Magic Statistics

Muslim extremists marched through the streets of London carrying placards saying, "Behead those who insult Islam". Wait a minute, says Jasper Gerard writing in The Times of London.

These extremists should be told: you can’t complain that Islam is being tarred with terrorism, then instantly threaten to terrorise those who have thus depicted Islam. It is perverse.

Yet British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw practically bows before them.

Jack Straw grovels like a spaniel, even though the cartoons have not been printed here. He argues Islam should not be insulted as no "open season" exists on Christianity.

Say what? Mr Straw must live a very sheltered, or blinkered, life. Has he turned on his telly or visited an art exhibition lately?

An open season is indeed what we have on Christianity. The Virgin Mary depicted as a crack whore? "How dreary," we would sigh, "not again."
. . .
The one established faith in this country is the only one we are free to insult. Since cinemas looked so silly banning The Life of Brian, the church has given up asking not to be jeered. It seems almost grateful for the attention. Who would protest if an Islamic cartoon showed an Anglican suicide bomber packing Semtex in the boot of his Morris Minor?

Turning a tolerant cheek is one of Christianity’s most appealing aspects. Certain other faiths lack that blessed gift: the ability to laugh.

And which other faiths might you have in mind?

Islam is protected by an invisible blasphemy law. It is called fear.

This is good to see, I think. The Muslim Council of Britain, the country's most prominent Islamic body, has called on London police authorities to arrest extremist protestors who carried placards encouraging terrorism and violence.

The council, a moderate umbrella group, was speaking after the demonstration last Friday in which some protesters chanted the name of Osama Bin Laden and You must pay, 7/7 is on its way — a reference to the London suicide bombings. Five hundred demonstrators brandished placards, including ones proclaiming "Behead the one who insults the Prophet", "Down, down UK" and "Freedom go to hell".
. . .
Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the council’s secretary-general, said: "We cannot have double standards, so therefore any breach of the law should be looked at by the police and investigated. The cartoons have offended every Muslim and the anger of Muslims has to be lawfully expressed. However, this outrage was used by some to induce Muslims into taking part in terrorist violence. We condemn their actions."

Yet the police refuse to act.

The Association of Chief Police Officers said the protests did not yet represent a serious threat to public order. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Arrests, if necessary, will be made at the most appropriate time. This should not be taken as a sign of lack of action."

If the police make no arrests, it will indeed be seen as "lack of action", which will only encourage extremists to think they can publicly advocate terrorist acts with impunity. If that's not "a serious threat to public order", then what is?

The collect for today, the Fifth Sunday After Epiphany, from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer:

O Lord, we beseech thee to keep thy Church and household continually in thy true religion; that they who do lean only upon the hope of thy heavenly grace may evermore be defended by thy mighty power; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle: Colossians 3:12-17
The Gospel: St Matthew 13:24-30