English Defense League leader Tommy
Robinson made his American debut on The O'Reilly Factor - America's
most-watched cable news program. Robinson talked about the growing
Islamic threat in Great Britain and the cowardly political reaction to
this menace. Robinson was terrific.
Mission Statement:
The world is a dangerous place to live in; not because of the people
who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about
it. – Albert Einstein, refugee from Nazi Germany.
People have been asking what the EDL is all about, what does it want to achieve, how will it achieve those things?
Well now the
English Defence League has a Mission Statement……
(1) HUMAN RIGHTS: Protecting And Promoting Human Rights
The English Defence League (EDL) is a human rights organisation that
was founded in the wake of the shocking actions of a small group of
Muslim extremists who, at a homecoming parade in Luton, openly mocked
the sacrifices of our service personnel without any fear of censure.
Although these actions were certainly those of a minority, we believe
that they reflect other forms of religiously-inspired intolerance and
barbarity that are thriving amongst certain sections of the Muslim
population in Britain: including, but not limited to, the denigration
and oppression of women, the molestation of young children, the
committing of so-called honour killings, homophobia, anti-Semitism, and
continued support for those responsible for terrorist atrocities.
Whilst we must always protect against the unjust assumption that all
Muslims are complicit in or somehow responsible for these crimes, we
must not be afraid to speak freely about these issues. This is why the
EDL will continue to work to protect the inalienable rights of all
people to protest against radical Islam’s encroachment into the lives of
non-Muslims.
We also recognise that Muslims themselves are frequently the main
victims of some Islamic traditions and practices. The Government should
protect the individual human rights of members of British Muslims. It
should ensure that they can openly criticise Islamic orthodoxy,
challenge Islamic leaders without fear of retribution, receive full
equality before the law (including equal rights for Muslim women), and
leave Islam if they see fit, without fear of censure.
British Muslims should be able to safely demand reform of their
religion, in order to make it more relevant to the needs of the modern
world and more respectful of other groups in society. It is important
that they completely reject the views of those who believe that Islam
should be taken in its ‘original’, 7th century form, because these
interpretations are the antithesis of Western democracy. The onus should
be on British Muslims to overcome the problems that blight their
religion and achieve nothing short of an Islamic reformation. In line
with this, we should do all that we can to empower those who are willing
to take this path. We must also ensure that they do not fear reprisals
from those who, in line with these 7th century interpretations, would
force sharia law upon them.
The EDL calls upon the Government to repeal legislation that prevents
effective freedom of speech, for freedom of speech is essential if the
human rights abuses that sometimes manifest themselves around Islam are
to be stopped.
We believe that the proponents of radical Islam have a stranglehold
on British Muslims. These radicals dominate Muslim organisations, remain
key figures in British mosques, and are steadily increasing their
influence. Radical Islam keeps British Muslims fearful and isolated,
especially the women that it encases in the Burqa. It misrepresents
their views, stifles freedom of expression, and indoctrinates their
children, whilst continually doing a discredit to those who do wish to
peacefully co-exist with their fellow Britons.
(2) DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW: Promoting Democracy And The Rule Of Law By Opposing Sharia
The European Court of Human Rights has declared that ‘sharia is
incompatible with the fundamental principles of democracy’. Despite
this, there are still those who are more than willing to accommodate
sharia norms, and who believe that sharia can operate in partnership
with our existing traditions and customs. In reality, sharia cannot
operate fully as anything other than a complete alternative to our
existing legal, political, and social systems. It is a revolution that
this country does not want, and one that it must resist. Sharia is most
definitely a threat to our democracy.
The operation of Islamic courts, the often unreasonable demand that
Islam is given more respect than it is due, and the stealthy incursion
of halal meat into the food industry, all demonstrate that sharia is
already creeping into our lives. Resentment is already beginning to
grow, and could create dangerous divisions if nothing is done. The
primacy of British courts must be maintained and defended, fair
criticism of religious and political ideologies must be permitted, and
consumers must be provided with the information necessary to avoid halal
produce should they wish.
Restaurants and fast food chains that do offer halal options should
offer non-halal alternatives as well, in order to show respect for other
people’s religions, customs, and possible concerns about animal welfare
issues (surrounding ritual slaughter). No one should be made to consume
halal produce unwittingly, so it must always be labeled – in
supermarkets, in restaurants, in schools, and in hospitals – wherever it
is available. Free choice in these matters is, after all, a fundamental
human right for everybody, not just the Muslim community.
Sharia law makes a fundamental distinction between Muslims and
non-Muslims, and the EDL will never allow this sort of iniquitous
apartheid to take root in our country. The EDL will therefore oppose
sharia appeasement in all its forms, and will actively work to eradicate
the sharia-compliant behaviours that are already being adopted, and
enforced, in our society.
(3) PUBLIC EDUCATION: Ensuring That The Public Get A Balanced Picture Of Islam
A central part of the EDL’s mission is public education.
The British
political and media establishment have, for a long time, been presenting
a very sanitised and therefore inaccurate view of Islam, shaped by the
needs of policy-makers rather than the needs of the public. This has
acted as a barrier to informed policy-making and made finding the
solution to real problems impossible. In pursuing this self-defeating
and destructive policy, the Government has effectively been acting as
the propaganda arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. Whether or not is aware of
the predicament that it has put itself in, it has so far failed to
honestly admit its failures.
We are committed to a campaign of public education to ensure that all
aspects of Islam that impact on our society can debated in an open and
honest way. Demonisation of Muslims, or of Islam’s critics, adds nothing
to the debate. We believe that only by looking at all the facts can
society be most effectively and humanly governed. If there are aspects
of Muslim tradition that encourage the activities of Islamic radicals
and criminals then these need to be properly addressed without fear of
accusations of racism, xenophobia, or the even the disingenuous term
‘Islamophobia’.
The public must be provided with a more realistic and less sanitised
view of Islam that allows it to ensure that decision-makers are held to
account for their policy-making choices, choices that affect the harmony
and security of the nation.
The EDL promotes the understanding of Islam and the implications for
non-Muslims forced to live alongside it. Islam is not just a religious
system, but a political and social ideology that seeks to dominate all
non-believers and impose a harsh legal system that rejects democratic
accountability and human rights. It runs counter to all that we hold
dear within our British liberal democracy, and it must be prepared to
change, to conform to secular, liberal ideals and laws, and to
contribute to social harmony, rather than causing divisions.
(4) RESPECTING TRADITION: Promoting The Traditions And Culture Of
England While At The Same Time Being Open To Embrace The Best That Other
Cultures Can Offer
The EDL believes that English Culture has the right to exist and
prosper in England. We recognise that culture is not static, that over
time changes take place naturally, and that other cultures make
contributions that make our shared culture stronger and more vibrant.
However, this does not give license to policy-makers to deliberately
undermine our culture and impose non-English cultures on the English
people in their own land.
If people migrate to this country then they should be expected to
respect our culture, its laws, and its traditions, and not expect their
own cultures to be promoted by agencies of the state. The best of their
cultures will be absorbed naturally and we will all be united by the
enhanced culture that results. The onus should always be on foreign
cultures to adapt and integrate. If said cultures promote
anti-democratic ideas and refuse to accept the authority of our nation’s
laws, then the host nation should not be bowing to these ideas in the
name of ’cultural sensitivity’. Law enforcement personnel must be able
to enforce the rule of law thoroughly without prejudice or fear.
Everyone, after all, is supposed to be equal in the eyes of the law.
The EDL is therefore keen to draw its support from people of all
races, all faiths, all political persuasions, and all lifestyle choices.
Under its umbrella, all people in England, whatever their background,
or origin, can stand united in a desire to stop the imposition of the
rules of Islam on non-believers. In order to ensure the continuity of
our culture and its institutions, the EDL stands opposed to the creeping
Islamisation of our country, because intimately related to the spread
of Islamic religion is the political desire to implement an undemocratic
alternative to our cherished way of life: the sharia.
Our armed forces stand up and risk their lives every day in order to
protect our culture and democratic way of life. They are also reflective
of England’s diversity, and are a shining example of what a people can
achieve when united together. The EDL is therefore committed to opposing
any and all abuse that our men and women in uniform are subjected to,
and will campaign for legal remedies to ensure that those working within
these important institutions are not exposed to abuse or aggression
from within our country.
(5) INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK: Working In Solidarity With Others Around The World
The EDL is keen to join with others who share our values, wherever
they are in the world, and from whatever cultural background they
derive. We believe that the demand for sharia is global and therefore
needs to be tackled at a global as well as national level, so that this
demand will never be succumbed to. The EDL will therefore have an
international outlook to enhance and strengthen our domestic efforts,
whilst at the same time contributing to the global struggle against
Islamic intolerance of Western cultures, customs, religions, politics,
and laws.
The time for tolerating intolerance has come to an end: it is
time for the whole world to unite against a truly Global Jihad.
