Peter Tatchell and a band of guest speakers roundly condemned political Islam during the Peter Tatchell Human Rights Fund meeting on Monday. Islamic cleric Sheikh Dr Muhammad Yusuf who was due to attend pulled out due to death threats received from within the Muslim community. His replacement, Iranian secularist Maryam Namazie called for an end to “political Islam” and it's indoctrinated treatment of women, gays, dissidents and non-Muslims within Muslim society.
Peter Tatchell stated quite clearly his anger and dissapointment at the threats made towards Sheikh Dr Muhammad Yusuf
“Sheikh Yusuf is afraid of very serious retribution to him and the ones that he loves. The threats came from people who are members of so called moderate, mainstream Muslim organisations. This shows the scale of the threat from even these moderate groups.''
Peter Tatchell used to believe the old doctrine that gay people and Muslims, being persecuted minorities had a common cause; that they would work together. But if you have been following him in recent months, he has turned away from that unworkable leftist mantra and is now, quite rightly outwardly attacking political Islam and human rights abuses around the world while trying to reach out to genuine liberal Islamic preachers and organisations.
What did Pim Fortuyn do? Something similar; reach out AND confront whether on television, in mosques or out in the open. Be gracious, be on message and don't take no for an answer
