Letters: Islamophobia is a threat to democracy

[Uthman]

We are concerned by the rise of Islamophobia, the negative coverage of Muslims in the media, the violent street mobilisations of extreme rightwing organisations like the English Defence League, and the rising electoral support for the British National party (The battle for Barking, Weekend, 13 March). Following Channel 4's recent inflammatory documentary, Britain's Islamic Republic, which saw concentrated attacks on the East London Mosque, the English Defence League marched through central London with placards including the demand "Close the East London Mosque now".

The East End of London is not new to having its communities attacked by fascists and the media. The 1930s saw the Battle of Cable Street when Oswald Mosley's blackshirts attempted to march into the Jewish community in the area. We cannot allow this terrible history to repeat itself. Further, the documentary, and articles since, have attacked the participation in politics by the Muslim community. We cannot stand by and watch this continue without remark or action.

In the runup to the general election, all parts of the population should be actively encouraged to exercise their votes. That is democracy. We welcome the work of organisations who work to this end. We call for solidarity and support for those organisations that work to encourage political participation from all sections of society, including Muslims, and condemn those who seek to undermine it.

Ken Livingstone

Bonnie Greer

Dr Abdul Bari Secretary general, Muslim Council of Britain

Brendan Barber General secretary, TUC

Sir Geoffrey Bindman QC

Dr. Edie Friedman Executive director, Jewish Council for Racial Equality

Diane Abbott MP

Neil Jameson Executive director, London Citizens

Jagtar Singh Sikh Secretariat

Tony Woodley Joint general secretary, Unite the Union

Bruce Kent

Baroness Helena Kennedy QC

Professor Eric Hobsbawm

Louise Christian Christian Khan solicitors

Billy Hayes General secretary, Communication Workers Union

Rabbi Lee Wax

Anas Altikriti Spokesperson, British Muslim Initiative

Caroline Lucas MEP

Professor Avi Shlaim

Lord Nazir Ahmed

Kate Hudson Chair, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

Andrew Stunell MP

Ismail Patel Co-ordinator, YouElect

Claude Moraes MEP

Rev. Alan Green Chair, Tower Hamlets Interfaith forum

George Galloway MP

Musleh Faradhi Central president, Islamic Forum Europe

Jean Lambert MEP

Salma Yaqoob Leader, Respect party

Jenny Jones AM

Steve Hart Regional secretary, Unite London Region

Andrew Murray Chair, Stop the War

Bell Ribeiro-Addy NUS black students officer

Sabby Dhalu Joint secretary, Unite Against Fascism

Source

[Amadeus85]

Probably islamophobia is against democracy, I dont like islamophobia anyway, but on the other hand democracy is against Europe and its nations. Democracy in Europe means the reigns of minorities, just like those organizations from Uthman post show, jews, foreigners, socialists and atheists.

[Supreme]

Probably islamophobia is against democracy, I dont like islamophobia anyway, but on the other hand democracy is against Europe and its nations. Democracy in Europe means the reigns of minorities, just like those organizations from Uthman post show, jews, foreigners, socialists and atheists.

As enlightening and inane as ever!

[KAding]

Islamophobia is absolutely a threat. Just like Kafirophobia. They are a threat first foremost to the social peace, but also to our liberal values. Fear of 'Islamization' is causing people to embrace increasingly more authoritarian solutions, like headscarf bans. These people are willing to betray our values in a nonsensical and destructive attempt to save them.

At the same time this shimmering implicit and explicit distrust of the 'kafir' is not helping either. "You shouldn't befriend them". "They are a bad influence: socializing with them leads to zina". "They are waging a war on Islam". "They have no morals". Such attitudes are not helpful in a multi-religious society.

Surely both sides occasionally raise valid points of concern, but I surely don't see how they are helping us come to a reasonable way of coexisting peacefully.

The worst part is that these two attitudes reinforce each other. Each side just loves to wallow in a sense of victim hood or being under siege.

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[Pygoscelis]

Tribalism, us vs them thinking, never leads to good ends.

[Amadeus85]

As enlightening and inane as ever!

At Your service ;D

[Argamemnon]

Islamophobia is absolutely a threat. Just like Kafirophobia. They are a threat first foremost to the social peace, but also to our liberal values. Fear of 'Islamization' is causing people to embrace increasingly more authoritarian solutions, like headscarf bans. These people are willing to betray our values in a nonsensical and destructive attempt to save them.

At the same time this shimmering implicit and explicit distrust of the 'kafir' is not helping either. "You shouldn't befriend them". "They are a bad influence: socializing with them leads to zina". "They are waging a war on Islam". "They have no morals". Such attitudes are not helpful in a multi-religious society.

Surely both sides occasionally raise valid points of concern, but I surely don't see how they are helping us come to a reasonable way of coexisting peacefully.

The worst part is that these two attitudes reinforce each other. Each side just loves to wallow in a sense of victim hood or being under siege.

I agree in principle. Still, from a sociological viewpoint, Muslims are a minority in Europe and North America; hence, they have far more to fear (and lose). Any hostility against a minority will have far greater consequences in any society. There are the 'dominants' - the indigenous peoples in Europe and North America - and the dominated (Muslims or other immigrants)..

I have absolutely nothing against non-Muslims as long as they:

1) don't persecute me and prevent me from practicing my religion

2) don't attack/kill me, obviously.. :D

3) don't actively support those who massacre innocent Muslims anywhere in the world.

I'm not a social person by any means, but I have always had Dutch friends. I still have one..