The spiked podcast 355: ‘We can’t stay silent’ | Pakistani journalist speaks out on grooming gangs and Islamism
Apr 23, 2025
Kunwar Khuldune Shahid, a Pakistani journalist for the Diplomat and a contributor to Spiked, makes a compelling case for open discussions about Islam in the West. He highlights the dangers of grooming gangs, blasphemy laws, and the oppressive climate for free speech. Shahid warns that Western liberal values are at risk due to rising Islamist narratives and cultural silencing. He also urges a nuanced understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing diverse Palestinian voices often ignored in mainstream discourse.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Cultural Roots of Grooming Gangs
- Grooming gang scandals in the UK involve mostly British Pakistanis from Mearpur, reflecting cultural misogyny prevalent in parts of Pakistan.
- Islamist jihadist views trait non-Muslim girls as more vulnerable to abuse, connecting religious ideas to demographic targeting.
Problems With 'Islamophobia' Term
- The term 'Islamophobia' is misleading and used to censor critique of Islam, which should be open to scrutiny like any other ideology.
- Protecting Muslims should mean combating anti-Muslim bigotry, not outlawing valid criticism of Islamic doctrines.
Blasphemy Laws Backfire
- Enacting blasphemy laws to prevent offense only motivates violent reactions and encourages Islamist demands for more concessions.
- Blasphemy is a victimless crime but threatening violence over it escalates conflict rather than defuses it.