Subtle but interesting

The BBC report that:

"The names of some of the people barred from entering the UK for fostering extremism or hatred have been published for the first time.

Islamic extremists, white supremacists and a US radio host are among the 16 of 22 excluded in the five months to March to have been named by the Home Office. "

All very interesting and the BBC do print the 16 names that have been released:

"Abdullah Qadri Al Ahdal
Yunis Al Astal
Samir Al Quntar
Stephen Donald Black
Wadgy Abd El Hamied Mohamed Ghoneim
Erich Gliebe
Mike Guzovsky
Safwat Hijazi
Nasr Javed
Abdul Ali Musa
Fred Waldron Phelps Snr
Shirley Phelps-Roper
Artur Ryno
Amir Siddique
Pavel Skachevsky
Michael Alan Weiner"

Interesting, although the BBC's note explaining why the remaining six were not being named was also rather interesting:

"Ms Smith said "the public interest was against naming" the remaining six, for example on the grounds it could reveal the type of information being held about them."

The BBC then summarise who are excluded:

"On the list of those banned between October and March are Hamas MP Yunis Al-Astal and Jewish extremist Mike Guzovsky.

Also excluded are two leaders of a violent Russian skinhead gang, ex-Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard Stephen 'Don' Black and neo-Nazi Erich Gliebe.

Fred Waldron Phelps Snr, a 79-year-old American Baptist pastor, and his daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper are barred for their anti-gay comments.

Both have picketed the funerals of Aids victims and celebrated the deaths of US soldiers as "punishment" for US tolerance of homosexuality.

Talk show host Michael Savage - real name Michael Weiner - is also excluded. His views on immigration, Islam, rape and autism have caused great offence in America."

Interestingly the BBC name one Muslim extremist, the only Jewish "extremist" and then just the non-Islamic linked persons. Maybe the BBC were short of space in this article to explain who all of the 16 names are; in which case the detailed article would surely rectify the problem. Don't worry, this is the BBC so the detailed article is even less subtle (my comments in bracketed italics):

"ABDULLAH QADRI AL AHDAL

Preacher. Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by seeking to foment, justify or glorify terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs and fostering hatred that might lead to inter-community violence.

(A preacher of which religion and of whom does he inspire hatred?)


YUNIS AL ASTAL

Preacher and Hamas MP. Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by seeking to foment, justify or glorify terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs and to provoke others to terrorist acts.

(A preacher of which religion and against whom does he seek to foment terrorist violence?)



STEPHEN DONALD BLACK

Former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard who set up racist website Stormfront. Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by promoting serious criminal activity and fostering hatred that might lead to inter-community violence in the UK.


WADGY ABD EL HAMIED MOHAMED GHONEIM

A prolific speaker and writer. Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by seeking to foment, justify or glory terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs and to provoke others to commit terrorist acts.

(Against whom does he foment terrorist violence?)


ERIC GLIEBE

Neo-Nazi. Has made web-radio broadcasts in which he vilifies certain ethnic groups and encourages the download and distribution of provocative racist leaflets and posters.

Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by justifying terrorist violence, provoking others to commit serious crime and fostering racial hatred.


MIKE GUZOVSKY

Jewish militant. Leader of a violent group and actively involved with military training camps.

Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by seeking to foment, justify or glorify terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs and to provoke others to terrorist acts.


SAFWAT HIJAZI

Television preacher. Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by glorifying terrorist violence.


(Against who does he glorify terrorist violence?)


NASR JAVED

Kashmiri militant group leader. Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by seeking to foment, justify or glorify terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs.


(Against whom does he foment terrorist violence?)



ABDUL ALI MUSA

Muslim activist, previously known as Clarence Reams. Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by fomenting and glorifying terrorist violence in furtherance of his particular beliefs and seeking to provoke others to terrorist acts.


(Against whom does he foment terrorist violence?)


FRED WALDRON PHELPS SNR & SHIRLEY PHELPS-ROPER

American pastor and leading spokesman of Westboro Baptist Church. Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by fostering hatred that might lead to inter-community violence in the UK.

The 79-year-old and his daughter are barred for their anti-gay comments. Both have picketed the funerals of Aids victims and have claimed the deaths of American soldiers are a punishment for US tolerance of homosexuality.


SAMIR AL QUNTAR

Hezbollah militant. Spent three decades in prison for killing four soldiers and a four-year-old girl.

Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by seeking to foment, justify or glorify terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs and to provoke others to terrorist acts.


(Against whom does he foment terrorist violence?)


ARTUR RYNO & RAVEL SKACHEVSKY

Leaders of a violent Russian skinhead gang that beat migrants and posted films of their attacks on the internet, and committed 20 racially motivated murders.

Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by fomenting serious criminal activity and seeking to provoke others to serious criminal acts.

Both are currently in prison.


AMIR SIDDIQUE

Preacher. Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by fomenting terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs.

(A preacher of which religion and of whom does he inspire hatred?)



MICHAEL ALAN WEINER (ALSO KNOWN AS MICHAEL SAVAGE)

Controversial daily radio talk-show host. Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by seeking to provoke others to serious criminal acts and fostering hatred which might lead to inter-community violence.

His views on immigration, Islam, rape and autism have caused great offence in the US. "

So by my estimates (and counting the two Russian skinheads as one entry not two entities and following the same path for the American preacher and his daughter) there are eight Muslim "extremists" on the list (four of whom are described as preachers) but only one is identified as a follower of Islam, there is one Jew on the list and his religion is identified in the first word of his description, the American pastor's religion is not directly named but as he is a "pastor" of a "Baptist church" that is not too tricky to deduce.

So my question to the BBC is this: why is it relevant to identify the religions of the one Jew and the one Christian (couple) on the list but in the majority of cases to leave the religion of Muslims on the list unidentified?