Olympic medallist Louis Smith banned for 'mocking Islam'

[WalrusGumboot]

m.bbc.co.uk/sport/gymnastics/37832754

I find this extremely worrying. I hope the ban is overturned. Freedom of speech should be defended and I think it's shameful that British Gymnastics are not being more supportive of Louis.

Also, Muslims may be a minority in the UK, but, globally, they are not. Jews are the least widely represented of the five major religions by far. The population of Muslims worldwide is almost on-par with Christians.

It's no more unreasonable to mock Islam than to mock Scientology, for example.

Mary and Pluto for your clear-eyed sense.

Thank goodness not everyone is blinded by ignorance and muted by band-wagon politics.

The reformation of Islam will never happen. It would have to start inside in the knowledge that support and safety would be provided outside.

Not allowing any critical discourse tacitly says that there is nothing to criticise and anyone who does so is wrong. That dangerous stance in turn sends the message, ultimately, that apostasy is acceptable even in a civilised society.

Let's stop colluding in this silly victimhood and treat all religions as robust institutions with adult followers strong enough to engage in or ignore perceived criticism.

'Let's stop colluding in this silly victimhood and treat all religions as robust institutions with adult followers strong enough to engage in or ignore perceived criticism.'

Well Said!

But they won't. It's a teenage religion in comparison to Christianity. They are where Christianity was here in medieval times - you could be tortured, executed etc for denying whatever the ruler of the day decided was 'correct'.

It's not ready to grow. Too many fundamentalists enjoying their control just now.

Absolutely right. What was the Christian reformation? I hear a lot about it on these threads.

Tbh I think it's ridiculous. Why should people not be allowed to mock religion?

Because some will cause death threats and there are people batshit enough to carry it out and hose batshit enough to condone it. Like the shopkeeper in Glasgow.

I can't comment without seeing/hearing what he actually did. Is it available anywhere?

Because some will cause death threats and there are people batshit enough to carry it out

To me, this sounds like 'give in to the bullies because they're big and scary. Submit.'

Bertrand www.thesun.co.uk/video/news/olympic-medallist-louis-smith-shouting-allahu-akbar-and-mocking-islam/

Yep. I'd ban him. That was't mocking religion he was laughing at- it was racism. Yuck. What an absolute arsehole.

So religion and religious practises can't be laughed at

In Muslim states the religion can't be mocked but how people interpret religion is. you know those Muslims do have a sense of humour and are able to laugh at themselves

We thankfully have freedoms that many in Muslim states can only dream of this has to be protected

so would it only offend non white muslims

Dd who is off sick thinks that Louis Smith should be banned from drinking alcohol for a year rather than being banned from gymnastics for two weeks. I am not sure that BG has anyway of enforcing a ban on drinking.

I showed her the video and she thinks the behaviour of the two men is disgusting. It's not free speech, it's a pair of badly behaved drunks.

Oops I meant the ban on gymnastics was 2 months. It's still lienent.

Surely something has to be funny before a sense of humour comes into play?

It's a joke between themselves that someone posted online

He was not on stage performing to a crowd

humour is subjective

How on earth is saying 'allahu akbar' racist?

it was probably funny if you were drunk

And what people should really be concerned about isn't a silly joke between two young drunk men mocking religion but that he has received death threats and this we do now have to take seriously

Threatened with death and violence over mocking religion

That is the real crime is all this

J M Barrie played cricket for a team called the Allahakbarries. I suspect Peter Pan would be boycotted these days.

Louis Smith represents British Gymnastics and has a duty to follow their code of conduct. British Gymnastics is a charity that promotes gymnastics across the uk. They are there to support those starting out in recreational gymnastics as much as the top Olympians.

How do you think it Louis' behaviour might impact on a Muslim family's decision to let their four year old join a pre school class? It's hard enough to persuade Muslims to let their children (particularly daughters) try gymnastics without stupid behaviour from top gymnasts.

Maybe the two men should not film themselves bring drunk in public.

There is no excuse for death threats.

"How do you think it Louis' behaviour might impact on a Muslim family's decision to let their four year old join a pre school class? "

I can't really see how it would enter into the thought process.

It's like asking why Muslim parents would allow their child to play football because a particular footballer is a tosser.

"It's hard enough to persuade Muslims to let their children (particularly daughters) try gymnastics without stupid behaviour from top gymnasts."

Well how about working on persuading them that wearing appropriate clothing for a sport doesn't make a woman a slut. www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/17/fans-support-muslim-gymnast_n_7605824.html Some Muslims believe women should be banned from gymnastics. Might be better worrying about that than being an apologist by fixating on some drunken dickhead.

A question asked at PMQs mentioning discomfort at the death threats to Louis Smith .. tumbleweed moment in the House.