Above a girl in a niqab. Given the demographic projections for the UK, the above sight will become much more common. This is the UK’s future; when this child is an adult and when her daughters will be dressed similarly.
I selected and used this image quite deliberately. This because a picture does paint a thousand words and demonstrates the way the UK has changed and is changing. Furthermore please click on the image to gain a full size rendition and then please look closely at the fourth finger of the girl’s right hand: You will see a wedding ring. This appears to be a child bride. NB: Traditionally in the Americas and in Europe, a woman wears her wedding ring on the fourth finger of her left hand. This is not the case in Islam as this quote demonstrates:
“……………..a compromise was done by Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani. He said that it’s better to wear the wedding ring on the right hand if it is an accessory. But if it is used to give stamps or seals (as common in old days), then wear it on the left hand……………….”
Source: https://www.waytonikah.com/blog/can-we-wear-a-wedding-ring-in-islam-rules-for-bride-and-groom/4841
The American naturalist, essayist, poet, and philosopher Henry David Thoreau (12 July, 1817 – 6 May, 1862) penned the now famous quote: Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but follows religiously the new.
Much publicity was given recently to the results of a poll commissioned by The Henry Jackson Society that found that only one in four British Muslims believe Hamas committed murder and rape in Israel on 7th October. The poll also found a further series of shocking results, including:
• Almost half of British Muslims say Jews have too much power over UK government policy, with similar numbers thinking the same for US foreign policy.
• British Muslims are more likely to have a positive than a negative view of Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK.
• Nearly half of British Muslims would back the removal of an MP if they took a different stance on Israel/Palestine to them.
• 52% want to make it illegal to show a picture of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed.
• 32% of British Muslims favour the implementation of Sharia Law, and the same number the declaration of Islam as national religion.
• Extreme views were generally more likely to be found in the youngest age cohort of 18-34, among graduates of all ages (as opposed to non-graduates) and British born rather foreign born Muslims, suggesting British integration policy is failing and needs urgent revision.
This is NOT a new phenomenon. It has been developing for some time now. The Guardian reported upon it back in April 2016: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/apr/11/british-muslims-strong-sense-of-belonging-poll-homosexuality-sharia-law
Thoreau’s quote has an ominous ring to it now when one realised that for many teenage girls in Britain today the image above is their preferred way of appearing in public.
I remember back in 1969 the girls in our class at school wore mini skirts!
There is another famous quote that is the first line to L. P. Hartley’s ‘The Go-Between’: “The past is a foreign country: They do things differently there.”
BG Comment: And how!
I write this blog-post on the morning after the night before of the Iranian attack on Israel. The Daily Mail’s report is typical of the reaction of the British tabloids: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13305671/Iran-drone-missile-attack-Israel-escalation-war-Middle-East-British-military-intelligence-chief.html
The British Public have themselves borne witness to the continued mass demonstrations in London against the Israeli actions in Gaza.
In Britain during the Second World War there were genuine concerns about those labelled “Fifth Columnists”. These were people living in Britain who were sympathetic to and supportive of the Nazis. The threat was in fact over estimated. It had been comically referenced in the classic BBC comedy series “Dad’s Army”.
IF the situation in the middle east escalates or subsides and escalates in the future, one cannot regard the threat of a new generation of “Fifth Columnists” causing problems as fanciful or unlikely. The threat is very real.