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I'm Being Driven Out for Calling Hamas "Islamist Murderers"
(Mail on Sunday-UK) Lord Ian Austin - Back in 1989, I started work at a housing charity in Birmingham. Later I served as Labour's housing minister. I was therefore delighted last year to be appointed to chair Midland Heart, one of the country's leading housing associations, and I have worked hard to support the organization. So I was, naturally, shocked to learn on Friday that I had been suspended and now face being driven out permanently after a campaign organized by extremists and an online mob. What was my offense? I made the mistake of calling Hamas a "death cult of Islamist murderers and rapists" in a tweet on Feb. 10. The word "Islamists," it must be noted, refers not to Muslims in general but only to violent religious extremists who espouse a warped form of Islam. The term is used by the government, universities and think tanks. I have said repeatedly that the vast majority of Muslims are just as appalled by racism and extremism as anyone else. On Wednesday, I deleted the tweet but did not apologize as I had done nothing wrong and stand by my description of Hamas. But this was not enough for the Midland Heart board, which met without me and decided my position was untenable. We have to stop this nonsense. Extremists must be faced down, not appeased. We must all stand up for our democracy and freedom of speech.