One of the interesting things about editing a blog is using the back office functions to see how people found the site. 99% of the time it’s the usual sources, Google, Duck Duck Go, various blogs, social media etc. However a short while ago something caught my eye in the referrals section and it was a referral from within a document that was held in an online repository. This referral came from a http link to this site from within this particular document.
Out of curiosity, because I had not seen this type of referral before on here, I clicked on the back link and it took me to a letter written to the human rights activist Peter Tatchell, and was decrying his decision to become one of the patrons for the oft-criticised ‘hate crime monitors’ Tell Mama. This letter, which was not encrypted in any way, appeared to be written directly to Mr Tatchell and as well as criticising Mr Tatchell’s decision to become involved with Tell Mama, also makes allegations that Tell Mama are ‘engaging with hate-filled sycophants’ on social media in order further their ‘work’.
I’m really not sure if I was meant to receive or even see this document and it looks like it has come to me by accident. I have done some basic checks and cannot be totally sure that this letter is in the public domain. Use of search engines to match key phrases from the letter has been a dead end. Therefore I’m assuming that this particular document is not in the public domain and have redacted the name of the sender to spare them both embarrassment and the risk of attack. Journalistic ethics do preclude me from identifying either the source of the letter or the repository from which it came. Sources of information like the writer of this letter should, as far as possible, be protected
What this letter shows, is that there is a far wider concern about the behaviour of the Tell Mama group than that which is coming from conservatives such as myself and others such as Tim Burton of Liberty GB, since this letter writer comes over as being somewhat of the moderate Liberal Left.
Here’s the letter, although it doesn’t say much that is new to those who know about the reputation of the Tell Mama group, it may enlighten others who may not be so well informed.
Here is the letter outlining this person’s concerns about Mr Tatchell’s involvement with the Tell Mama organisation.
“Peter, you asked me to forward concerns regarding TellMamaUK.
An organisation claiming to oppose bigotry, racism and stand up for those affected by prejudice has to be a good thing, right? The answer is no – if it behaves like TellMamaUK on Twitter. On first discovering Tell Mama my instinct was to want to like them. After reading the material and observing how they interact, I concluded that what they are doing is far from helpful. It is divisive, misguided and appears to have a stealth priority of protecting Islam from criticism. Regardless of how loudly Tell Mama protests otherwise, fighting ‘Islamophobia’ has emerged as a clarion call rather than battling anti-Muslim hatred. They’d argue that these things are intertwined. They are not. People in the UK care about fighting bigotry and racism. Rather than help victims of prejudice, Tell Mama has an approach which fails, in my opinion. Every time they cry ‘Islamophobia’, they distance themselves from potential supporters. Some victims might be put off too. Ali A Rizvi (below) sums up the danger of using the neologism ‘Islamophobia’:
“Words like ‘Islamophobia’ exploit anti-Muslim hate crime victims, using their pain to silence all criticism of Islam “.
On Twitter Tell Mama has an uncanny ability to favourite, follow and engage happily with some hate-fuelled sycophants. Complaints made about some of their ‘groupies’ are met with indifference (or disingenuous scoffing that they can’t police the internet). TM manage to police it pretty thoroughly when it suits them. A group claiming to monitor ‘hate crime’ can’t detect hatred or bigotry from ‘friends’? Recently, they appeared to allege libel over the mere questioning of their use of the unhelpful term ‘Islamophobia’. Incredibly, they did this in front patrons. I highlighted this to both you and Mohammed Amin. What action was taken to stop false allegations being made by Tell Mama? This kind of behaviour reflects badly on patrons, especially if they fail to act. It won’t go away by ignoring the problem.
There a disconnect between what some patrons believe and what TM does on something as fundamental as the use of the term ‘Islamophobia’? Tell Mama have played the ‘Islamophobia’ card with a rigid determination. They ignored genuine criticism of this strategy – often blocking those challenging. Private individuals can behave as they please, Groups which have received large amounts of public funds should behave professionally online with a suitably impartial approach.
As you are aware, many don’t trust Tell Mama following press allegations regarding the incorrect reporting of ‘Islamophobia’ statistics:
They have failed to deal with these problems effectively. Damage limitation attempts have made things worse:
They now have a reputation of being trigger-happy regarding crying libel or losing court cases based on criticism of Fiyaz Mughal:
https://www.fahrenheit211.net/2014/05/16/fiyaz-mughal-throws-the-toys-out-of-the-pram/
Tell Mama makes big claims about the importance of its work but they have relatively few followers. This is at odds with an ‘Islamophobia is at record highs’ rhetoric. Their feedback page also shows very little appreciation. The last thanks from an anonymous respondent dates back to June 2013. Most are several years old.
http://tellmamauk.org/feedback/
Note the embarrassing feedback from Mo Ansar – notorious grievance monger and proven liar. Tell Mama defended Ansar for far too long. TM recently complained about poor support from Muslims, having raised only £104 during a fund drive Online word ‘offences’ appear to take up considerable time. They become involved in petty disputes and attacks. There are too many to detail. Regardless of the perceived merits this does not look good to outsiders reading. The approach to blocking is questionable. My point here is to do with fairness. Tell Mama blocks critics, notably less mainstream Muslims, with ease. Yet it seems to encourage a core of orthodox zealots? Surely you can see how this reads? Does it suggest exactly the type of Muslim Tell Mama is most comfortable with?
They engage with illiberal, Ahmadi-hating sycophants (like carefulsoul786 and assorted zealots – nicknamed ‘The Twitter Muslim Patrol’).
The ‘Muslim Patrol’ weren’t blocked for bashing ‘Quilliamites’ on Tell Mama’s timeline. Tell Mama fanned the flames with its own indignant digs at Quilliam. Are some members of Quilliam not Muslims? Is Muslim to Muslim hatred not an issue?
Reading this and so many other contradictory pieces makes it very difficult to believe that recent moves to work with Quilliam will bear fruit. Tell Mama is a toxic brand.
‘The Twitter Muslim Patrol’ – seen as indulged followers of Tell Mama love to have a go at gay people:
https://twitter.com/soulesssniper/status/408269849992134657
Given your commitment to secularism, I’m astounded that you don’t see the flaws in Tell Mama’s Islamophobia led strategy. Have you read what Fiyaz Mughal has written? Or seen their criticism of The National Secular Society? Any excuse to tag ‘EDL’ into an argument:
http://tellmamauk.org/national-secular-society-the-money-shot/
“… The title starts of with, ‘Muslims must be protected, Islam must not.’ So far so good, except that they simply fail to understand that some, like EDL sympathisers, attack Islam as a way of undermining the rights of believers, i.e. Muslims”
Mughal’s views are alarming, should you care about secularism and free speech:
Fiyaz Mughal OBE, said: “Our work is coming across an aggressive, well focussed and organised campaign by militant secularists who think that people of faith are somehow irrational or mal-adjusted and this is deeply problematic. The actions of such groups are increasingly pervasive and even militant given that they are not willing to listen or engage in debate on occasions where faith is discussed. They simply dismiss counter-views supporting faith in the public sphere by disengagement or worse still obfuscation.”
‘Militant’ secularists demanding equal human rights for all alarm Mughal? They may even want to sit down and discuss issues with him over a cup of tea – those demonic, free speech loving ‘extremists’! How can you overlook this, Peter? Where is the greater common good? You marched into a church to oppose those wishing to deny equal rights to gay people. Opposing or challenging religion is absolutely nothing to do with hating Muslims, Catholics or Christians. If Tell Mama wanted to help Muslims, why use the Islamophobia tactic? Surely free speech and equal human rights for all Muslims are worthy goals? What about less orthodox Muslims? Ex-Muslims? Why not help so-called apostates speak out by encouraging, not seeking to restrict free speech? They are victims of Islamic prejudice. The UK does not need Religious Police. Online or off. Blasphemy laws are not for us. Tell Mama needs to clear up its doublespeak around this issue.
My criticisms have been harsh. I genuinely believe they are deserved. I hope that you consider my points and what can be done to address issues. Only by working together can discrimination be eroded. Faith matters to individuals. I care about prioritising free speech and human rights not silencing criticism of religion. Britain has human rights that people in Muslim majority countries can only dream of. They have been forged despite religion.
Senders Name Redacted
Letter ends
Accusations of ‘Doublespeak’, silencing critics of Islam, acting like a religious police force, engaging in Islamic sectarianism and much more abound in this letter. It raises yet more concerns about the way Tell Mama is run and what it has become. This is a stinging attack on Tell Mama. Those like Peter Tatchell, who turn a blind eye to Tell Mama’s acceptance of sectarianism and homophobia, damage themselves and their own reputations.
This communication is yet more evidence that Tell Mama is both a troubled and troublesome organisation, which taints all who become involved with it.
No real surprise, Tatchell is a ‘911 skeptic’ after all:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/sep/12/911thebigcoverup
Although Tatchell has done some great human rights work over the years he has, on the negative side, not showed good judgement on occasion as with giving house room to 911 Truthers. However, to become involved with Tell Mama is for me the final nail in the coffin of Tatchell’s reputation. As the letter writer, and this blog, has said on various occasions, Tell Mama is a toxic brand that taints whoever becomes involved with it.
Here’s the real shocker.
Tell Mama was launched on 21st February 2012.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/uk-17063513
This was the same day that the biggest trial of a muslim grooming gang started (Rochdale).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/uk-england-manchester-17117530
All that week, instead of covering the shocking details of the years of horrors which this muslim gang subjected these schoolgirls to, the news media (particularly the BBC) were instead bleating about how muslims were victims par excellence.
Fiyaz Mughal and his supporters and patrons must have easily been able to find out the date on which that trial started. The arrest and prosecution of that muslim gang was announced 5 months earlier.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-15039961
Even if they didn’t deliberately launch Tell Mama to attempt to eclipse the news about this grooming gang finally being taken to court (which is a possible explanation), you would think they would have had the good grace to wait a week and let the news media concentrate on the grooming scandal — the biggest childcare scandal in the history of Britain (the Association of Chief Police Officers are now saying that they estimate there are more than 10,000 schoolgirl victims EACH YEAR).
In years to come I have no doubt that Tatchell will look back with shame that he chose to side with muslims, when every year more than 10,000 working-class schoolgirls were being turned into drug-addicted prostitutes by organised gangs of muslim men.