- Open letter signed by 80 organizations urges govt to back new definition, engage more with community leaders
- Role of social media in spreading hate, disinformation highlighted after far-right riots erupted nationwide
LONDON: Muslim groups in the UK say “concrete steps” are needed to prevent a rise in Islamophobia, The Independent reported.
Eighty organizations have called on the government to launch an “urgent” independent review following far-right riots that swept the country earlier this month, targeting asylum centers and mosques.
The groups also asked in an open letter for a change to the definition of Islamophobia, an investigation into the role of social media in spreading hate and misinformation, and greater engagement with “elected representatives of Muslim communities.”
The riots were sparked after misinformation was shared in the aftermath of a stabbing at a youth dance class in Southport in July, which left three young girls dead, that the attacker had been a Muslim and an asylum-seeker.
Linsay Taylor, head of community development and engagement at Muslim Engagement and Development, said: “We want the government to look into why the riots happened. It did not come from nowhere. We want the government to look into themselves, address social media and all the different facets that led to this.
“A review has to look at all of this and has to come to a real outcome with practical steps we can take.
“At the end of the day, the riots have happened. We now have to see how we can work to stop it happening again in the future.”
Taylor added: “We have to look at what happened here and how it managed to fuel the flames so horrendously to the point where people were stuck in hotels while they were literally being set alight.”
The letter also called on the government to adopt a new definition of Islamophobia decided upon by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims, as “rooted in racism and (that) is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.”
A spokesperson for the Islamophobia Action Group said: “Islamophobia has fueled the recent far-right riots, and the consequences are clear and dangerous.
“The government must act now by adopting the APPG definition of Islamophobia; investigate far-right activities; and engage directly with Muslim communities and their national representatives. This is a critical moment to address the root causes of hate and to protect our society.”
Muslim community leaders, meanwhile, praised the government’s response in the aftermath of the riots, which saw people imprisoned within days of the events and security personnel allocated to mosques across the UK.
But the letter’s signatories also asked the government to “engage with legitimate, democratically elected national representatives of Muslim communities.”
