When interviewed about the cameras last year, local Muslim Councillor Salma Yaboob shrieked: “Residents have lost faith with the Zionist authorities for their sneaky handling of the matter! The Ummah will not be reassured until they have been told the locations of the hidden cameras too”.

A local Imam had a further problem with the surveillance cameras. Choosing to remain anonymous, the Islamic leader said through an interpreter: “These cameras … they should be covered up. Or moved. Our young are taken advantage of. My son and his son and his son after him, they are all menaced by these uncovered cameras! They provoke … they are provocative … they move their heads around when people walk by. They titillate … yes … they flirt and titillate with my son and his son and his son after him … they must be covered!”

Local council leaders and police have profusely apologised for the naked cameras found in Muslim areas of Birmingham. They have also written to local mosques explaining their ‘stupidity’ and asking that the discount they enjoyed on their jizya tax be scrapped in penance. The surveillance camera burkas are expected to be applied within the coming days.

Some critics of the plans have stated that the burka will reduce the level of visibility that camera operators will have. With just a narrow slit across the camera lens, it has been suggested that up to 95% of the resulting image will be black. However, civil rights groups have scolded such criticisms.

Connie Fergus who is head of the ‘Liberty for Tyranny’ think-tank remarked on her twitter account: “How dare these Islamaphobic bigots impede on these people’s culture!” … “Have they not heard of the phrase, when in Brum, do as the Brummies do?”.

A Home Office spokeswoman under pressure from other Muslim communities across Britain said: ‘Work is already underway on CCTV regulation and the government will be bringing forward proposals to place burkas on all cameras where our hard working minorities might find offence. Naturally, Islam is a religion of peace and we condemn all hatred and intolerance against this peaceful and progressive section of our society”.

Below is a series of pictures, which are mostly rather gruesome to look at. However, for Islamists and indeed, many moderate Muslims, there is one image that will drive the rage-o-meter off the scale. Can you guess which one it is? (click on the image to enlarge)

Amazing isn’t it?

Yesterday (20th May) was ‘Draw Mohammed Day’. A Facebook page was set up for people to post their drawings of the Islamic Prophet Mohammed. Over 90,000 people became a ‘fan’ of the page and at the last count around 4,000 images had been posted. Admittedly, some of the pictures were gratuitously offensive in that they showed Mohammed with items and in scenes that would make your grandmother blush. However, that’s not the point. Many were neutral and even positive reproductions of classical and mundane portraits of Mohammed or Arab-looking men with beards.

What went wrong? Facebook went wrong. Today the page no longer exists as Facebook has removed it. While one only has to type in ‘Jews’ and ‘Israel’ into the search box to find rabid hate groups, mostly created by Muslims, a simple page of drawings and cartoons which were a symbol of freedom of expression, has been obliterated.

Danish and other European cartoonists live in fear of their lives because of drawings they created portraying Mohammed. Some have had their homes attacked whilst infamous incidents such as the murder of Theo Van Gogh still haunt the streets of Amsterdam. These cartoons and drawings were a symbol of post-Enlightenment values being defended against 7th Century barbarism. The capitulation of Facebook over this, is disappointing to put it mildly but sadly, not surprising.

The question remains, when will we, the West, stand up for our values and liberty? Before or after it is too late?

Image courtesy of American Thinker.

See also: Dhimmitude and Draw Mohammed Day. (Michelle Malkin)

“The hate for the West swells like a fire fed by the wind. The clash between us and them is not a military one. It is a cultural one, a religious one, and the worst is still to come.” Oriana Fallaci

Mr Hassan was the founder of the television network where the body of Aasiya Hassan, 37, was found. Bridges TV was set up in 2004 as a news and opinion channel intended to act as a counter to violent images of Islamic violence and extremism. Mrs Hassan also worked for the network and was known to have filed for divorce a number times citing numerous incidents of domestic violence.

Meanwhile, in light of the murder, numerous fans of the network have come out in criticism of the press reaction and worldwide attention. An anonymous Muslim gentleman questioned why the beheading of an insolent wife was anything more than a minor offence. “Okay! Okay! it created a mess and I feel sorry for the carpet cleaner but let’s not get this out of proportion. He tried to instil discipline in her for years but what can you do?”

Shortly after the opening of Bridges TV, Muzzammil Hassan said of the new enterprise that “it is hoped the programming will help non-Muslims overcome the negative images they may have of both Muslims and Islam”.

The network has not gone without notice amongst critics after many dubious guests were found to have incited hatred against Jews and other non-Muslims. The Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI) reported:

“One religious figure who appeared October 3 said Muslims have a duty to change America and to increase their numbers to 50% of the population from 2%. He recommended that Shariah, or Islamic law, be implemented in American courts. During a roundtable discussion on the Arab-Israeli conflict on October 5, one participant offered a solution: “For the Jews to leave and return to Europe.”

Muslim leaders across the United States have urged people not to associate the beheading with Islam which they repeat is a ‘religion of peace’. An Imam from the city of Chicago urged the general population not to think ill of the Islamic faith which “does not call for the murder of wives or unbelievers … unless the wife still doesn’t make the tea after a dozen thrashings … or the unbelievers are Jews, homosexuals, polytheists or atheists”.

Orchard Park police has refused to give further details about the crime but it is believed Aasiya Hassan died where she was found. The murder weapon has yet to be discovered. Muzzammil Hassan is scheduled to appear at a felony hearing in Orchard Park on Wednesday the 18th of February to determine bail.

The future of Bridges TV network is uncertain but it’s hoped by the US Islamic community that a number of other stations in the same mould will spring up, as well as the possibility of soon-to-be-built mosques and Islamic schools being named after Muzzammil Hassan.

“We are being attacked yet again!” said a masked protester outside the courthouse. “A number of derogatory comments have been made about Muslims. It’s very upsetting. Bridges TV gave us a voice in America and just because of a good man’s house duties, we are again being marginalised!”

Last year Muzzammil Hassan gave an interview in which he said: “The level of ignorance regarding Muslims and Islam is very high in the United States and it will take a lot of time for non-Muslim Americans to realize that they and their Muslim neighbors share many of the same values.”

Only time will tell, after his latest domestic incident, whether people will take heed of his words and if the perception of Islam will improve over the coming months amongst the general American society.