Editorial Bear

Christian and Muslim Britons say leave Christmas alone
Monday November 13, 03:48 PM

LONDON (Reuters) - Christian and Muslim Britons joined forces on Monday to tell city officials to stop taking the Christianity out of Christmas, warning them that this fuelled right-wing extremism.

They attacked local authorities which used titles like "Winterval" for their Christmas celebrations and avoided using Christian symbols in case they offended minority groups, especially Muslims and Hindus.

The question of how best to integrate Muslims into European society, which has Christian roots but is increasingly secular, has become a burning issue, with Britain playing its part in the debate after years of promoting multiculturalism.

The Christian Muslim Forum, set up by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the spiritual head of the Church of England, complained that taking the Christian message out of Christmas played into the hands of right-wing extremists who then accused Muslims of undermining Britain's Christian culture.

"The desire to secularise religious festivals is in itself offensive to both our communities," said Dr Ataullah Siddiqui, vice chairman of the forum.

Anglican Bishop of Bolton David Gillett said that when local authorities rename Christmas so as not to offend other religions, their stance "will tend to backfire badly on the Muslim community in particular."

"We are concerned that those approaches which are based on anti-religious philosophies or a fear of religion are causing alienation in a wide variety of communities and fanning the growth of extremism," said Gillett, the forum chairman.

"Sadly it is they (Muslims) who get the blame for something they are not saying. And after all, the Koran speaks with honour about Jesus and tells of his birth to Mary, a virgin," he added.

The threat of radical Islam, rammed home by last year's London bombings, has led the government to rethink its traditionally tolerant attitude to ethnic minorities.

The government has launched a debate on whether the policy of not imposing a single British identity on immigrants, and instead promoting multiculturalism, has led to the segregation of minority communities.

The London bombings in July last year prompted much soul-searching over what led four young Muslim Britons to become suicide bombers and kill 52 people.

Many experts fear the focus on Islam could backfire if Britain's 1.8 million Muslims feel they are under attack.

Religious controversies have often made frontpage news in papers this year, including Muslim protests over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad, Pope Benedict's remarks about Islam and the debate over Muslim women wearing full veils.

Bishop Gillett said: "Following the many controversies through which my Muslim friends have gone this year ... I am particularly conscious of wanting to say to them in my Christmas cards and in person -- May the peace and blessing of God be with you this Christmas."

This is quite reassuring.

It's very true that the muslim community has been doing itself no favours by throwing riots and protests when anybody - from a journlist to the pope - dares to say anything about Islam. After Pope Benedict read a passage describing Islam as a violent religion, an outraged muslim in Africa stabbed to death a priest. Which wasn't exactly the way to prove the pope wrong.

So maybe this policy, of tolerating and supporting Britain's Christian heritage, might help repair some of the damage the muslim community has done to it's own image.

The fact is, we're all British. Whether your skin is black, brown, yellow or white. Whether you worship God, Allah or whichever Big Brother contestent is popular at the moment. And maybe by supporting a Christian festival - which promotes only togetherness, friendship and family - will make the average Christian more open and understanding to Islam as a faith.