Category Archives: Resisting Islamophobia

Livingstone decries vilification of Islam

Posted on by Bob Pitt

MayorMuslims are being singled out for demonisation on a par with the victimisation of Jews during the last century, the mayor of London claimed today.

Unveiling new research indicating that 75% of those polled in the capital support the right of Muslims, and those of other faiths, to dress “in accordance with their religious beliefs”, Ken Livingstone criticised the “barrage” of attacks as an assault on freedom of religious and cultural expression.

His comments coincide with the launch tonight of a high-powered coalition, involving MPs, Muslim groups, trade unions and the campaign group Liberty, to confront Islamophobia. The new coalition is supported by figures from the three major parties, Sikhs, black-led organisations and human rights groups.

Many leading figures are concerned about issues such as Jack Straw’s observations on Muslim women who wear the veil and criticisms from ministers who say Islamic communities should do more to root out extremists.

Mr Livingstone said: “Over recent weeks we have seen a demonisation of Muslims only comparable to the demonisation of Jews from the end of the 19th century. As at that time, the attack on Muslims in reality threatens freedoms for all of us, which took hundreds of years to win – freedom of conscience and freedom of cultural expression. Every person who values their right to follow the religion of their choice or none should stand with the Muslim communities today.”

He linked the criticism of Muslims with the adverse scrutiny accorded to government policy overseas. “I cannot believe it is a coincidence that this entire artificial pseudo-debate has been stirred up at a time when the credibility of the entire war and occupation of Iraq is collapsing before our eyes. Muslims and all of us have a right to call for a different policy within the democratic process.”

Guardian, 20 November 2006

See also “Rally calls for religious freedom”, BBC News, 20 November 2006

Londoners back freedom of conscience and religion

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A new Greater London Authority (GLA) poll showed on yesterday that 75 per cent of Londoners back the right to dress in line with religious beliefs.

The poll, which was undertaken by MORI on behalf of the GLA, found that 82 per cent of Londoners also believe that everybody in London should be free to live their lives how they like as long as they don’t stop other people doing the same, with 13 per cent disagreeing. It also showed extremely strong disagreement with the government being allowed to tell people how to lead their lives, with only 15 per cent agreeing and 76 per cent disagreeing.

The figures coincide with a public meeting tonight, organised by Liberty and the British Muslim Initiative, at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, in support of freedom of conscience, religion and thought. The meeting will include speakers from across the political spectrum and individuals representing different faiths and none.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone said that the figures are consistent with previous polls and confirm that Londoners strongly support living in a city as diverse as London. “London is applying the principle that people should be able to live their lives as they choose, including the way they practise their religion, as long as it does not prevent others doing the same,” he said. “Such a strong support of liberal values is a core foundation of good community relations.”

Morning Star, 20 November 2006

Surge in anti-Muslim racism in London schools

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Racist incidents in London schools have increased by 26 per cent in just one year. Attacks on Muslim children have increased since the 7/7 bombings and the debate about the wearing of the veil has prompted further incidents. The figures include verbal and written insults, physical attacks and spreading racist material over the internet.

Professor Heidi Mirza, an expert in equality studies at the Institute of Education, University of London, said: “Islamophobia is a huge problem since the July bombings with Muslim children becoming the focus of abuse and Jack Straw’s comments about women wearing a veil, which is just guarded racism, has led to Muslim girls being taunted in the playground.”

Evening Standard, 20 November 2006

Beyond The Veil

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“Who would have thought such a fracas could erupt over a bit of cloth, no bigger than 20 square centimeters, that a tiny number of Western Muslim women use to cover their faces? To be sure, this wasn’t the first time that Muslim women’s dress had caused a crisis, and it won’t be the last. But why does the veil strike such a chord, fueling suspicions that Muslims are an indigestible minority, at odds with the European way of life, and a security threat as well?”

Fareena Alam writes in Newsweek, 27 November 2006

End attacks on Muslims – London rally on Monday

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Defend Freedom of Religion rallyNational Rally to defend freedom of religion, conscience and thought
Date:  20th November 2006
Venue:  Methodist Central Hall Westminster, London SW1
Time:  6.00pm to 9.30pm

Freedom of religion is one of our most precious democratic rights. It took hundreds of years, including international and civil wars, to establish the right of every individual to freely pursue their religious beliefs subject only to their conscience and to the necessary and proportionate protection of the rights and the freedoms of others.  It must be defended against every challenge.

Britain today faces a systematic campaign by sections of the media and some politicians, fanned by the BNP, to undermine this right by sowing hatred against Muslims. This has culminated in physical attacks, fire bombings and assaults on women. This campaign constitutes an attack on civil and religious liberties including an attempt to suppress the right of persons of all faiths to dress in accordance with their religious convictions. It must be strongly opposed – as indeed should any attack on the rights of Christians, Jews, Sikhs or any other religious group.

It is necessary for all democrats, of all faiths and none, to come together to defend these basic principles of freedom of religion and culture.

As the first step, faith groups are coming together with all political parties and communities to a central London public rally to defend freedom of thought, conscience and religion and to call for an end to the recent attacks on Muslims.

The aim is to develop a national campaign to defend freedom of religion and culture and to combat the rise of Islamophobia.

For God’s sake, stop baiting the faithful

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“The Dutch want to ban the burqa. It’s as good as a declaration of war on the 800,000 Muslims living in the Netherlands – and this is yet another conflict that Britain should not get embroiled in. Yet there are plenty of signs that this country is going Dutch. Britain’s believers have recently had to fight for the right to wear symbols of their faith, whether that be a burqa or a crucifix….

“Is it any wonder that Muslims principally, but other believers too, are getting a persecution complex? And is there any way we can prevent the inevitable backlash? Liberty and the British Muslim Initiative believe there is. Together with representatives of the main faiths, they are calling for supporters of religious tolerance to rally in Westminster Hall tomorrow night. Ken Livingstone will speak at the event, as will the director of Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti, and veteran peace campaigner Bruce Kent.

“I, too, am speaking at the rally; like the other participants, I fear the Dutch example. Like them, I believe that if instead of acting as the oppressor, the mocker and the bully, Britain would present itself as a land of tolerance where all faiths are treated with respect and all believers allowed to practise their faith, the most disenfranchised and disenchanted extremists will find themselves wishing to copy, rather than kill, Britons.”

Cristina Odone in the Observer, 19 November 2006

College activists fear race reaction

Posted on by Bob Pitt

College activists fear race reaction

By Louise Nousratpour

Morning Star, 18 November 2006

EDUCATION campaigners warned of a potentially “racist and Islamophobic” backlash against new government guidelines on how to combat extremism on university and college campuses yesterday.

The Department for Education is to release guidance advising universities and colleges on how to respond if staff suspect that “extremist” literature is being circulated on campus or if they are worried about radical speakers visiting their institutions.

Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell insisted that Muslims were not being singled out, in the same breath as he declared that the threat from Islamic radicals must be faced head-on. “Violent extremism in the name of Islam is a real, credible and sustained threat to the UK,” he claimed. “There is evidence of serious, but not widespread, Islamist extremist activity in higher education institutions.”

Trade unions and student groups said that, while the guidance is an “improvement” on previous leaked drafts, it does not solve all the problems and falls short of suggesting practical steps to build cohesive relations on campus.

University and College Union (UCU) joint general secretary Paul Mackney stressed that universities and colleges must combine the guidance with a “robust strategy for defeating racism and Islamophobia.” He warned: “Radicalism must not be conflated with terrorism. Institutions must maintain a moderating environment where discussion flourishes, where people learn about different cultures and where ideas can be explored, challenged and debated.”

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Peoples Assembly tackles new racism aimed at Muslims

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Stop The War Coalition today convened a peoples assembly in Central London to help tackle the new racism in the United Kingdom which targets the Muslim community. The aim of the assembly is to bring people together to discuss the relationship between Islamophobia and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and to organise a campaign in response to war and racism.

Opening the assembly, the Chairman of Stop The War Coalition Andres Murray, described Islamophobia as the last resort of the warmongers to make up for their failure. “George Bush said he was getting ready for one last push. We too are ready for one last push to get the get the troops out of Iraq”. Stop The War Coalition widened its aims to opposition to the racist backlash against Muslims and the defense of civil liberties.

Mathaba.net, 18 November 2006

See also Stop the War Coalition website.

Defend religious freedom

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Freedom of thought, conscience and religion is one of our most precious democratic rights (Report, November 14). It took hundreds of years, including civil wars, to establish the right of every individual to freely pursue their beliefs, subject only to to the necessary and proportionate protection of the rights and the freedoms of others. It must be defended against every challenge.

Britain today faces a systematic campaign by sections of the media and some politicians, fanned by the extreme right, to undermine this right by sowing hatred against Muslims. This has culminated in attacks, fire bombings and assaults on women. This campaign constitutes an attack on civil and religious liberties, including an attempt to suppress the right of persons of all faiths to dress in accordance with their religious convictions. It must be strongly opposed – as indeed should any attack on the rights of Christians, Jews, Sikhs or any other religious group.

All democrats, of all faiths and none, should come together to defend these basic principles of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and culture, and join the rally in Westminster on November 20.

Ken Livingstone, Jon Cruddas MP (Lab), Andrew Stunnel MP (Lib Dem), Dr Abdul Bari MCB, Shami Chakrabati Liberty, Anas Altikriti British Muslim Initiative, Jeremy Dear NUJ , Dr Edie Friedman Jewish Council for Racial Equality, and three others

Letter in the Guardian, 18 November 2006

UCU: radicalism must not be confused with terrorism

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Paul MackneyThe University and College Union (UCU) has said campus relations must improve if the government is to successfully combat the spread of extremism at universities.

Speaking as the government publishes advice to lecturers on tackling radicalism, UCU joint general secretary Paul Mackney said universities and colleges needed “a robust strategy for defeating racism and Islamophobia”.

“But radicalism must not be conflated with terrorism,” he added. “Institutions must maintain a moderating environment where discussion flourishes, where people learn about different cultures and where ideas can be explored, challenged and debated.”

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