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Name: Salma Yacoob
Occupation: Councillor and Vice Chair Respect Party
Country: UK
Total Questions: 6
Total Answers: 6

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Respect Party

What Yoosk members think about

Honest	Yes	3	No	0
Clear	Yes	3	No	0
Well informed	Yes	3	No	0
Inspiring	Yes	3	No	0
Consistent	Yes	3	No	0
Well intentioned	Yes	3	No	0

Answered Questions

the6thestate asked Salma Yacoob: "It seems likely that Tony Blair is hoping to redeem himself for the suffering in Iraq through his new role in Palestine and Israel. Do you think he can do this?"
Salma Yacoob answer: "I believe everybody has the potential to redeem themselves and do good and Tony Blair is no different than anybody else in this regard - if he has the will to do so. He certainly has the ability. Unfortunately..." Show more»" I believe everybody has the potential to redeem themselves and do good and Tony Blair is no different than anybody else in this regard - if he has the will to do so. He certainly has the ability. Unfortunately he seems more focused on self-promotion than redemption "Show less«
Is this a good answer? 2 0
0 comment | Topic: Politics | Email to friends | Sep 23 2007 11:40:50 AM
keithwhu asked Salma Yacoob: "What were your feelings when Tony blair came to power in 1997? And were they different when he left 10 years later?"
Salma Yacoob answer: "I supported Labour in 1997 and I had been quite impressed by Tony Blair. So I was delighted when Labour were back in power. I was hopeful that Labour really could introduce ‘an ethical foreign policy’..." Show more»" I supported Labour in 1997 and I had been quite impressed by Tony Blair. So I was delighted when Labour were back in power. I was hopeful that Labour really could introduce ‘an ethical foreign policy’ abroad as they suggested and greater social justice at home. These feelings were gradually replaced by disillusion and anger as Labour transformed itself into New Labour. When Blair stepped down I felt pride that it was opposition to the invasion of Iraq that had dogged him to the end but also sadness at the tremendous opportunity he had squandered. "Show less«
Is this a good answer? 2 0
1 comment | Topic: Politics | Email to friends | Sep 23 2007 11:37:38 AM
keithwhu asked Salma Yacoob: "When Tony blair led the UK into war with Iraq, do you believe he was representing the will of the people of the UK? How do you feel about him as Middle East Peace Envoy?"
Salma Yacoob answer: "No I don’t think he was representing the will of the British people. The majority of British people were opposed to the war. The anti-war demonstration on February 15th 2003 was the biggest protest ..." Show more»" No I don’t think he was representing the will of the British people. The majority of British people were opposed to the war. The anti-war demonstration on February 15th 2003 was the biggest protest in 2,000 years of British history. The comments from Sir Christopher Meyer, Britain's ambassador to Washington at the time, in his book DC Confidential, that Blair was ‘seduced’ by US power seems to me much closer to the point as to whose interests he was more concerned about. It is difficult to believe that he will be taken seriously as a Middle East envoy in view of his uncritical stance to US and Israeli policy and his support for their invasion of Iraq and attack on Lebanon. "Show less«
Is this a good answer? 2 1
0 comment | Topic: Politics | Email to friends | Sep 23 2007 11:39:07 AM
ryanscribe asked Salma Yacoob: "Salma, we hear a lot about the injustices of Iraq, Palestine, etc, but what has that to do with life here? Why do Muslims get so angry about these issues, when we've plenty more to sort out home than ..." Show more »"Salma, we hear a lot about the injustices of Iraq, Palestine, etc, but what has that to do with life here? Why do Muslims get so angry about these issues, when we've plenty more to sort out home than abroad?" Show less »
Salma Yacoob answer: "I agree that there are plenty of issues at home that need sorting out – for example the lack of affordable housing, high unemployment in many deprived areas, inequalities in educational attainment, ..." Show more»" I agree that there are plenty of issues at home that need sorting out – for example the lack of affordable housing, high unemployment in many deprived areas, inequalities in educational attainment, student debt, pensioners living in poverty, health issues, climate change to name a few. I think it is right that Muslims should care about and act in relation to these with the same passion that some do around issues of foreign policy. I helped form Respect precisely out of these concerns – to address domestic issues, in addition to international issues – to work alongside others from different backgrounds who also shared these concerns. I believe that as responsible citizens all of us - irrespective of whether we are Muslims, Jews, Christians, people of faith or people of no faith - have an obligation to strive for greater democratic accountability over our governments. It is our taxes that finance our foreign policy – that pay for the bombs that fall on people thousands of miles away. It is our government that is acting in our names when it wages war in Iraq and Afghanistan, claiming our authority to do so. So, what is happening abroad has everything to do with us here. This is particularly the case for Muslim communities, as much of the current demonisation of Muslims is directly linked with the foreign policy decisions post 9/11. To care about other people, even if they are far away, is a basic expression of humanity. I think it is much better that people are concerned about the suffering of others, whether it is issues of war or Third World Debt, than that they harden their hearts to it. Furthermore, it is a sad truth that many of these problems arise from decisions made here. Not speaking up in my opinion makes us complicit in these injustices. The principle for me is to be consistent in standing against injustice in all its forms. "Show less«
Is this a good answer? 2 0
0 comment | Topic: Politics | Email to friends | Sep 23 2007 8:39:17 AM
oneill asked Salma Yacoob: "Salma, didn't you once write an article for the Islamist magazine, Trends (edited by Inayat Bunglawala of the MCB) which imagined an Islamic Republic of Great Britain? Your Wikipedia page used to say ..." Show more »"Salma, didn't you once write an article for the Islamist magazine, Trends (edited by Inayat Bunglawala of the MCB) which imagined an Islamic Republic of Great Britain? Your Wikipedia page used to say that you studied the Holocaust - why the obsession with Jews? And why not join a mainstream movement like the Labour or Conservative Party, and use your undoubtable skills to help move change from within - rather than without?" Show less »
Salma Yacoob answer: "The article is a skit and a parody!! It was aimed at students, and was supposed to be a humorous take, which I think it pretty self- evident for anybody who reads it. I studied the Holocaust because..." Show more»" The article is a skit and a parody!! It was aimed at students, and was supposed to be a humorous take, which I think it pretty self- evident for anybody who reads it. I studied the Holocaust because I wanted to try and understand how an attempt to exterminate an entire race of people could happen right here in the heart of Western European civilization. I was disturbed at the horrors millions of Jews were subjected to. The fact that ‘ordinary’ people supported and participated in these horrors – and millions of others stood by in silence – raised many questions for me : spiritual and political. In my personal journey I am committed to ensuring that I would never stay silent in the oppression of others – regardless of the victims or perpetrators. I did not join a mainstream party because I saw no real differences on policy between any of them. All three supported the invasion of Iraq (granted the Lib Dems were reluctant bombers), all three support the occupation of Afghanistan, and all three are committed to increasing privatisation. Every time I attend councillors meetings in Birmingham where the city council is run by a Lib Dem/Tory coalition and Labour are in opposition, I am reminded how on real issues there is not a fig leaf of difference between them. If I had joined them, I would not have been given the space or platform to advocate the views that I currently have outside the mainstream. "Show less«
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0 comment | Topic: Politics | Email to friends | Sep 23 2007 11:34:47 AM