure" of Muslim extremists.There is no evidence on the site to support the claims and Singh Kaur, the group's creator, provides no information about sources. But the group has attracted 2,900 members with nearly all of them young British Sikhs.Dr Lewis said: "If there is a serious concern being raised then it's a matter for the police. If there is not a case to be answered, people need to be prosecuted."It is pernicious rumour-mongering that needs to be exposed. It's a form of slander. It is exacerbating relations between communities."He said the issue was not on the radar of religious groups in Bradford, one of the "hotspots" cited by the group.A Scotland Yard spokesman said there was no evidence that such activity was taking place in London, another allegedly "affected area".One anti-racism activist urged people to either come forward with evidence or stop agitating.Rob Deeks works for Aik Saath, a project that brings together Sikh, Muslim and Hindu youths from the Slough area, in Berkshire. It was set up after clashes between young people from different Asian communities.He said: "Whoever is behind it is doing a good job of stirring up ill feeling. What's more worrying is there are 3,000 people who believe these claims."The Facebook row is the latest salvo in an ongoing dispute between Hindu, Sikh and Muslim communities about forced or aggressive conversions.Senior figures from Hindu and Sikh groups have accused Muslims of using underhand, sometimes violent, methods to convert girls to Islam. There has never been a formal investigation and there is no official complaint on record.However one Sikh organisation said there was evidence of "heavy proselytising" on university campuses. Indarjit Singh, from the Network of Sikh Organisations, said: "The community is very concerned."
http://media.guardian.co.uk/newmedia/story/0,,2179379,00.htmlThis article is about a group on facebook voicing their opinion on muslims who are trying to convert Indians, mainly females. the significance of this is that it is causing some contraversy because some people think it is not right to have the group there as it may come across as racist. Personally,i dont think the group is racist it is just raising awareness because the issue needs to be addressed as it is becoming more of problem in todays society and needs to stop soon.
