On Wednesday 20th March 2019, I and another Councillor will be bringing a motion to full council Chamber to adopt the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) definition on Islamophobia. Discussion below is that the adoption of the definition by the Council is not the end but the beginning to tackle institutional Islamophobia in Tower Hamlets.
Bringing clarity to Islamophobia
Today, pundits can say and write things about Muslims that would never be published by editors or executive producers. Whereas anti-semitism, anti black and anti-Asian racism are rightfully and routinely condemned, Islamophobia remains the only form of racism that remains within socially acceptable limits. This is due to the ambiguity currently with it being defined as a faith based discrimination.
The new definition that is proposed clearly defines Islamophobia as a race based discrimination, removing ambiguity and bringing it in line with other forms of discrimination:
“Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness”
Audit of Council Policy and Procedures
After the adoption of the new definition, there should be an audit of council policy and procedures, bringing them in line with the new definition and in light of the heightened risk following the Christchurch massacre. For example updating the Councils Single Equality Framework, which currently under the heading of Safety, there is no mention of Islamophobia or race based hate crime.
Ensuring adequate safeguards for Civil Liberties and Human Rights vis a vis the Prevent Programme
One of the aspects of institutional islamophobia, is the increasing securitisation of Council services when it comes to the Muslim community. A case in point is the accusation made by the lawyer for the family of the Bethnal Green Academy girls that went to syria, that a Serious Case Review was not carried out when one of the girls, Khadiza Sultana was killed. The Council in a press statement said that they did not carry out a Serious Case Review on advice from the Prevent Team. Giving the impression that security aspects overridden civil liberties and safeguarding duties. Therefore there should be a clear protection of civil liberties as with any other resident from other communities, and clear and transparent protocols established.
Tackling the causes of Islamophobia
Ultimately tackling Islamophobia is a long term endeavour, just like other forms of discrimination. Ultimately Islamophobia is a reflection of inequalities suffered by Muslims and other minorities, in the political and economic sphere, and Islamophobia being a reflection of justifying those inequalities. For example Muslim community has higher level of poverty, because of their ‘backward’ culture, rather than the truth, that the Muslim community suffers higher levels of poverty, due to structural barriers interm of economic and political participation.
Once again, the adoption of the definition is the beginning of a long journey not the end.
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Lao Tse (6th – 5th Century BC)
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