0:00
I've got a good friend from the boxing community that is a practicing Muslim and really believes in his faith
0:07
And he says to me, Adam, there are people coming from other countries, Afghanistan, Pakistan, where he's from
0:13
that are from areas where they never see women or girls and especially not dressed like they are here
0:18
And he says these people are coming over and they are interpreting 2000 odd year old religious texts like it is today
0:26
Yeah. So they are they're taking justification and an excuse from what they read in the Koran to go and do these heinous crimes
0:35
This is Adam. We do not want that in our community. These people are extremists
0:39
Yeah. But again, more people like my friend need to speak out
0:43
Yeah. And say you can't come here and you can't do that. The police have pleaded with asylum seekers a few weeks ago not to sexually assault our women and children
0:53
Where have we become in this country? You know, I've got two daughters
0:58
If I was to tackle one of those asylum seekers, I'd end up in prison
1:02
I think you might be right there. They are coming here and targeting our women and children. But let give this some context We do need Muslim community leaders to speak up on these issues But as you said in your opening Alex the vast vast majority of Muslims do not sign up
1:17
to this kind of abhorrent extremity. And when we talk about polygamy
1:21
which is one element of this hateful website, the figures globally are less than 1% of Muslims practice polygamy
1:30
And I think the figures are even lower within the UK. But we need to mobilise that law-abiding, respectful, vast majority against this
1:39
I just want to stick with you on this for a second, Bill, because I think you're right. And I think this is important because Islamophobia laws will, I think, be probably brought out during this parliament
1:46
It's yet to be seen. I know we've heard them discussed quite often. Would a law like Islamophobia laws prevent us from having a conversation like this
1:55
Would what we're talking about tonight be deemed Islamophobic? I don't think it would, but I'm not in favour of those Islamophobia laws
2:04
I think in this country you have a right to adhere to your religion
2:10
but people have a right to criticise, and if they want to, to ridicule that religion
2:16
And I think that's one of the tenets of a free society and free and open debate
2:20
and we have to protect that