Letters: Brussels: the Isis threat to Muslims

The following letters appear in the 24th March edition of the Independent

A man reacts at a street memorial following the bomb attacks in Brussels, Belgium

Like every ordinary Muslim, I’m fed up with Daesh (Isis) killing innocent people in the name of Islam, a religion which prohibits such crimes.

Daesh actually imposes an existential threat to Islam. Most of its victims are Muslims and most of those fighting against Daesh are Muslims. Western media, however, ignores Daesh crimes against non-westerners. For example, on 9 March, about 55 people died (mostly Daesh terrorists) in a gun battle as Daesh attacked a Tunisian town.

Bombing Muslim countries and killing ordinary Muslims will only increase Daesh recruits. All lives are equal and all lives matter.

Mohammed Samaana

Belfast

Here we are again with yet another devastating blow to freedom at the hands of Islamic fanatics. When will our leaders realise that the cause is their efforts to illegally interfere in the Middle East to enable regime change vis a vis the “Arab Springs”, and their dangerous dealings with Islamic fanatics to do their bidding?

It’s time to disengage from the Middle East and focus on improving security at home.

Dr Michael Pravica

Henderson, Nevada, USA

After the atrocity in Brussels, I hope that those who persist in deluding themselves that Islamic terrorism is the result of Western foreign policy in Muslim lands will come to their senses. What has Belgium ever done to deserve such carnage?

Stan Labovitch

Windsor

In 1914 and 1939 we didn’t abandon our allies in Europe when they were faced with unspeakable threats; we stood with them and faced down the menace.

Many people in the Brexit camp seem ashamed of our glorious internationalist tradition and would rather leave our allies to fend for themselves. Can you imagine Winston Churchill’s reaction to this capitulation? He would be disgusted.

We do not abandon friends, together we are strong, and together we can beat any external threat. It is isolation that threatens the UK, not working with our friends and allies.

Simon G Gosden

Rayleigh, Essex

Surely selective spot-checking in airport concourses before check-in is the only option to try to prevent airport bombings. Apart from creating an additional bottle-neck in already tedious procedures, a pre-check area would be crowded and would itself be an ideal target for suicide bombers.

It is simply not practicable to screen everyone in public places where crowds gather, whether for transport, entertainment, shopping or whatever.

Gavin Turner

Gunton, Norfolk

After this shambles, Osborne must go

George Osborne’s arrogant behaviour in the Commons on Tuesday demonstrated his callous disregard for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the country.

Not only could he not apologise for upsetting hundreds and thousands of disabled individuals, he added salt to the wound by saying that the cuts had after all not been necessary. In other words he had completely failed to consider benefit recipients as humans, merely as a financial number. He had caused great upset to many thousands of people, yet hadn’t the decency to say sorry.

Surely, a Chancellor who keeps missing his targets and attacking the least well-off in society with a record of a 2012 omnishambles Budget followed now by a megashambles Budget with a massive black hole in it is simply not fit for office. He should go.

Norman Evans

East Horsley, Surrey

If by “mistake”, George Osborne meant that he completely underestimated what would be the public’s reaction to his proposed benefit cuts, fair enough. But if he was talking about the actual decision to make the cuts, then he should have called it a “misjudgement”. How could there be a mistake when the decision was based purely on economic facts supplied by his advisers?

No, Mr Osborne should now be honest enough to admit that the impact of the cuts on the disabled was not taken into account at all. And then apologise for his misjudgement.

Jill Buss

Gundleton, Hampshire

The letters by Tony Cheney and Patrick Cleary (23 March) present a one-sided view of the contribution made by UK citizens to reduce the proportion of government expenditure provided by borrowing. It is taxes that pay for benefits, unless an increasing debt burden is placed on the next generations.

The proportion of personal income tax stays approximately the same if the width of the personal allowance and tax bands rise in line with inflation. The basic rate tax band has reduced from £37,400 in January 2010 to only £31,785 in January 2016, instead of increasing in line with inflation (RPI) to £43,945. That means higher-rate tax payers are each paying 20 per cent more on £12,160 currently, an extra £2,433 this year.

Secondly, savers (including pension providers) have been penalised massively since 2008, because the rate of interest on savings and gilts has fallen by around two thirds to three quarters in order to ensure that the rate paid by government on the national debt is as low as possible.

Higher rate tax payers and savers are paying at least their fair share.

Tim Pearce

Knutsford, Cheshire

In order to find the funds to reverse the cuts in disability benefit, why doesn’t George Osborne approach his friends at Google and offer them the chance for atonement?

As a reward for providing the means to reinstate this support for the needy, the Chancellor could rebrand it as the Google Disability Benefit. It would serve as a reminder to us all how tax avoidance by such companies so disabled the public purse that support for the weak and vulnerable came close to being sacrificed on the altar of corporate greed.

Roger Figg

Pratts Bottom, Kent

Save the museums of the North

We are scandalised at the idea of closing down the local heritage of the North (“The betrayal of the North”, 12 March).

We are a group of keen museum lovers who have our own museum club at school. In fact many of our grandparents and great grandparents worked hard in the mills. Our ancestors should be treated with respect, their legacy cannot be forgotten after all they have done for us.

As a group we have all achieved the Pendle Museum Challenge and visited many of the finest collections of the North including Helmshore Mills Textile Museum, which is under threat of closure. We all love Blackburn Museum and have learnt about extraordinary objects which have given us creative ideas for our writing and art.

The Government is suggesting that the school day should be extended. We agree so we can visit more museums! Children of the future may never know about our local history if these museums are shut down.

George Osborne needs to listen to young learners. We are the future custodians of British history!

Niamh Yates

Mackenzie Rea

Regan Topham

Eleanor Downing

Anna Rogers

Rachel Rogers

Cleo Blacow

Oliver Parfitt

Charlie James

St Charles’ RC Primary School Museum Club, Rishton, Lancashire

Elegant females of the species

As the owners of eight peacocks and 14 peahens at a National Trust for Scotland property, my wife and I challenge the notion, reported by Tom Bawden, your environment editor (18 March) that our ladies are drab. They are immaculately and elegantly groomed, and certainly more intelligent than the males.

But they are ground-nesting birds and do need camouflage from a hungry vixen searching for a tasty meal for its cubs.

May I take the opportunity to thank The Independent for 30 years of fascinating letters to the Editor?

Tam Dalyell

Linlithgow, West Lothian

The customer is always ‘all right’

Another irritating thing to add to Geoff Dougherty’s testimony (letter, 21 March) is that usually “Are you all right there?” emerges as a pretty-much consonant-free “oo-or-eye-air?”

That aside, my response is either to say “good morning/good evening/hello….” etc etc, as if I haven’t heard the question, or if I’m feeling particularly intolerant at the time, “Where do you mean? Here? Or here?” and physically demonstrate the options I’m describing.

A good friend of mine routinely asks “Why? Are you a doctor or something?”

Christopher Mezzetti

Bromley, Kent

When this wonderful paper closes its print edition, will that bring an end to the debate on how a student would order breakfast, please?

John Swan

Newcastle upon Tyne