George Galloway. PHOTO: EXPRESS
“Stop invading Muslims lands! How can you expect Muslims to love you when you are forcefully occupying their lands and murdering their people?”
This one statement was enough to prove why scores of people had gathered at Beach Luxury Hotel to hear the closing speech of the chief guest of the fourth Karachi Literature Festival, MP George Galloway Sunday.
He spoke from the heart with such passion that many were wiping tears from their eyes - even those who had stood at the far corners of the ground for lack of space to sit.
Renowned British author, politician and journalist, Galloway’s speech focused on the War on Terror.
He made his disdain for Obama’s government obvious by quoting his foolish statement that the boys suddenly surrounding his daughters are like drones - in that you ‘don’t see them coming’.
“Well, yes you don’t see them coming, President until your wife is sitting without her head and your children are in pieces,” stated a clearly emotional Galloway.
The MP made it clear that drones are not the way to counter terrorism. “They only feed the swamp of hatred which is what 9/11 was — pure hatred for a country that has meted out injustice to Muslims.”
To end this hatred, the rulers of the world must do the opposite of what they are doing at present. And so he listed three points.
The first one, he stated, was addressed in part to a major soft drink company.
“Stop supporting the crimes of Israel against the Palestinians.”
Palestinians have no country, no papers; they are marginalized and oppressed. The Western support of Israel has undoubtedly led hatred to grow among Muslims. “The double standards and hypocrisy of the West,” he spat.
Iran is being openly threatened with war when it doesn’t have any nuclear weapons while Israel possesses loads of them and goes unpunished - how is that for double standards? As long as Western countries are giving Israel money for weapons, inventing one law for Israel and another for others, how can you expect Muslims to look with equanimity towards a crime of such importance in such a place?
“Support the victims of terrorism rather than the perpetrators of terrorism,” said the MP to huge applause.
Coming to his second point, Galloway stated that the West must stop invading and occupying Muslim countries.
“How can you expect Muslims to love you when you are occupying Muslim countries in the name of democracy? Occupation of Muslim lands can only feed the fanatics and fill this swamp of hatred. This has to stop.”
Finally, he stated that the West must stop propping up the dictators who rule the Muslim worlds.
“Muslims are not stupid - they know that you arm them, finance them and support them. You give them political and diplomatic support in order to stay in power. We help the tyrants stay in power - the people know this.”
The crowd was won over - nothing else needed to be said.
Galloway stated that although he has visited Karachi after 25 years - mainly due to political reasons - he would want his next visit to be much sooner.
“Believe me, I could stay here for the rest of my life - if you promise to gather every day to listen to me - believe me I would never leave,” said the MP, to a crowd that was now a fan for life.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2013.
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@Arindom: casual googling doesnt a investigation make mr Arindom. George Galloway has been an outspoken critic of dictators and israel before I was even born! You havent got a clue what your babbling about.......
@Arindom: Home to the one of the Pakistani community in England London is not part of Bradford and Muslims lives every where in UK not only Bradford.
I was fortunate to hear George Galloway's fiery and inspiring spoken from the heart no holes barred speech, at the closing session of the Karachi Literary Festival. He thinks and speaks like one of us. He has the courage and greatness to speak with his peers in the British Parliament and on the media, in the same way as he did with us. Once You-Tube is back, skeptics will be able to see for themselves that he speaks the same way in his own country.
What utter drivel this article is. George Galloway, the man who's anti-dictatorships - yes, the same man who supported Saddam Hussein, worshipped the Assad family and Fidel Castro, and said the worst day in his life was when the totalitarian regime in the Soviet Union fell.
His whole life has been defined by being anti-democratic, anti-capitalist and anti-west (particularly the USA). His crocodile tears for Muslims are just a means to that end.
Have been a big admirer for many years now...........hearing him live was a treat. The world could do with a few more George Galloways.
He is the only person in England who speaks about the atrocities happening in Muslim Countries.
@Kolsat-George Galloway is not English-he is of Irish/Scottish antecedents-both countries who have suffered at the hands of the English
Altaf Hussain in UK.
@LalaLand: Thanks for correcting me and I admit that maybe I didn't research about it. But fact remains the fact, no one from outside can change our condition, if we do nothing ourselves.
He may be a supporter of Palestine cause or against drones but when Sunnies and Shia's Muslims are fighting throughout the world, then it isn't his problem.
In the end, it is about doing something ourselves, which we don't and ultimately we become happy when someone from the outside just bashes their government in a speech. His speeches won't make Israel or USA stop!
First we as Muslims should stop fighting and then we can move forward :)
Peace out!
@Gul Hassan
Galloway is after all a Westerner. If he had been as outspoken as he is, being a Pakistani, he would have ended up like Salman Taseer, making the murderer a hero and the victim the villian. This is the sad truth of many societies, including ours.
Loved listening brave voice of George Galloway, what a brilliant speaker, no doubt he wins against Tories and Labour Party, the power of argument and understanding is his strength, his criticism of West's policies causing and serving as breeding ground for extremism is so true.
Today he is the only impartial, unbiased, and compassionate human being. Our Salams to him.
Soft drink company? Surely he cant mean Pay Every Penny to Save Israel?!
@Arindom: Is truth brainwashing?
@Pakistani and @Vikas: Have you ever heard any of his speeches before? He speaks the same way in the UK too, and he's absolutely not a people pleaser because he's been saying the same stuff since years now. Please chk your facts before posting stuff.
George Galloway has been doing many interviews with the CNN and he is one of those politicians whom TV channels try to avoid because of his to the point speeches and bashing of west's illegal interests.
@Pakistani-Mr.Galloway has been outstandingly vocal across the world for many years in the cause of Palestine and Kashmir-do a little research before you comment
@Pakistani: Well Mr Pakistani ....he does the same in UK too....he is very open about it and is very famous for his BASHINGS he does in the British Parliament! :)
The people in the West are no angels, but neither are people in the Muslim countries. One cannot blame the West, all the time. It is up to the oppressed to stand-up, stand on their two feet, become respectable members of the international community, wake-up my friends.
@Pakistani: He does talk similarly in UK. That's all he has been doing for the past 30+ years ever since he started supporting the Palestinian cause.
Dear Pakistani and Kolsat,
I advise you to keep a track of the history before making a statement. Mr. George Galloway was expelled from Labour party for not supporting the war on terror. If you get a chance, do go through some of his speeches and one to one interviews on BBC and CNN and I think your opinion about him may change.
@Pakistani: He does speak about this in the UK. A lot. All it takes to find this out is a simple google search. Educate yourself before you spread hate.
Shame on us when British is condemning extrajudicial killings and we think drones are killing extremists.
@British Pakistani: It's hate that blinds people and blurs the facts. So do not blame Arindom, he cannot see straight and couldn't fathom why a British MP would so strongly support causes that endears him to the weak and the disenfranchised. Arindom failed to see that Mr. Galloway has represented his Bradford constituency for less than a year. And, George Galloway spoke infinitely stronger in the U.S. Senate hearings thirteen years ago when he did not represent this Pakistani constituency. Listen to George Galloway here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnflzhtDkJM
@Pakistani: he does talk like that in UK as well infact much more aggressive.... he is very outspoken against the Govt, if you had listened to his speech in the US senate you wouldnt be posting this :D
Way to go ! Atleast somebody speaks the truth
@Arindom: Sheer ignorance!
Galloway has always been a sane and emphatic voice of Muslims in the west and the middle east. I wish I was there at the closing ceremony at least.
@ Arindom, "Bradford West – home to the Pakistani Muslim Community in London".
Maybe you can't read, but Bradford is in West Yorkshire.
How didnt you know that? Many people that read ET are self righteous, sanctimonious hypocrites, you preach about education, yet think bradford west is a part of london... lol
Hes been VERY left wing for a long long time. Nobody has brainwashed him.
He sounds good when he's allowed to ramble on his own. But most debates I've seen him participate in usually end up with him stuttering or making desperate attempts to shift topics.
@Pakistani: You are correct. My advice is not to trust these Englishmen. It was they who caused the division of our sub-continent. In the owrds of American Indians these people speak with a forked tongue. Now they want to plant seeds of enmity in our minds so that we will stay marooned in conflict and thus stay poor and get goods from Europe. Keep away from these Englishmen and do not listen to them.
We need to blame ourselves not the west
By chance did he mention current events in Syria where nearly 70,000 or so have been killed (and tens of thousands maimed and driven from their homes) over the past two years, or does "Muslims killing Muslims" always get a pass from all attending?
George Galloway is an unprincipled rabble rousing bigot pandering to his audience. This is what he had to say about the 99 Musharraf Coup: "In poor third world countries like Pakistan, politics is too important to be left to petty squabbling politicians. Pakistan is always on the brink of breaking apart into its widely disparate components. Only the armed forces can really be counted on to hold such a country together... Democracy is a means, not an end in itself and it has a bad name on the streets of Karachi and Lahore."
Do you still think he is so great? Really, think about it!
Playing to the audience.
How can you expect Muslims to love you when you are occupying Muslim countries in the name of democracy? Occupation of Muslim lands can only feed the fanatics and fill this swamp of hatred. This has to stop. - Well said!
Maybe we should elect him to be our next PM.
Isn't it this Mr Galloway who was eating out of Sadam Hussain's hand. Can someone explain the contribution of half a million british pounds towards his election campaign from the Iraqi authorities?.
Legend!!!
Preaching to the choir is always easy and any nonsense sermon will always get an AMEN!
The speaker did not understand the drone jokes by Obama or it is misquoted to an ill-informed and emotionally charged audience to serve his purpose.
The best way to support the victims of terrorism is to eliminate the terrorists.
Finally, he stated that the West must stop propping up the dictators who rule the Muslim worlds.
See what he had to saw to Saddam Hussein when he visited Iraq:: "Sir, I salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability." ...Yeah - tell that to the Marsh Arabs who were gassed by Saddam...and scores others...including the Kuwaitis!!
Great!!
Casual Googling revealed that he is MP for Bradford West - home to the Pakistani Muslim Community in London. Aha!....no wonder he's brainwashed too....!!
What a great speaker.
From the heart. This is what is reality but the so called peace loving but actually war loving and barbaric people rather animals who want to feed their internal desire of ruling the weak (Muslims) by dividing them and taking them down one by one for the sake of their satanic policies. Come on Muslims, come on non-Muslims, support peace, hate injustice which results in terror and war, poverty and anarchy. Be moderate, work mutually, prosper continuously, live calmly, satisfactorily and lovingly
I appreciate it Sir but if you are a politician, why don't you then talk similarly in UK? I am sorry to say but this looks like a stunt to win over the crowd. If you or anyone really feel for the victims, they would have done something more than just the words!
Condemning an incident doesn't change anything, actions however do!
Same message goes to the Government of Pakistan who has failed completely in stopping killings throughout the country...I feel for my brothers and sisters.
Pakistan zindabad :)
The only sane person at that elitist event.