YP Letters: Islamists' rise will cost lives and freedom

Friday prayers at a Leeds mosque - are Muslims doing enough to integrate into society?

LEEDS imam Qari Asim’s article (“We must all unite against intolerance”) stands in need of considerable correction (The Yorkshire Post, January 3). Indeed, his statements are so at odds with the facts as to be laughable – if only the matters with which he deals were not so perilous. He says: “Muslims are more opposed to terrorism than the population as a whole.”

Here are a few reliable numbers which give the lie to that statement: Information from Pew Research reveals that 27 per cent of all Muslims polled across the world believe that any Muslim who wishes to leave the faith should be executed. That adds up to the equivalent of 237 million people in favour of the death penalty for anyone who decides to change his religion. Twenty-nine per cent of Muslims believe that so-called “honour killings” are justified. Thirty-six per cent of British Muslims aged 18-29 believe that suicide bombings against civilians are also justified.

If Islam is really the religion of peace and love which Qari Asim claims, how does he explain the mass murders carried out by Muslims every week on four continents?

Islam, the famous religion of peace and love, has got a CV.

There is no doubt that militant Islam’s current aggression will have to be firmly suppressed. If the European powers cannot bring themselves to act firmly, then the continent will be dominated by the Islamic ideology, with the resulting loss of all our freedoms – and of course the loss of countless lives.

Are we really all going to die of political correctness?

From: Harun Khan, Muslim Council of Britain.

WE find much to commend in the Interim Report into Integration of Immigrants published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Integration. While continuing to review the report in greater detail, we note how the report calls for a well-funded and comprehensive two-way integration strategy appropriately catering for the needs and concerns of local communities.

We welcome initiatives that facilitate the integration of all Britons and the approach of this report is one that we support. Unlike recently published deliberations, this report includes a number of sensible recommendations including local integration plans, training and English learning classes for economic immigrants, improved data collection to create a stronger evidence base for future policy development, community mentoring programmes, encouragement of social mixing and cutting naturalisation fees, as well as automatic pathways to citizenship for new arrivals.

We have long called for a more positive narrative around immigration and also welcomed the report’s call for political leadership to shape a strong and “inclusive national narrative that defines integration as the success of all groups, and not just a problem of newcomers”.

From: Bob Watson, Springfield Road, Baildon.

FAR too many immigrants already here, and even some who are second and third generation, still do not have a good enough command of the English language, and sadly, there are some with little or no grasp of it at all.

These people need to be addressed in the same way, starting with speaking English virtually all of the time, in their own homes. Only in this way will English become second nature, and proper integration then follow.

Profiteering in the park

From: A Wilson, Park Villas, Roundhay, Leeds.

I SEE Leeds Council and a company called Go Ape propose to site zip wires and treetop climbing in the Ram Wood area of Roundhay Park.

Is the idea that as much money that can be made will be made?

The park was donated to the people of Leeds, to walk in, and enjoy, not for the benefit of entrepreneurs.

A dream in puffs of steam

From: Canon Michael Storey, Healey Wood Road, Brighouse.

WHAT a lovely photograph of 43924 hauling a Worth Valley train between Haworth and Oxenhope (The Yorkshire Post, December 31).

This engine was built by the Midland Railway in 1920 – how fitting that it is seen on what was a Midland Railway line.

In early April, 60103, Flying Scotsman will come to the Worth Valley Railway. Early engines of this class, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, were built for the Great Northern Railway. In pre-1923 years, engines of both the Midland Railway and Great Northern Railway ran out of platforms three and four of Keighley Station.

How wonderful if 43924 and 60103 could double-head a train up the line to Oxenhope, while 60103 is based in Haworth!

Year worth trumpeting

From: David Treacher, Nelson Road, Hull.

IT’S wonderful that Hull is  the City of Culture. We hope  to have a year of entertainment and bringing in people to the  city. Let’s hope there are  some brass band concerts, particularly in churches across the city.

Honoured for Posh failure

From: Mrs P Stewart, Darrington, Pontefract.

NO wonder the NHS is limping. I take a blood pressure tablet. On seeing and hearing the honours lists I require two.

Did I read it wrong after Victoria Beckham’s honour (Tom Richmond, The Yorkshire Post, January 7)? Is her honour for failure or what?