Views on News - Colonialism

US and UK Colonialism in the Middle East endangers all faith communities

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, in widely reported remarks following his visit to the Middle East has expressed concern over the plight of Christian communities. Dr Williams cited the growing numbers of Christians who have left Iraq since the invasion in 2003 as well as a number of attacks upon priests as evidence of growing community tensions.



The innocent loss of life and displacement of people from all communities since the US and UK governments illegal decision to invade and occupy Iraq is regrettable and not justified. However, it would be incorrect to frame the events in Iraq or the wider Middle East as a conflict between Islam and Christianity or a religious war between rival faiths.
The current anger within the Muslim world is not driven by an inherent dislike of other religions or Muslims intent upon a ‘holy war against the infidels’, nor even because of a hatred of western freedoms, as is commonly depicted in the western media. Rather, the frustration and anger of the Muslim masses has reached unprecedented levels due to the naked colonialism of western governments who have killed thousands as part of the ‘war on terror’ in the last five years. A modern day colonialism which has seen hundred of thousands of foreign occupying troops and countless military bases established in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan and the associated crimes and atrocities of Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay, Bagram, Mazar-I-Sharif, Fallujah, Haditha and Baujur province. All the while aided and abetted by the dictators in the Muslim world. The hostility in the Muslim world to Bush, Blair and their armies is not directed at them in their capacity as westerners or Christians, but because of their policies and the hegemony they seek.

The policies of the US and UK government in Iraq is the starkest example of this. One can certainly agree with Dr Williams when he says that life for Christians has become more difficult or that “the situation has got worse since Saddam fell”. The sad reality of life in Iraq is that it has got worse for all communities. Almost four years after the invasion security for the people of Iraq is non-existent; sectarian conflict has emerged with government backing of armed militias; unemployment is at record levels; electricity is intermittent for most of the day; there is very little infrastructure leave alone reconstruction and oil production is lower than in days of Saddam. Unsurprisingly, Iraqis of all communities are leaving in there thousands every day.

Dr Williams also expresses his frustrations that the government in the run up to the war did not listen to the concerns of the Church or members of the Clergy. Again, he is not alone. Blair and his ministers did not listen to the millions of people who demonstrated against the war, discounted and manipulated the governments own intelligence reports which predicted that the Iraq war would increase the prospect of terrorism as well as the countless numbers who stated that the removal of Saddam was simply about replacing one form of tyranny with another.

The Middle East will continue to be beset by problems whilst it is run by western government proxies or through direct occupation. The desire of the Muslim world is for a return to the Caliphate; an independent and non-sectarian state.
The Caliphate will uphold the fundamental rights of justice and will not break its treaties, torture and abuse prisoners, imprison people without charge, oppress minorities and spy on its citizens. These fundamental rights are enshrined within statutory Islamic Law and cannot be reversed by legal precedent or the whims of any government.

Non-Muslims in the Caliphate will have established channels to air any grievances or denial of their rights. All citizens will be empowered with the right to speak out where necessary. Non-Muslims will enjoy an elevated status with respect and tolerance shown to their beliefs and places of worships. The Caliphate will look after the needs and protect the rights of all its citizens Muslims, Jews and Christians.

Sir Thomas Arnold in his book 'The Call to Islam’ states: "We have never heard about any attempt to compel Non-Muslim parties to adopt Islam or about any organised persecution aiming at exterminating Christianity. If the Caliphs had chosen one of these plans, they would have wiped out Christianity as easily as what happened to Islam during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella in Spain "