# Why did some Islamophobic journalists defend Mufti Abu Layth?

*Islamophobes defending him? Mutual interest, not friendship*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/vzrrlx3livk/s/7/
- Date: 2015-04-06 · Kind: question · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Unanswered Questions- An interview with Mufti Abu Layth (26:19–27:36)
- Status: a more recent answer exists: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/oyiipehuiha/s/23/; general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZRrlX3lIVk&t=1579s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/vzrrlx3livk/

**Topics:** Britain; The Mufti and the channel

**Question as asked:** It appears some Islamophobes have even come out to defend you publicly. How do you respond to that?

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** Mufti Abu Layth says it was mutual interest, not support: those concerned with the school highlighted his criticism of the counter-terrorism officers. Being shared by someone does not make them a friend, and most of them would disagree with most of what he says.

## Longer summary

Asked how he responds to some Islamophobes apparently coming out to defend him publicly, Mufti Abu Layth says many people have criticised him too, and that someone saying something does not make them his friend; people see their own interests. Since he spoke out against the local counter-terrorism inspector for sharing sensitive data about him with the school, some who had an interest in whatever concerns that school saw a mutual interest and highlighted or shared the story, and he does not think it went beyond that. Speculating further lends the argument no validity, and he does not agree that he has many Islamophobes protecting him; if they shared an article out of mutual interest, that is up to them, and many of them would disagree with most of what he says.

## Transcript (machine tier, 26:19–27:36)

[25:43] was really um that angle I I know some people had asked that question so I mean it's good to just clarify that that I'm not kind of trying to sensationalize the hype on something I was more just questioning the sincerity of the local counterterrorism and uh some inspectors especially that were were involved right okay this it's an interesting question because I think um some people have asked that uh that some journalists who may be islamophobic or not you know they've come out and they've said certain things I don't

[26:21] think you see to be fair many people have criticized me as well I don't think if somebody comes out and say something that they happen to be your best friend or they happen to it doesn't people see their own interests I obviously spoke out against the local counterterrorism uh especially their inspector for sharing uh what was sensitive data about me to the local school now some people saw a mutual interest that they had an interest in whatever concerns that school therefore they may have highlighted the story and shared that I don't think it it was anything really

[27:00] beyond that and to I mean to speculate I mean one can speculate but it doesn't really uh lend any validity to the argument so I don't I don't agree with the fact that I don't have many islamophobes coming out to protect me or to to say anything about me or to if they shared an article because of a mutual interest and that's up to them there's many people who would disagree with perhaps the majority of what I have to say so but I think it's a good question since it's since it had been raised the Isis the threat of Isis and

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment VZRrlX3lIVk/s/7. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/vzrrlx3livk/s/7/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.