Comments on: ‘Young Muslim advisors’ to ministers

By: ashik

ashik — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:07:36 +0000

Some Muslim youth in the UK see themselves as powerless and marginalised. By targeting youth in the 16-25 age group the government is giving these people an insight into decisionmaking processes in the UK. That’s not such a bad thing. Although I share concerns that overt ‘special treatment’ of Muslims will alienate others, projects like this may help entrench positive ideas for the future.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 05:20:10 +0000

Knowing this government, these young men and women will be carefully selected ‘yes people’!

By: Sunny

Sunny — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:05:49 +0000

When are ministers going to be given young atheist advisors?

Yeah, but this is specifically about counter-terrorism. In other cases I’m sure the MPs listen to a variety of views.

By: Cabalamat

Cabalamat — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:17:48 +0000

When are ministers going to be given young atheist advisors? I would have thought that this would be a better policy than Muslim advisors, because:

1. Britain has more atheists than Muslims.

2. atheists tend to be more rational than believers in the supernatural, therefore atheist advisors will help ministers to think rationally.

3. atheists tend to be more intelligent than theists, and contribute to our nation’s wealth more than in proportion with their numbers. Many of our top scientists are atheists.

4. In the long term the best way to discourage religious extremism is to encourage everyone to become atheists.

On he “young” bit: didn’t the government pass a law recently banning age discrimination? Although I suppose our lords and masters don’t have to obey the laws they force on everyone else. So for example MPs can still smoke in bars in the palace of Westminster.

By: squanderer

squanderer — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:37:30 +0000

How about getting the foreign secretary and FO -Miliband -involved in the Triumvirate of Government departments? After all, extremism per se cannot be conditioned overnight, but due to this government denying any link between foreign policy and extremism, the government is shooting itself in the foot by failing to honestly address this and why young people (of all faiths) feel this government does not listen.

I welcome this group of young Muslim advisors, but it’s important that this group does not become a new set of gatekeepers, but one of many groups the government consults with.

By: Rumbold

Rumbold — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:13:26 +0000

As long as they are not accorded ‘voice of the community’ status it is fine.

By: Shamit

Shamit — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 08:42:50 +0000

Sunny spot on.

I think the key questions are who are these young advisors and how are they being chosen? Do these people truly represent the views of the muslim youth –