Lord Pearson commented about the dangers of Islam in the UK at a recent debate, the former UKIP leader warned of the dangers of Sharia law and close knit insular Muslim communities in the UK. He stated that Muslim communities were home to “thousands of potential home-grown terrorists.” He was quoted in saying: “they hate us with frightening religious fervour.” “Sharia law is running de facto in our land and calls for violence are not only coming from a few extremists.”
Faith minister Barones Warsi criticised Lord Pearson and said that he was either “ignorant” or attempting to “distort” views of Islam.
Lord Pearson made reference to the 2005 London Bombings and the killing of Drummer Lee Rigby earlier this year. He added:
“We see large and growing Muslim communities which are set against integration with the rest of us.” “We see thousands of home-grown potential terrorists.” “We see Sharia law running de facto in our land and we see a birth rate which is several times ours.” “What baffles me completely is that when we speak against these things, when we dare to say that they come from within Islam, we are told that we are the guilty ones, that it is who are stirring up hate.”
“But the hate lies in the heart of the Islamist.” “We can only stir it up because it is already there, red hot and seething against us.” “These people hate us with frightening religious fervour and we are right to fear them.”
A UKIP peer stated: “Evil is at its most destructive when it passes from the individual to the collective.”
Lady Warsi responded by saying:
“I think it is a great shame at best that the noble gentleman has asked this question.” " It points at best to an ignorance about Islam and at worst deliberate attempt to perpetuate a distorted image of the faith.”
“Islam, like all other major religions is not inherently violent.” “Passages from sacred texts must be taken in context.” “It would be possible to distort quotes from any religious text.”
“Most religions have suffered at most times from extremism. Islam is no exception. Al-Qaeda’s beliefs were “at odds with classical and contemporary” mainstream Islam.”