Like 33 per cent of British Muslims do, I once supported the idea of a caliphate based upon sharia law. But the debate has now become polarised and poisonous.
Maajid Nawaz. Independent. 7 August 2015
As a former extremist who knew Anjem Choudary, I fear for the mentality of British Muslims – Independent
Turning the headline around, it implies that two thirds of British Muslims do not support the idea of a caliphate. This is a rather surprising finding. I would like to know what question was actually asked. The Muslim world was governed by caliphates from 632 until 1924. this is the form of government adopted by Mohammed. Throughout that period Muslims lived peaceably in non-Muslim societies. Islam was extended by violence, but only state violence if that is not too anachronistic. The idea of revolutionary violence is a western one which has only been adopted by some Muslims in the 20th century. This is extremism. We should accept Muslims as long as they accept de facto the rule of law in the society they find themselves in. The question remains, are liberal Muslim activists seen as extreme within the Muslim community?
Dave