The 42-day detention without charge Bill was voted down by an overwhelming majority by the House of Lords on Monday, October 13^th.   This was great news and restored some faith in the democratic structures that are not solely based on saving face and votes.  Yet still I felt trapped.

The Bill itself may not have passed- but have these repeated readings of the Bill, repeated debates and repeated discussions had a longer lasting effect than if the Bill had been brought into practice?  Has our subconscious succumbed to a worse outcome?  Are we detaining ourselves without charge by hesitating for 42 minutes, 42 hours or 42 days before we embark on a project, speak on the phone or send an email?  Is the line in the sand shifting and are we seeing the erosion of our freedom to speak and think?

I’m sure you don’t have to search that far to find a Muslim friend or acquaintance who has hesitated before embarking on a project relating to Muslims either in response to their own concerns or those of their parents or peers.  The concern in most cases is based on the fear that engaging politically or sometimes just associating with people who may be perceived to be active is verging on someone’s definition of extremism, somewhere. 

Unfortunately, it seems that somewhere along the timeline of this Bill or the previous anti-terror Bill there has become a resetting of standards.  Muslims are now extreme unless proven otherwise, i.e. unless we come out singing and dancing against extremism- not once or twice, but all the time.  Which leaves us with exactly no time to move beyond this narrative.  Maybe this is what has left me feeling trapped. 

The truth is such a policy does nothing to help ‘community cohesion’, ‘prevent violent extremism’ or address any other buzzword the government has coined.  Equally though, such policy or its consideration will not stop those who sincerely want to improve themselves and the community they live in from striving to do so even in the face of such ineffective scaremongering and scapegoating. So a note to self, stop finding 42 excuses and get on with the work! 

“Those of the believers who sit still, other than those who have a (disabling) hurt, are not on equal with those who strive in the way of Allah with their wealth and lives. Allah has conferred on those who strive with their wealth and lives a rank above the sedentary. Unto each Allah has promised good, but He has bestowed on those who strive a great reward above the sedentary. Degrees of rank from Him, and forgiveness and mercy. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” (Ch 4, 95-96)