Letters | 7 November 2009

Self-destructive policies

Sir: Congratulations to Melanie Phillips (‘The clash of uncivilisations’, 24 October) for exposing the hypocrisy and appeasement at the heart of the out-of-touch, politically correct liberal establishment, particularly among the media and mainstream politicians. New Labour’s self-destructive policies of open borders and multiculturalism are an explosive cocktail, which seem designed to undermine British culture, and have driven frustrated voters into the arms of parties such as Ukip and the odious BNP. Having recently retired from 20 years working in the Middle East, I can verify that the liberal Muslim governments are much more vigorous in pursuing Islamic extremists and are baffled by our weakness.

What is the point in our boys fighting in Afghanistan when the same extremists are being indulged in the UK, as we saw in the Luton demos? The objective truth is that the core values of Islamic fundamentalism are incompatible with Western liberal democracy: refusal of separation of powers, equal rights for women, human rights for gays and minorities; sanctioning of the death penalty, polygamy and the whole concept of infidels, ad infinitum.