In Defense of the EDL

In the battle against Islamists in the court of public opinion, those of us standing in defense of Western civilization are tasked with unfortunate challenge of having to decide who is or is not an acceptable ally. While many political parties and organizations around the world, from Vlaams Belang of Belgium to the Dutch Partij voor de Vrijheid lead by the iconic Geert Wilders, have outright rejected xenophobia and anti-semitism, others have not. In fact, the disturbing trend in recent years has been for xenophobic and anti-semitic parties like the National Front of France or the British National Party  to jump on the anti-Islamist bandwagon in response to the rising displeasure with Islam among their compatriots, without having yet disavowed their history of bigotry and promising real change. Indeed, the British National Party, which has enjoyed a great deal more popular success since Nick Griffin took over in 1999 and organized his hoodlum supporters into a proper political organization capable of winning elections, continues spewing some of the most vile white supremacist screed in all of Europe. Accordingly, when they denounce another anti-Islamist organization, it necessitates a closer look at said group, for odds are they represent acceptable allies in the fight for Western civilization.

Most recently, the British National Party issued a statement denouncing the English Defense League as “a Zionist false flag operation, designed to create a real clash of civilisations right here on our streets between Islam and the rest of us.” Indeed, in the full message, Griffin goes so far as to suggest this is part of a Zionist (his way of identifying Jews while still giving him the capacity to claim he is speaking about only a select few of us) cabal that ends with the UK using nuclear weapons against the Muslim world. And of course for good measure, he indicts the British newspapers endorsing the ELD as co-conspirators. If all of this sounds like the sort of vile anti-semitism that Czarist Russia and Nazi Germany serialized for mass consumption to inspire support for brutally repressive anti-Jewish policies, that is because it ought to. The British National Party after all, is one of the most beloved European political parties among participants in neo-Nazi forums like Stormfront.

Now then, what is the English Defense League all about, and are they fit allies as the BNP condemnation might suggest? Formed on June 27, 2009, the English Defense League is a group of “ordinary, non-racist citizens of England and supporters who have had enough of being treated as second-class citizens to the Jihadis in our own country,” with around 300 members. They are not against all Muslims, or even the disturbingly violent faith of Islam. Rather, they seek to compel government action “against extremist Muslim preachers and organisations.” Their rejection of racism could not be any more clear, for they openly declare that “Everyone from those whose ancestral roots are in pre-Roman Britain to immigrants just arrived yesterday will be welcomed into the EDL with open arms as long as they are willing to stand up with us for English values and against Islamist hate.” Aside from receiving death threats from Jihadists and their ill-informed anti-fascist allies on the liberal fringe, the group notes that they regularly receive such threats from white supremacist groups, as a consequence of which, most of the group’s leadership is not publicly disclosed. In essence then, the group can summarily be described as a loose coalition of Brits from many different walks of life and political backgrounds that is united in its opposition to the most objectionable elements of the Islamic community, which is against the use of violence, and which has no broader aims or objectionable inclinations.

It seems to me that given presently available information, there are only two issues that exist as it pertains to the ELD. First, while it is growing rapidly, it seems poorly organized, and lacking in the sort of centralized orientation needed to present a consistent and appropriate message wherever branches are found. This could ultimately cause the group to splinter, with the secondary risk that some of the offshoot groups will be swallowed up into white supremacist movements. The other issue with the English Defense League is that they seem to be insufficiently informed about the nature of Islam, such that they draw a distinction between regular and radical Islam. While it is entirely appropriate to state that many individuals who identify themselves as Muslims are peaceful and are valued participants in society that have no interest in undermining our way of life, it is necessary to emphasize that their self-identification is not entirely valid. That is to say, those who call themselves Muslims but reject Jihad, caliphate building, and the subordination of those infidels the ummah opts not kill, are guilty of apostasy. And, as we know from al-Baqarah 2:217, “Whosoever of you turns back from his religion and dies as a disbeliever, then his deeds will be lost in this life and in the Hereafter, and they will be the dwellers of the Fire. They will abide therein forever.” In other words, when enforced, Islam punishes such respectable individuals with death. When not, such as in the Western World, they are simply deemed apostates to be killed when circumstances allow (following the rejection of an invitation to return to Islam), who even if allowed to die of natural causes will suffer eternal torment in the afterlife. All of this is a roundabout way of saying that there is no moderate Islam, only moderates who continue to self-identify as Muslims.

Those being the biggest problems with the ELD, it is therefore appropriate that those interested in fighting against the Islamists stand in partnership with said organization. Their aims are informed by a highly moderate and inclusive ideology, such that they are more above reproach than even many of the best regarded anti-Jihadist parties (like the Sweden Democrats). It is my hope that they continue to grow, and that the anti-Jihad community rejects the paranoid rantings of Charles Johnson, instead standing with these well intentioned men and women.

If you liked this post, you may also enjoy these recent articles:

• Previously Unreleased: The Changing Nature of Dhimmitude and the Jizyah
• In Defense of the EDL
• How Liberal Politics Ruined Student Life
• My Resignation From Student Life
• Srebrenica: More Myth Than Massacre