We Asked an Expert How Islamists Could Actually Take Over the UK

Earlier this week, Fox News told the world that, in the UK, there are "actual cities like Birmingham that are totally Muslim where non-Muslims just simply don't go in". Because that wasn't enough new information, "terrorism expert" Steve Emerson went on to describe all those real places in London where "there are actually Muslim religious police that actually beat and actually wound seriously anyone who doesn't dress according to Muslim – religious Muslim – attire".

Emerson has since apologised for his "terrible error", but his admission of ignorance, while totally necessary, is only one small battle won in the war against stupid people getting things wrong about Islam. Because while Steve might have realised the error of his ways, there are still lots – as in, a really depressing amount – of far-right British idiots who actually believe the UK is on its way to becoming a Sharia state.

Fully grown men and women – the same people who crash book groups with their EDL mates because they think Russell Brand will be there – are genuinely worried that Britain will become a Muslim majority. And once that happens they believe that Britain will end up looking a bit like Kobane does now.

This seems quite unlikely, but to put the matter to rest once and for all, I got in touch with an expert – Dr Chris Allen, Programme Director for Policy, Politics and Economics at the University of Birmingham and author of the book Islamophobia – and asked him some questions.

The Q&A is here: http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/we-asked-an-expert-how-islamists-could-actually-take-over-the-uk-998

My favourite one: