A couple of weeks ago I attended a major event in Bradford. The Aagrah banqueting suite near Pudsey was the venue for the “Feel the fear….and do it anyway” conference hosted by TAG (Together Against Grooming). This was a major conference organised by volunteer Muslim groups to address the issue of grooming gangs but also the wider Child Sexual Exploitation issues pervading all society.
Over 500 people from all over the country packed the suite. Alan Craig, Ukip spokesperson for Families and Children, came from London. Alan and I have done a great deal of work on the cancer within our society that is the grooming gang issue.
We sat on a table that was made up of six midwives from Huddersfield and Halifax. They were on their day off and had paid the £15 ticket fee themselves, it added to their annual Continuing Professional Development but hats off to them for attending. As the victim stories were unfolding, they were visibly shocked at the disturbing scenarios told.
Speakers ranged from Sarah Rowbotham, the sexual health worker who blew the whistle in Rochdale, and Nazir Afzal, who had been head of the DPP and insisted that offenders were prosecuted for the first time, to victims of CSE. I have picked out a few for mention as they really struck a chord with the audience and received, quite rightly, standing ovations.
Angela S from Keighley is the mother of a victim, her youngest of four daughters who was abused from the age of ten. Bright and clever for her age, this young woman was abused for years. Angela even became a councillor in her fight for recognition but was told she couldn’t speak out. Despite 19 years of campaigning she has never got the answers she wanted. She has called numerous times for a public enquiry, as has Bradford Ukip, but it has always fallen on deaf ears. Her story was told in total quiet and reverence for her plight. It was harrowing and you could not only hear her pain, as she told the story you could feel it too.
Between Angela and her friend, they had four young daughters being raped and trafficked by Pakistani men. They sat them down one day and asked them to write a list of names of men that they had had sexual contact with. It came to 57.
Salma Yaqoob from the Respect Party was on the stage as part of a panel. I take great issue with something that she said. She was making out that this issue cannot be political; that it is a policing and social service issue, together with education and other agencies. Yes, I agree with this, but I have to say this whole issue is surrounded in politics. It was politically expedient to cover the issue up for years. Any real solution to this will have to be politically driven, from funding for victims to disruption programmes and future prosecutions. It takes a political will to ensure these conferences mean something and get results.
After a fabulous lunch provided by the very amiable staff, the first speaker was Sabah Kaiser, a British born Punjabi woman. She told us a harrowing story of how she was abused throughout her life by her uncles from within the family. You could have heard a pin drop in that room as she recounted her story. It was truly difficult listening.
What was disturbing for me as an ex policeman who dealt with CSE was when she was fifteen she had been interviewed by police. But she couldn’t tell them what intercourse was, she had never heard of it, she did not know or understand what was being done to her. She originally thought she was being punished for wrongdoings. She just instinctively knew it was wrong.
The police took the view that if she did not know what intercourse was, she couldn’t possibly have had it done to her. With that they left. This was unprofessional, poor judgement and to be honest, lazy policing. Things have to change.
So where is Ukip now? This is my personal view and the comments here are my own and I stand by them. Clearly things are moving; even recognition within the Muslim community that this is a problem is a major step forward. This event was a milestone in dealing with this issue. The topic was broadened out from grooming gangs consisting of Pakistani men to abuse within the family Muslim unit, a first that I can recall.
The grooming gangs were never forgotten and certainly not glossed over. The Muslim community is now very much taking part in the topic of conversation. On a local level, Ukip must now become engaged in that conversation. As we are building from the grassroots level with councillors, and making great efforts in this avenue, we must start to work with the various charities and organisations dealing daily with this problem.
There is no reason now for Mr Robinson to report from outside a court any more. The country is more than aware of this problem such has been the press at trials and the convictions and sentencing. We need to take a much more pragmatic and more constructive role.
There is empirical evidence in abundance with the Rotherham and Rochdale branches, myself, and Allan Craig to ensure knowledge and understanding of what has taken place that can be shared.
Sensationalism is not needed any more, grassroot engagement will win us both respect and votes. The call within the manifesto for a national public enquiry is a policy and message shared by many. Branches within constituencies directly affected by this social pariah can do so much good work, especially with victim support. Never forgetting though that a serious criminal conspiracy has taken place over many years, a wrong that most certainly needs righting.
Let Ukip lead on this, a two-pronged attack and campaign for changes throughout the country to cease CSE, calling for a public enquiry and working with charities and victims in order to best assist a way forward, and yes the Muslim community too.
The problems with immigration are secondary problems. The problems of racism are secondary. The problems of over-development, of Brexit, of unquestioning acceptance of the climate change scare, all these are secondary problems.
The primary problem is that our political class, left and right, is a corrupt, back-scratching, trough gobbling betrayal of the voter, which feels it is above the mundane task of actually doing what the electorate instructs.
First, tackle the primary problem. Then, once you’ve done that, tackle the secondary problems. It has to be in that order because without bringing our ‘masters’ to heel we are unable to tackle anything else.
TR attracts support but he does not attract votes, not in any number, except in those unhappy places where CSE is rife. In the rest of the country he just makes it easy for the MSM to point and shout ‘racist’, which as we all know trumps any argument.
At this time we are in a position to break the political class, to smash down their hegemony, to bring true democracy back to our land. TR is a distraction, damaging that hope. Let him form the TR Party, let him organise and stand for office in those parts of the country where even the corrupt British media cannot attack his policies. Let us pledge to give him a clear run in those places, but let us emphasise the fact that we understand his anger but feel that our paths diverge. To support him, even – heaven forfend – to allow him to join UKIP would be an error of political judgement which might easily prove fatal to our cause.
Then let us tackle the primary problem, first by getting Brexit, then by taking down the traitors who infest our Parliament.
Priorities. It’s quite simple.
JF
Sadly, people who think that this “constructive”??? way forward should read Alan Craig’s assessment of this Muslim based event.
This Conference appears to have been little more than an opportunity for Islamists and left wing extremists to rant about the Far Right (UKIP) and to perpetuate the myth of the Muslim being the victim.
Whether you like Tommy Robinson or loath him, his methods are the only way to bring the issues, such as Muslim Rape Gangs, into the public domain.
The BBC & Sky wont do it and neither will supposedly progressive Muslim groups. ( Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas!).
That is not a reflection of the conference I attended
When describing or investigating the behaviour of Muslims, such as in this case the grooming gangs, it is important to also relate this behaviour to the instructions within their religion which make them behave in this way.
Relate it to the Islamic scriptures and the example of the life of Mohammed.
If we fail to do this important step, then the full extent of the seriousness of the problem will not have been highlighted.
In the case of the Islamic grooming gangs:
1. The under-age sex was practised from the early years of Islam: Mohammed married Aisha when she was very young.
2. In the Koran the phrase “that which your right hands possess” is in the context of listing out the women who it is lawful for Muslim men to have intercourse with. It applies to the groomed girls, who are effectively owned by the Muslim men. It applies to the Yazidi girls and women who were “married” forcefully to the ISIS men. It applies to the Nigerian Christian girls captured by Boko Haram. etc etc.
We need to push these phrases into the general consciousness:
“Islamic grooming gangs”
“Islamic terrorism”
“Islamic animal cruelty”
etc
I have written a booklet “Hellish 2050”, highlighting the problems with Islam, and the threat that it is to us all. I am in the process of sending a copy to MPs and relevant journalists. This is a big task and I would appreciate any assistance. It is available as a “print on demand” publication:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/http://www.lulu.com/shop/hugo-jenks/hellish-2050/paperback/product-23995150.html
If you are able to help with this task, then please contact me. I can also email a free PDF copy to those interested.
Ref the Punjabi woman abused by her uncle.
THere is a “File on four programme” locked in the strong room of the BBC I.e. I cannot get at it.
It was an investigation by a female reporter who discovered after ROTHERHAM similar treatment to what the white girls got was endemic amongst Asian families, Fathers , Brothers, Uncles – it was open season on female second class non bodies.
I’ve mentioned this a number of times before, but nobody has taken me up on it.I think there is apathy amongst UKIP, just as big as amongst all the other authorities.
They are frit to sort out Islam , frightened of the consequences of the 1995 Barcelona Declaration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
‘There is no reason now for Mr Robinson to report from outside a court any more. The country is more than aware of this problem such has been the press at trials and the convictions and sentencing. We need to take a much more pragmatic and more constructive role.’
No Stephen. That seems to suggest that ‘Mr Robinson’ ‘should keep quiet’; ‘don’t sensationalise’. The Establishment would love that wouldn’t they; as explained on the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny9bVn6Kf6g
I disagree for these reason:
1. The full details, nature and magnitude of these horrendous atrocities against children has never been adequately publicised. One day’s coverage of names and sentencing at the end of a trial woefully, some might say tragically, fails hopelessly to report the weeks of detailed, often excruciating, testimony of prolonged, hideous and depraved crimes.
2. In addition to the disgusting lowlifes directly involved there must have been a disgraceful number of individuals and organisations who have collaborated in the cover-up of all these horrors for so many years? They must all be identified, ruthlessly exposed, condemned and punished. Is that not the very least the children deserve?
Thankfully, both of these reasons are the unquenchable driving force behind Tommy Robinson and his supporters.
Hear hear.
I agree. When I was last in the UK less than a year ago child rapes by the usual supsects were still being reported. Those gangs have got away with it for so long that they sense immunity. We need to see those who turned a blind eye prosecuted as well as the perpetrators.
Given the timing of Farage’s start-up in opposition to UKIP and its likely counter-productive effect on our fight to take our country back, I think it is perfectly understandable that he feels the need to say something, as some may well be angry over what has transpired.
However, deciding to go after UKIP by portraying Tommy Robinson’s courageous crusade against the most horrendous widespread sexual abuse of children as racism, islamophobia etc. just because a significant proportion of the perpetrators are apparently Muslim is, I think, the most egregious misrepresentation of what has transpired and mischaracterisation of Tommy.
While it does not surprise me that denigrating Tommy, who has done more than anyone else to bring this evil in our society to our attention, has played well with the mainstream media to me it seems likely that it will have a counter-productive effect on his attempts and the attempts of others to root this evil out of our society.
I’m heartened to hear, now that this problem has been brought out into the open, that the next stage, identifying and prosecuting those in law enforcement and social services who have been complicit is under way. Given his depth of knowledge I think Tommy should be part of this.
Finally, I think Tommy may well prove extremely helpful in what I regard as an essential next step, namely identifying and prosecuting the rape-gangs’ customers. We should not have to wait until someone dies before discovering that they had a long history of abusing children.
We must fight against paedophilia wherever it’s found and question those who try to stop us doing so.
To judge by some of the comments above, there is no point in reaching out to the Muslims which of course is ridiculous. Like all communities, there are the obsessives and the pragmatists. Let us reach out to the pragmatists who probably represent the majority but give those obsessives who wish to destroy or corrupt our society no quarter.
I suspect if one studies the Bible there will also be negative issues for fundamentalists to cling to but the majority of us do not use the Bible as an excuse for unsocial activity. That was not the case in the time of the Crusades of course. I doubt the majority of Muslims in the country are that observant either nowadays,
Personally I do not follow any organised religion. I do not need that crutch. It is very simple, folks. Be good to everyone, even people who are different to you but accept no quarter from those who wish to harm others. Simples.
The Golden Rule – islam is the only religion of note that denies that. It is enough to preclude it from civilised society for ever.
The Crusades were but a short interlude in the drive for Islamisation and a response to it. Dr. John Warner has an interesting video on youtube. “The 1400 year war…”.
I noticed Badger’s comment that Islam is Satanic. I do not disagree with that due to the ‘Wonderous’ way in which the Koran was arrived at ! Personally I consider Islam to be nothing more than ‘The Prophet’s’ Insurance Policy, now in its fourteenth century and backed by internal fear with Muslims ! Islam is not a religion and never was.- Having millions of followers does not a religion make and it is more than time for these people to open their minds to the fact that it is a dangerous nonsense !
Our Government and Authorities will have to be stringently cleansed with the matter of the Rape Gangs, due to the soft approach taken to Muslims. Law is only Law in this country, so long as it applies to everyone in even value, if not then genuine contempt of Court is given room to grow. In this country today, there is also a lack of care by parents, to know what their children are doing, and a lack of parental guidance. I hope that UKIP will be able to reverse this trend also !
I thought GB did reasonably well on the Marr show this morning. Obviously he was only invited on so Ukip could be smeared and called racist. First a Nigel anti kipper rant was played, then the inevitable TR question both of which he dealt with well enough. The final sideswipe was about Carl Benjamin’s tasteless insult to Jess Philips a few years ago which GB didn’t seem fully prepared for surprisingly and so the takeout from the interview from our wonderful unbiased press will be that the Ukip leader thinks the “wouldn’t even rape you” schoolboy retort was satire. Cue much of the usual faux outrage.
There is one insurmountable obstacle that prevents me from trusting any muslim and that is summed up in the word ‘Taqiyya.’
I sincerely believe that every muslim is untrustworthy. Let them renounce their satanic religion and convert to another religion that sees mankind as an entity or let them believe in no God at all, but so long as they continue to practice the teachings of the koran, the sira, sharia and the two major ahasdith, any or all, then they are my enemy and I deny them any place in my society.
I wish there was an editing facility on this site
This report should be forwarded to Nigel Farage, maybe he will then stop bad mouthing Gerard Batten and offending UKIP members.
As you know Stephen I was a copper too and was fortunate enough to be called upon to deal with only one case of sexual assault in my service. In 1984 I secured a conviction of an Asian shopkeeper in Kingston against his paperboy. In passing further trifling comment (non confrontational) may I ask who suggested that such a conference be held? Mr Afzal was not head of DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) but a big noise in the CPS. Did he or anyone else ever suggest that enquiries be made into the reports of H.M. Inspectorate of Constabulary. They are required to inspect (of course) Constabularies and their performance. During this reign of physical and mental terror did they never discover evidence of, or hear rumours of, the disgraceful goings on in the North Country in particular? If not, not much of an inspectorate. And one of Mr Nafzal’s first ports of call as a prosecutor in this affair should surely have been to call for those inspectorate reports. They may have held vital information in getting to the bottom of the scandal. Good to hear that the problem is at long last is being addressed. Sharon Binks’ address at the last UKIP conference was particularly affecting.
A positive development but let’s not assume that the Muslim community as a whole supports it. Reported in the news on ID today:
“Marital rape and death for gays are subjects being promoted by some Muslim charities, reports the Times.”
It is also difficult to reconcile the tenets of their religious texts with our own culture and, as we have seen, they have often inspired violent acts. We have had many editions of the Bible over the years; perhaps it is time for new editions of their religious texts with the unacceptable parts removed.
Sensible integration requires that the immigrant accepts the culture and law of the host country and changes his behaviour where necessary rather than imposing it on the native population. I have met some who have even converted to Christianity so it is not impossible…
Until ‘the Authorities’ recognise that the Koran teaches hate and total submission to its Sharia Law nothing will change. Muslim children, from the earliest age, are daily forced to read from the Koran – and forever more! Consequently they are brain-washed and inculcated into a cult which promotes hate forever – the words can never be changed, according to every Islamic/Muslim ‘teacher’. The question of course is – why are non-Muslims prevented from calling the teachings of Islam ‘hate speech’ when it is in fact hate speech? What’s sauce for the goose – is sauce for the gander. Of course, if you have not read the Koran – then you will be unable to make ANY informed comment – so, if you intend decrying my post – please confirm that you HAVE read the Koran. Until then, anything you say will be totally WITHOUT QUALIFICATION. My suggestion is? START READING!!!!!
Many years ago I had a young Muslim on my staff. We often discussed his religion; I was even invited to his wedding, the one time I have entered a mosque. In addition to the necessary study for a relevant qualification he was required to take lessons on the Koran daily; the objective being able to recite it verbatim from memory. No wonder they are indoctrinated.
Very few votes for UKIP in this theological swamp I am afraid Jack.
Gerards obsession with Islam has lost us many very capable activists, sponsors and potential council candidates at the very time we need to be focussing on Brexit. Utter madness,which, it seems the Party is committed to repeating if UKIP and the Brexit Party are on the same ballot paper in the European Elections.
The timing was the error. He should have waited until we gained our freedom from the EU. Nothing can be allowed to take precedence until that happens.
Rubbish
@ jake bennett
Martin here are the latest European election odds. Make of them what you will.
An early poll for Euro elections
CON 16%
LAB 24
LIB 8
BREXIT 15
UKIP 14
GREEN 8
CHANGE (Soubary et al) 7
As for Gerards obsession with Islam our Branch has lost two activist officers six members and we have not had any offers of help at the sharp end from the ‘flood’ of new TR supporters who were supposed to join the Party. Perhaps they are just too busy key tapping on social media?
It’s not a theological swamp Jake. Sharia Law is a legal and political system. Islam is a theocratic dictatorship, So it’s a politcal swamp, and Gerard is absolutely right to address it.
As Allan Craig, Stephen’s colleague wrote on UKIP Daily in March 1918:
‘Mind you, there always were senior party members who insisted that UKIP should not touch the issue. When I started investigating grooming gang activities in Hartlepool and Teesside, I was informed that UKIP’s former General Secretary and North East MEP Jonathan Arnott would not engage with the problem because it would be ‘anti-Muslim’ or ‘racist’ to do so.
This is the same sickening politically-correct excuse that the old parties and local authorities use. It has allowed the abuse of thousands of young girls – over 1,400 in Rotherham alone. And it was revealed just last week that men from Pakistani, Bangladeshi and other Muslim backgrounds have openly abused “with arrogant persistence” over 700 girls in Mr Arnott’s own constituency of North East England.
It’s a total disappointment that UKIP’s elected representative for the area decided to pass by on the other side over this problem. We can be pleased he’s now left the party’
I would suggest, Jake, that Nigel’s ‘Brexit Party’ appears to have chosen to ‘pass by on the other side’.
“…difficult to reconcile the tenets of their religious texts…”
‘Difficult’? – It is impossible. The koran is the uncreated word of allah and is therefore perfect. To alter it by so much as a comma would be blasphemy. It is immutable. Muslims (and us) are stuck with this for eternity, which is why talk of reformation is absurd. When someone speaks of a ‘moderate islam’ then ask twhich parts of the koran need to be ‘moderated’ and they can have no answer. The same goes for so-called ‘moderate muslims’ – there are no moderate or extreme muslims, only those who obey the commands of allah. And those commands are unambiguous.
The only changes to islam in almost fourteen centuries have been in practice rather than principle. As in the case of wahabbism where scholars decided islam was becoming less literal in its conduct and was returned to its unarguable fundamentals. This has happened several times but the result is always a tightening and never a slackening.
This is what non-muslims find so difficult to accept. They judge this ‘religion’ by Western standards, but muslims have no Golden Rule. Think about that. It is an unbridgeable chasm.
I agree Badger; perhaps my choice of words should have been stronger.