Comments on: Moazzam Begg’s dignified explanation of why he is not attending Amnesty’s screening of “Outside the Law: Stories from Guantánamo”

By: Outside the Law: Stories from Guantanamo, Moazzam Begg & Amnesty « Earwicga

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:05:14 +0000

[...] website, and the tour continues around the UK with new dates being added as they are confirmed. A statement by Moazzam Begg [16 February [...]

By: Amnesty, Moazzam Begg, Gita Sahgal – Link roundup « Earwicga

Amnesty, Moazzam Begg, Gita Sahgal – Link roundup « Earwicga — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:18:33 +0000

[...] January 2010 Moazzam Begg’s dignified explanation of why he is not attending Amnesty’s screening of “Outsid… Andy [...]

By: Andy Worthington

Andy Worthington — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:55:32 +0000

Thanks, Earwicga. I too hope that we don’t have too many unnecessary distractions from the film’s message tonight. We are in danger of allowing people with a clearly malign agenda to succeed in distracting attention from the fact that 192 men remain held at Guantanamo without charge or trial, in defiance of all recognized norms of detention in the civilized world.

By: earwicga

earwicga — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:59:49 +0000

I think it’s very sad, but completely understandable that Moazzam Begg has decided not to attend tonight’s Amnesty event. I was asked to speculate yesterday, before the statement, as to why he had pulled out and my speculation matched Moazzam’s statement.

I was utterly shocked by the original ST article and Gita Sahgal’s claims, and remain shocked. I have looked at Richard Kerbaj’s journalism and criticisms of it right back to when he worked on Murdoch’s The Australian and also The Oz, and for Sahgal to go to such a known and documented Islamophobe says it all to me.

I wish everyone well with tonight’s screening and for the tour. I know some people did get tickets for tonight to specifically attack Moazzam and I sincerely hope the power of the truth they see tonight affects them as it should us all.

Amnesty campaign to bring Shaker Aamer home: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=675

Check your MP has signed up to the EDM which ‘urges the Government to make renewed representations to the US to secure his [Shaker Aamer's] release and return to this country.’: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=40125&SESSION=903

By: Andy Worthington

Andy Worthington — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:29:22 +0000

Thanks, Jan and TD. Your comments reflect TD’s observation about how much of the media has degenerated into a self-created shouting match. Reading the comments that followed the many disgraceful articles published in the last week or so in the mainstream media, I’ve been struck by how — especially with the Times’ censorship of sane voices of dissent in the face of the prevailing hysteria — the interaction with the public serves only to reinforce the impulses of biased journalists, and to encourage yet more people to make sweeping and insulting comments without any evidence to back it up.
Welcome to 2010: the year of evidence-free aggression from random members of the public — and here was I thinking that sort of nonsense should have been consigned to the Bush years.

By: the talking dog

the talking dog — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 04:36:12 +0000

I’ve been thinking about the state of discourse in the world these days, whether the subject is global warming, or “national security,” or the economics of health care, or I suppose, anything else– and it seems that on one side, we have the Dick Cheneys, Sarah Palins, et al., who seem utterly unconstrained by matters such as honor, ethics, or for that matter, reality, and just seek confrontation for its own sake, as well as to squash all opposition in their path… on the other hand, we have people like Moazzam, who try to be “reasonable” and “conciliatory” and behave honorably and ethically at all times, even when egregious injustice is heaped upon them, and confine themselves to available facts and evidence… any guesses as tp which side will likely get the media attention in a shouting match (a shouting match often of the media’s creation)?… Any guesses as to which side will get a non-particularly well-informed public to start thinking that their side “makes sense” because they shout the loudest?

The greatness of men like Moazzam is equanimity: while, like all deeply spiritual men, I have no doubt he is feeling this (probably more deeply than we can know), he is not going to allow the controversy to in any way shake his faith, including his faith in what he is doing. It’s unfortunate that we are living in an ever more superficial world that seems less and less appreciative of actual virtues and values.

By: JAN STRAIN (Cosmic Surfer)

JAN STRAIN (Cosmic Surfer) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:06:37 +0000

Mr Begg shows an understanding and maturity in the face of continued controversy, that is rarely seen these days. I am sure his difficulties throughout the past decade have gone far in assisting him to remain above the frey and retain a perspective that those of us who can only imagine those hardships find difficult to maintain.
His dignity and purpose outweigh any potential anger and hurt. He is a fine example to all who would see that this issue more than just a few men held against their will.
The Guantanamo Story is a story of the loss of humanity in the world. A trading of moral compass for power, a trading of honor for a sense of entitlement.

The US and the UK have lost their way.
It is up to the people to find that path and to drag our governments with us (kicking and screaming if it must be)
We must regain the respect for our own humanity.
Mr Begg, Mr Worthington and those who support them are leaders in a movement and educators to the cause.
The message is an old one but is every bit as valid today as it was 5000 years ago.

WE are our brother’s keeper and to be that keeper, it is our duty to protect and defend all people equally, without malice, without jealousy and without fear.