The English Defence League. Policy Statement

People have been asking what the EDL is all
about, what does it want to achieve, how
will it achieve those things? Well now the
English Defence League has a Mission
Statement...... (1) HUMAN RIGHTS:
Protecting And Promoting Human Rights The
English Defence League (EDL) is a human
rights organisation that was founded in the
wake of the shocking actions of a small
group of Muslim extremists who, at a
homecoming parade in Luton, openly
mocked the sacrifices of our service
personnel without any fear of censure.
Although these actions were certainly those
of a minority, we believe that they reflect
other forms of religiously-inspired
intolerance and barbarity that are thriving
amongst certain sections of the Muslim
population in Britain: including, but not
limited to, the denigration and oppression of
women, the molestation of young children,
the committing of so-called honour killings,
homophobia, anti-Semitism, and continued
support for those responsible for terrorist
atrocities. Whilst we must always protect
against the unjust assumption that all
Muslims are complicit in or somehow
responsible for these crimes, we must not be
afraid to speak freely about these issues.
This is why the EDL will continue to work to
protect the inalienable rights of all people to
protest against radical Islam’s encroachment
into the lives of non-Muslims. We also
recognise that Muslims themselves are
frequently the main victims of some Islamic
traditions and practices. The Government
should protect the individual human rights
of members of British Muslims. It should
ensure that they can openly criticise Islamic
orthodoxy, challenge Islamic leaders without
fear of retribution, receive full equality
before the law (including equal rights for
Muslim women), and leave Islam if they see
fit, without fear of censure. British Muslims
should be able to safely demand reform of
their religion, in order to make it more
relevant to the needs of the modern world
and more respectful of other groups in
society. It is important that they completely
reject the views of those who believe that
Islam should be taken in its ‘original’, 7th
century form, because these interpretations
are the antithesis of Western democracy.
The onus should be on British Muslims to
overcome the problems that blight their
religion and achieve nothing short of an
Islamic reformation. In line with this, we
should do all that we can to empower those
who are willing to take this path. We must
also ensure that they do not fear reprisals
from those who, in line with these 7th
century interpretations, would force sharia
law upon them. The EDL calls upon the
Government to repeal legislation that
prevents effective freedom of speech, for
freedom of speech is essential if the human
rights abuses that sometimes manifest
themselves around Islam are to be stopped.
We believe that the proponents of radical
Islam have a stranglehold on British Muslims.
These radicals dominate Muslim
organisations, remain key figures in British
mosques, and are steadily increasing their
influence. Radical Islam keeps British
Muslims fearful and isolated, especially the
women that it encases in the Burqa. It
misrepresents their views, stifles freedom of
expression, and indoctrinates their children,
whilst continually doing a discredit to those
who do wish to peacefully co-exist with their
fellow Britons. (2) DEMOCRACY AND THE
RULE OF LAW: Promoting Democracy And
The Rule Of Law By Opposing Sharia The
European Court of Human Rights has
declared that“sharia is incompatible with
the fundamental principles of democracy”.
Despite this, there are still those who are
more than willing to accommodate sharia
norms, and who believe that sharia can
operate in partnership with our existing
traditions and customs. In reality, sharia
cannot operate fully as anything other than
a complete alternative to our existing legal,
political, and social systems. It is a revolution
that this country does not want, and one
that it must resist. Sharia is most definitely a
threat to our democracy. The operation of
Islamic courts, the often unreasonable
demand that Islam is given more respect
than it is due, and the stealthy incursion of
halal meat into the food industry, all
demonstrate that sharia is already creeping
into our lives. Resentment is already
beginning to grow, and could create
dangerous divisions if nothing is done. The
primacy of British courts must be maintained
and defended, fair criticism of religious and
political ideologies must be permitted, and
consumers must be provided with the
information necessary to avoid halal
produce should they wish. Restaurants and
fast food chains that do offer halal options
should offer non-halal alternatives as well,
in order to show respect for other people’s
religions, customs, and possible concerns
about animal welfare issues (surrounding
ritual slaughter). No one should be made to
consume halal produce unwittingly, so it
must always be labeled - in supermarkets, in
restaurants, in schools, and in hospitals -
wherever it is available. Free choice in these
matters is, after all, a fundamental human
right for everybody, not just the Muslim
community. Sharia law makes a fundamental
distinction between Muslims and non-
Muslims, and the EDL will never allow this
sort of iniquitous apartheid to take root in
our country. The EDL will therefore oppose
sharia appeasement in all its forms, and will
actively work to eradicate the sharia-
compliant behaviours that are already being
adopted, and enforced, in our society. (3)
PUBLIC EDUCATION: Ensuring That The
Public Get A Balanced Picture Of Islam A
central part of the EDL’s mission is public
education. The British political and media
establishment have, for a long time, been
presenting a very sanitised and therefore
inaccurate view of Islam, shaped by the
needs of policy-makers rather than the
needs of the public. This has acted as a
barrier to informed policy-making and made
finding the solution to real problems
impossible. In pursuing this self-defeating
and destructive policy, the Government has
effectively been acting as the propaganda
arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. Whether or
not is aware of the predicament that it has
put itself in, it has so far failed to honestly
admit its failures. We are committed to a
campaign of public education to ensure that
all aspects of Islam that impact on our
society can debated in an open and honest
way. Demonisation of Muslims, or of Islam’s
critics, adds nothing to the debate. We
believe that only by looking at all the facts
can society be most effectively and humanly
governed. If there are aspects of Muslim
tradition that encourage the activities of
Islamic radicals and criminals then these
need to be properly addressed without fear
of accusations of racism, xenophobia, or the
even the disingenuous term‘Islamophobia’.
The public must be provided with a more
realistic and less sanitised view of Islam that
allows it to ensure that decision-makers are
held to account for their policy-making
choices, choices that affect the harmony and
security of the nation. The EDL promotes the
understanding of Islam and the implications
for non-Muslims forced to live alongside it.
Islam is not just a religious system, but a
political and social ideology that seeks to
dominate all non-believers and impose a
harsh legal system that rejects democratic
accountability and human rights. It runs
counter to all that we hold dear within our
British liberal democracy, and it must be
prepared to change, to conform to secular,
liberal ideals and laws, and to contribute to
social harmony, rather than causing
divisions. (4) RESPECTING TRADITION:
Promoting The Traditions And Culture Of
England While At The Same Time Being
Open To Embrace The Best That Other
Cultures Can Offer The EDL believes that
English Culture has the right to exist and
prosper in England. We recognise that
culture is not static, that over time changes
take place naturally, and that other cultures
make contributions that make our shared
culture stronger and more vibrant. However,
this does not give license to policy-makers to
deliberately undermine our culture and
impose non-English cultures on the English
people in their own land. If people migrate
to this country then they should be expected
to respect our culture, its laws, and its
traditions, and not expect their own cultures
to be promoted by agencies of the state.
The best of their cultures will be absorbed
naturally and we will all be united by the
enhanced culture that results. The onus
should always be on foreign cultures to
adapt and integrate. If said cultures promote
anti-democratic ideas and refuse to accept
the authority of our nation’s laws, then the
host nation should not be bowing to these
ideas in the name of‘cultural sensitivity’. Law
enforcement personnel must be able to
enforce the rule of law thoroughly without
prejudice or fear. Everyone, after all, is
supposed to be equal in the eyes of the law.
The EDL is therefore keen to draw its
support from people of all races, all faiths,
all political persuasions, and all lifestyle
choices. Under its umbrella, all people in
England, whatever their background, or
origin, can stand united in a desire to stop
the imposition of the rules of Islam on non-
believers. In order to ensure the continuity
of our culture and its institutions, the EDL
stands opposed to the creeping Islamisation
of our country, because intimately related to
the spread of Islamic religion is the political
desire to implement an undemocratic
alternative to our cherished way of life: the
sharia. Our armed forces stand up and risk
their lives every day in order to protect our
culture and democratic way of life. They are
also reflective of England’s diversity, and are
a shining example of what a people can
achieve when united together. The EDL is
therefore committed to opposing any and all
abuse that our men and women in uniform
are subjected to, and will campaign for legal
remedies to ensure that those working
within these important institutions are not
exposed to abuse or aggression from within
our country. (5) INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK:
Working In Solidarity With Others Around
The World The EDL is keen to join with
others who share our values, wherever they
are in the world, and from whatever cultural
background they derive. We believe that the
demand for sharia is global and therefore
needs to be tackled at a global as well as
national level, so that this demand will never
be succumbed to. The EDL will therefore
have an international outlook to enhance
and strengthen our domestic efforts, whilst
at the same time contributing to the global
struggle against Islamic intolerance of
Western cultures, customs, religions, politics,
and laws. The time for tolerating intolerance
has come to an end: it is time for the whole
world to unite against a truly Global Jihad.