Baroness Cox: “Islam is using the freedoms of democracy to destroy it”

Islamophobia Watch reports on the latest outburst by Baroness Caroline Cox, author of the Arbitration and Mediation Services (Equality) Bill, under which “Islamic courts would be forced to acknowledge the primacy of English law”.

Cox, who has previously espoused apocalyptic views about the operation of shari’ah councils in the UK, once warned that “Brutal punishments like whipping and stoning could become widespread in Britain if Islamic Sharia law is allowed to thrive.”

Now, at a speech given in Israel, Cox said “Islam is using the freedoms of democracy to destroy it” adding that shari’ah councils “pose a threat to the principles of democracy”.

Cox, who was speaking at an event organised by the Yuval Ne’eman Workshop for Science, Technology and Security at Tel Aviv University and The Israeli Institute for Strategic Studies, when on to say that Muslims “inhibit criticism” of Islam by labelling detractors racists.

Cox also mentioned the alleged ‘Trojan Horse plot’ in her speech as an example of secret takeover strategies by ‘Islamists’ and investments in Africa made in order to ‘Islamize’ the continent.

A report on the event in the Jerusalem Post states: “It is time to draw a line in the sand and say enough is enough,” she said regarding the incompatibility of sharia law, gender equality and “one rule for all”.”

It is noteworthy that the Baroness should have chosen Israel as the location to make such remarks, sharing with her guest to the House of Lords, Geert Wilders, a penchant to make anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic remarks to Israeli audiences.

Also notable is her referencing the ‘Trojan Horse’ plot while investigations are underway and the provenance and veracity of the letter at the centre of scandal unproven.

It is interesting too that the Baroness refused to be drawn on questions about Israel with the JP observing “she did not want to speak about Israel because she isn’t an expert on the country”.

One could argue the Baroness is no expert on shari’ah councils or gender equality either but it doesn’t seem to have stopped her wading into that debate.

Contrary to her claims of discriminatory treatment of Muslim women by shari’ah councils, those who sit or work alongside them argue they have been instrumental to the serving of Muslim female needs in civil law matters.

The idea, popular with Cox, that Muslim women are denied justice and that they are being failed by British institutions that leave them at the mercy of religious tribunals is not without significance given similar allegations levelled at the operation of Beth Din courts and the Jewish women who turn to them. Not surprising that this did not feature in Cox’s presentation despite her pious claims to be defending gender equality. Nor does she seem to make the case for the abolition of Beth Din courts as part and parcel of her ‘one rule for all’ position. Indeed, no mention of this either in a puff piece published in the Daily Telegraph last week lauding the good Baroness as ‘feisty’ in her defence of ‘voiceless’ Muslim women.

Perhaps if the Baroness were inclined to listen to those Muslim women who have successfully turned to shari’ah councils, she might her more than just the heavy sound of her own convictions.

Cox in her speech in Tel Aviv made the peculiar claim to extend a hand to support “moderate Muslims who seek to live peaceably, and redefine Islam in terms of peaceful coexistence and tolerance”.

‘Redefine’ Islam in terms of peaceful coexistence and tolerance? As though to suggest Islam is not compatible with terms for co-existence and tolerance and the law abiding majority of Muslims who adhere to it are not living examples of peaceful co-existence and tolerance.

It will be useful to see how many of the Muslim ‘women’s rights’ organisations that have worked with Cox will drop her a line and ask that she kindly retract her bigoted, prejudicial views.