Telegraph editorial 2/2/07

A Telegraph editorial takes issue with West Midlands Police's decision to distribute leaflets to the communities affected by the raids.

The Telegraph says that the fact Muslims need things explained to them represents a 'gap between the Muslim community and the rest of the population.' They are, effectively devoid of understanding and unable to comprehend that they should just ignore the 700 officers, blocked roads, and sealed premises that have appeared in their area.

This being the Telegraph the editorial manages to link this to "doctrine of multiculturalism". It asks why do "the black or Chinese communities" not get similar leaflets. Hmm... but why use the example of black and Chinese communities and not Sikhs and Hindus? Could it have something to with the fact that the police leaflet is in 4 Indian subcontinent languages? The leaflet is in English, Urdu, Hindi, and Bengali. It is not for Muslims. Otherwise it would have been in English, Urdu, Arabic, Farsi, and Somali.

The Telegraph knows the leaflet is not for Muslims but for the general public in the affected areas. However, it is trying desperately to stereotype the Muslim community as being, among other things, beneficieries of "special treatment".

The fact that the police might be trying to offset press speculation about the case doesn't cross the Telegraph op-ed writer's mind. Talk about a gap in understaning...