Shariah Law Vs. British Law Debate at Conway Hall

Event: Shariah Law Vs. British Law
Format: Debate
Speakers: Anjem Chowdhury (Al-Muhajiroun) and Douglas Murray (Centre of Social Cohesion)
Date: 18-06-2009
 

Where do I begin? The fact that you have two polarized figures debating an issue which neither party as far as I am aware are qualified to speak on or the fact that the event was utterly disorganized or even the highly aggressive atmosphere is simply beyond me. I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing and I was ashamed at the behavior of my fellow Muslim Brothers who had little adab which caused the event to be cancelled and caused me to get up and leave at the moment Br. Anjem Chowdhury sprouted how the Christian and Jews will not be content until we give in to their way followed by ludicrous chants of takbir. I frowned at him as I was leaving.

Muslims are supposed to be the best of the Ummah being raised for mankind to command what is right and forbid what is evil, inviting people to the way of Allah through wisdom and beautiful preaching and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious…hmmm, I saw none of that.

I went thinking that I would be responding tactfully to Douglas Murray’s vitriolic comments and wasn’t expecting this.
I had actually attended with one of my closest friends who happens to be non-Muslim but thankfully he is far more open minded and tolerant than the Anjemite behavior I was witnessing.
 

First of all they tried to segregate the audience which also included non-Muslim women, without actually having publicized it as being a segregated event. Though they did eventually allow women into the lecture hall provided they sat at the back, the damage however was done by their attitude and behavior. It was unclear in differentiating between the Global Issues Society and Br. Anjem’s entourage.

The Global Issues Society is apparently an independent student organisation, unaffiliated with any university. They made a poor judgment in trying to host both speakers and with poor organisation in trying to control the registration. I’m sympathetic of their naivety and hope they will learn from this mistake as the Centre of Social Cohesion are just laughing. They won. The rest of us Muslims lost and for the large part we didn’t even turn up.

Just make your comment. Constructive criticisms welcome. No hating. “…argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious”