The UK’s Muslim Public Affairs Committee saw nothing wrong when a Reuters employee sent a death threat to Little Green Footballs in May. In fact, MPACUK invented a bizarre conspiracy plot to justify it, calling LGF (quite flatteringly, I thought) “the most powerful enemies Muslims have faced in a thousand years:” MPACUK - Masajid and ISOCs Silent As Zionists Move In On Inayat Bunglawala!

But when British blogger Inigo Wilson wrote some satirical comments critical of Islamic terrorism, MPACUK launched a successful drive to have him suspended from his job with British mobile phone company Orange: MPACUK - SUCCESS: Orange Suspends Islamophobe!

Alhamdulillah a vigorous campaign by Muslim activists on the MPACUK Forum has resulted in a high-profile success. Mobile phone company Orange has suspended its Community Affairs Manager and launched an investigation following a flood of complaints from customers outraged at comments he made about Muslims and Palestinians on a Conservative Party Members Blog.

Inigo Wilson, Community Affairs Manager at Orange, sparked the controversy with his ‘satirical’ attempt to redefine words, including:

“Islamophobic - anyone who objects to having their transport blown up on the way to work.

“Palestinians - archetype ‘victims’ no matter how many teenagers they murder in bars and fast food outlets. Never responsible for anything they do – or done in their name - because of ‘root causes’ or ‘legitimate grievances’.”

We wonder whether he would have considered it appropriate to publish such ‘humorous’ definitions of ‘racism’ or ‘Jews’? Probably not. But if the Muslim community follow the example of those active Muslims taking part in this campaign then Islamophobia will become just as socially unacceptable as other forms of prejudice.

We welcome the fact that Orange has now taken their customers’ complaints seriously enough to investigate the matter and urge them to make it clear that Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism can’t be tolerated in the company.

Mash’Allah the empowered young Muslims on the MPACUK Forum have proved that when Muslims put the effort into simple, democratic campaigning it is Islamophobes who are on the back foot.

UPDATE at 8/18/06 1:21:38 pm:

See Iain Dale’s Diary for more: Inigo Wilson Deserves Our Support.