- This article discusses the HJS poll, which was used on GB News to portray the thoughts of British Muslims.
- It confronts the falsehoods propagated on GB News regarding Mohammed Hijab.
Last night, whilst many of us were immersed in the serenity of our local masjids during final tarawih prayers, a circus of chaos unfolded on Gibberish News- I mean GB News. It was a spectacle to behold. However, Journalistic integrity seemed to have missed the invitation entirely.
The segment came hot on the heels of a dubious poll of Muslims conducted by the Henry Jackson Society. The segment’s timing is curious, given the declining global support for Israel following the brutal killing of seven international aid workers in Gaza. It serves as a blatant distraction from the growing attention and sympathy towards the Palestinian cause.
Hand on heart, I was surprised at the fear-mongering Islamophobia on the show.
The episode, led by host Patrick Christy, aimed to instil worry in its viewers about the purported views of British Muslims as revealed by the poll. Christy ominously declared, “Unless something changes, Britain is doomed.”
Here are some of the stats that were discussed on the show:
I mean, what the falafel is going on here? Interestingly, other findings from the poll were concealed, such as how 69% of the general public do not trust the IDF and two-thirds of the general public do not trust Israel amidst the current atrocities being carried out in Gaza.
The statistic concerning Shariah is rather telling. As our brother, Abdullah Al Andalusi, co-founder of the Muslim Debate Initiative and researcher at the i3 Institute, who was a guest on the show, highlighted. The poll’s questions did not specifically address Shariah law in its application to non-Muslims. Andalusi elaborated on the point that if one were to ask most Muslims whether they wish to live under Shariah law, the response would be affirmative. He then went on to explain how it’s crucial to note that Shariah law is inherently applicable solely to Muslims, not to non-Muslims. Furthermore, throughout history, non-Muslims living under Islamic rule, have not been subjected to the same legal framework.
Moreover, if 28% of British Muslims oppose to Homosexuality becoming illegal, surely the same question ought to be posed to Orthodox Jews and Orthodox Christians of Britain.
“This is the nail in the coffin for integration and assimilation.” Christy commented.
“Do you honestly think the so-called religion of peace is here to assimilate and blend in?,” he said.
Furthermore, Talk TV endeavoured to tarnish Mohammed Hijab’s reputation by utilising an out-of-context clip of him preposterously associating him with supporting paedophilia. The video in question is extracted from a YouTube clip where Mohammed Hijab (co-founder of Sapience institute, author, YouTuber, debater and researcher) discusses the necessity of ahadith and the inadequacy of relying solely on the Quran. The full video which was taken at Hyde Park, Speakers corner can be accessed here.
It seems that the researchers at Talk TV may have utilised the same edited video clip that was disseminated by the staunch Islamophobe, Laura Loomer, last week.
When pressed about the out-of-context clip featuring Mohammed Hijab, Andalusi provided clarification regarding its origins, including the conveniently omitted portions. Despite this clarification, Christy deflected by posing: “What is the age limit for consent in Islam?” This question was posed as opposed to offering an apology or directing a backstage researcher to verify what was being discussed.
Panellist, Carol Malone remarked on the clip that was aired:
“Those people should be behind bars, advocating for sex with 5 year olds”.
The defamation of character displayed here is profoundly unjust and morally reprehensible. Our brother Mohammed Hijab, a family man, has previously faced physical attacks from the far-right during a ‘Freedom of Speech’ event, fuelled by similar fear-mongering and right-wing rhetoric. His safety may be jeopardised by such actions. Such malicious words cannot be dismissed lightly; they have the potential to undermine a person’s livelihood and reputation.
Malone proceeded to state, “Shariah law directly hurts women” “….and children by the sound of it from your film.” And here lies the essence of the issue. The remarks made lack substantiation from citations or academic references; instead, they hinge on an out-of-context video and mere hearsay.
As if the massacre of 40,000 Palestinians wasn’t sufficient, below is further evidence illustrating the cause of the decline in support for Israel, as revealed by the findings of the HJS poll.
“published the results of independent investigations into a dozen or so of the most dramatic Israeli accusations and reports about the Hamas attack, which were uncritically repeated by most of the Western media, debunking most of them as untrue and lacking evidence,” wrote former senior fellow at the Middle East Initiative, Belfer Centre, Rami G Khouri in Al Jazeera this year.
“They show, for example, that some of the evidence Israel submitted to the ICJ hearing – evidence republished by mainstream Western media without question – was false,” he said.
Christy was appalled by the considerable number of Muslims in the poll who expressed scepticism regarding the accuracy of mainstream media reports regarding October 7th. Allow me to refresh your memory with a compilation of unverified assertions made by Israel:
There has been no evidence of 40 decapitated babies, control centres beneath Al-Shifa hospital and tunnel networks. All such reports have since been debunked as false.
Abdullah Al Andalusi highlighted the fact that anti-Muslim speaker Douglas Murray was a former associate director of the Henry Jackson society. Murray has on record proposed that the conditions for Muslims living in Europe need to be made more harsh.
In a 2017 report entitled Islamist Terrorism: Analysis of Offences and Attacks in the UK (1998-2015) published by The Henry Jackson Society, the assertion was made that “Terrorism has spread in all corners of the country.” However, upon closer examination, the reality reveals itself quite differently. The 253 convictions for terrorist offenses accounted for 0.009% of the Muslim population residing in the United Kingdom during that period. Terrorism is completely divorced from the very fabric of Islam. However, this glaring incongruity underscores the necessity of casting doubt on the reliability of The Henry Jackson Society’s assessments.
Furthermore, its co-founder Matthew Jamison, who distanced himself from the think tank, said the following:
“Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that the Henry Jackson Society, when it was founded, would become a far-right, deeply anti-Muslim racist organisation, run in the most dictatorial, corrupt and undemocratic fashion and utilized as a propaganda outfit to smear other cultures, religions and ethnic groups. […] The HJS for many years has relentlessly demonised Muslims and Islam.”
The GB News episode, the HJS poll, a recent article in the Telegraph discussing the HJS poll, all appear to serve as diversionary tactics, deflecting attention from the ongoing genocide and the horrific massacre of 40,000 of our Palestinian brothers and sisters. As Muslims, Palestinian activists, and advocates for truth and justice, it is imperative that we do not lose sight of our focus. May Allah swt liberate Palestine… Ameen.
