Alan C. Clifford Exposed

THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL WAS INCLUDED IN THE STATEMENT SENT TO THE NORWICH EVENING NEWS

However unpalatable or non-pc the truth is to many people today, we need to know the facts about Islam.
While the racism of the BNP is abhorrent, Nick Griffin's recent Newsnight remarks regarding Islam are correct: "We have a monster in our midst."
Here is some documentary proof for this alarming statement.
The only antidote to this evil religion is the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ.
May God graciously restore its presence and influence in our country!

Selected and introduced by Dr Alan C. Clifford, Pastor, Norwich Reformed Church (www.geocities.com/nrchurch)
Extracts are taken from The Koran, tr. N. J. Dawood ( Penguin Classics, 4th revised edition, 1974; reprinted 1986).
Of The Koran Interpreted (Oxford World Classics paperback, 1998), the English translator, A. J. Arberry states candidly: 'I have called my version an interpretation' (p. xii). However, in his introduction, Baghdad-born N. J. Dawood states that he was careful to avoid 'turning the text into an interpretation rather than a translation' (p. 11).

WARNING
The IPCI edition of the Quran (Islamic Vision, Birmingham, England, 1999) is not a reliable translation.
An Arabic specialist (whose name is withheld for security reasons) states that this translation is calculated to deceive. It presents a soft version of Islam for western readers.
There are numerous examples of defective translation. Also the extensive notes often contradict the Quranic text.

Those who wish to assert that Islam is a tolerant religion, committed to peaceful methods of propagation, should reflect carefully on the following quotations.
Unlike their less hostile brethren, it is obvious that militant Muslims are more consistent with their 'holy book'.
While the justly-condemned violence and persecuting activities of so-called Christians - past and present - are emphatically condemned by the Bible (see Matthew 5: 43-5; 26: 52; Romans 13: 10; 2 Corinthians 10: 4-5; Ephesians 6: 12), the Qur'an positively teaches the use of force.
The highly contrasting depictions of the character of God in the Bible and the Qur'an and their consequent impact on personal behaviour are too obvious to miss.
It is indeed chilling to note N. J. Dawood's reminder that, apart from the opening verses and a few passages in the Qur'an, 'the speaker throughout is God' (p. 9):

'Fight for the sake of Allah those that fight against you, but do not attack them first. Allah does not love the aggressors. Kill them wherever you find them...if they attack you put them to the sword...Fight against them until idolatry is no more and Allah's religion reigns supreme...If any one attacks you, attack him as he attacked you' (Sura 2: 190-4).

'Those that deny Our revelations We will burn in Hellfire...As for those that have faith and do good works, We shall admit them to gardens watered by running streams, where, wedded to chaste virgins, they shall abide for ever...the believers who do good works, whether men or women, shall enter the gardens of Paradise' (Sura 4: 55-7, 124).

'The true believers fight for the cause of Allah, but the infidels fight for idols. Fight then against the friends of Satan' (Sura 4: 76).

Allah has given those that fight with their goods and their persons a higher rank than those who stay at home. He has promised all a good reward; but far richer is the recompense of those who fight for Him...' (Sura 4: 96).

'Unbelievers are those who declare: 'Allah is the Messiah, the Son of Mary'' (Sura 5: 17).

'When the sacred months are over, slay the idolaters wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them, and lie in ambush everywhere for them...' (Sura 9: 5).

Pastor renews attack on Islam

Norwich Evening News 24

01 September 2004 13:14

A CONTROVERSIAL Norwich pastor has used the third anniversary of the World Trade Centre bombings to renew his attack on the "evil" of Islam.

Rev Alan Clifford hit the headlines last month when he said he agreed with comments made by British National Party leader Nick Griffin that Islam was an evil religion.

And Dr Clifford, who leads Norwich Reformed Church in Eaton, today stuck his head above the parapet once again — and was promptly told to "shut up" by Norwich North MP Ian Gibson.

This week Dr Clifford re-issued a document entitled Path to Paradise: Christ or Muhammad, which he penned in response to the September 11 bombings.

In his treatise, Dr Clifford said it was clear the words of the Qu'ran had inspired the bombers to attack New York — believing it would win them a place in heaven.

The 62-year-old said: "As the third anniversary of September 11 approaches, I re-issue my Path to Paradise: Christ or Muhammad? as an epilogue to our recent Islam debate.

"We dare not lose sight of the fact that our controversy with Islam is not only about free speech, civilised values and democracy.

"Since authentic Christianity gave birth to these things, their survival cannot be guaranteed with it.

"Thus the chief crisis we face is the widespread collapse of Christian conviction in the West."

He said the decay of civilisation as a result of that meant there was "no defence against militant Islam."

He added: "The only antidote to this evil religion and its barbaric ethos is the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ."

But city MP Dr Gibson gave Dr Clifford's latest comments short shrift, and said he should not try to use the anniversary of September 11 for his own purposes.

He said: "I think it is time for him to shut up. He wants to be much more measured and civil in his assessment of Islam and ensure he does not make inflammatory statements which can worsen the tension which exists."

Sohale Rahman, a Muslim who is involved with the West Norfolk and Fenland Muslims and is chairman of campaign group Minority Matters, said Dr Clifford's reading of the Qu'ran was extremely selective and his comments were motivated by his own agenda.

He said: "Muslim is the fastest growing religion in England and the fastest growing among women and it seems to me all he is trying to do is prevent anybody else from becoming Muslim.

"He is not worth getting into a slanging match with, because he would not be interested in having a reasoned debate.

"There are lots more very important people in very respectable positions working in a different way to him who we would rather talk to.

"To some extent it is good what he says, because he has drawn a dividing line with him on one side with Nick Griffin, while our side is us and people like Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

"But the other side of the coin is that people like him are trying to create social disharmony.

"What we do with Minority Matters is to celebrate diversity and understand differences."

Anne Matin, director of the Norfolk and Norwich Racial Equality Council, criticised Dr Clifford's original remarks.

A spokeswoman for the NNREC today said she was shocked at the amount of anti-Islamic e-mails the council had received since Mrs Matin made her stand against Dr Clifford's views.

In telling me to 'shut up', is Dr Gibson only interested in free speech when opinions conform to his own prejudices? His unfortunate and irrational response barely disguises his probable complicity in the Lefts's love affair with the Muslim Association of Britain. If so, as Anthony Browne stated in The Times (August 11), the 'frightening agenda' of this 'sinister brotherhood' needs to be exposed.

Mr Sohale Rahman's misrepresentation of me must be corrected. Being opposed equally to the extremes of the Left and the Right, I have no association whatever with Nick Griffin and the BNP.

Consistent with my love and concern for all humanity, I continue to oppose Islam. The only antidote to this evil religion and its barbaric ethos is the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Police investigate preacher's criticism of Islam

Norwich Evening News 24

August 6, 2004

POLICE today launched an investigation into comments by a Norwich religious leader branding Islam "an evil religion".

The Rev Dr Alan Clifford, pastor of Norwich Reformed Church, yesterday told the Evening News he backed the views of BNP leader Nick Griffin, who was shown in a TV documentary telling party members Islam was a "vicious, wicked faith."

His comments sparked outrage among fellow religious leaders and anti-racist groups.

The Evening News was today contacted by the Race Crime Unit of Norfolk police to provide further information about Dr Clifford's comments, after saying they were concerned his remarks could damage "community cohesiveness".

Abraham Eshetu, diversity officer at Norfolk police, said: "We will be investigating the comments made by Mr Clifford."

Church leader criticized for criticizing Islam

Norwich Evening News 24

Rev Alan Clifford, pastor of the Norwich Reformed Church, waded into the controversy surrounding anti-Muslim remarks made by the British National Party in an undercover BBC documentary....

While trying to distance himself from the BNP, who he describes as "abhorrent", the Norwich evangelical pastor echoed its leader's views on Islam in a letter to the Evening News.

He stated: "However unpalatable or non-PC the truth is to many people today, we need to know the facts about Islam.

"While the racism of the BNP is abhorrent, Nick Griffin's recent Newsnight remarks regarding Islam are correct, when he said it was "a monster in our midst".

"The only antidote to this evil religion is the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Dr Clifford today told the Evening News he stood by his decision to align his own views about the spread of Islam with those of the BNP.

"I'm quite clear to disassociate myself from the racism of the BNP. However, not every group wrong about one thing is wrong about everything," he said.

"The views about Islam made by Nick Griffin gained widespread publicity and I happen to believe what he said in this case was correct.

"Anyone who knows anything about the history of Islam knows it has devastated large parts of the world through the force of violence and the power of the sword."

Dr Clifford said Muslim leaders in Britain needed to do more to disassociate themselves from terrorism and parts of the Koran that could be used to incite violence.

"The more moderate followers of Islam need to be challenged that if they do settle in the West they need to do more to discard elements of the Koran that espouse violence. Terrorists are able to use parts of the Koran to justify their violence," he said.

Anne Matin, director of Norwich and Norfolk Racial Equality Council, condemned Dr Clifford's remarks.

She said: "Is he supposed to be a Christian? What he is saying is incitement to racial hatred and it will have a significant effect on ethnic minorities because they are more likely to be followers of Islam."

Eamonn Burgess, a former city councillor and member of the Anti Nazi League (ANL), who have opposed campaigning by the BNP in Norfolk, said the pastor was misguided....

"Like Islam, the organised spread of the Christian faith was also carried out by brute force. Let the religion who has not sinned cast the first stone."