Over half Muslim Labour (UK party) members 'do not trust party to tackle Islamophobia'

[MenInG]

More than half of Muslim members of the Labour party do not trust Keir Starmer to tackle Islamophobia, with nearly the same proportion saying they do not have confidence in the party’s complaints process, a new poll has found.

The report by the Labour Muslim Network (LMN) is the latest sign that the party’s new leadership is losing the trust of minority ethnic members and supporters, even as it struggles to recover from an antisemitism crisis that led to a collapse in support from Jewish voters.

The findings echo complaints aired earlier this year by members of the party’s own black and minority ethnic staff network that there is a perception of a “hierarchy of racism” within the party, wherein some forms of racism are regarded as more serious than others.

A survey of 422 Muslim members or supporters of the party found that nearly six in 10 – 59% – did not feel “well represented by the leadership of the Labour party”, and nearly half – 44% – did not believe the party takes the issue of Islamophobia seriously.

It found 55% did not “trust the leadership of the Labour party to tackle Islamophobia effectively” and 48% did not have confidence in the party’s complaints procedure to deal with Islamophobia.

Issues raised included concerns over examples of Islamophobia highlighted in the leaked report into Labour’s governance and legal unit, the party’s approach to the government’s anti-radicalisation Prevent strategy, and general anxiety over how the party’s approach to Palestine would change under the new leadership.

One Labour supporter quoted in the report said: “Like in most institutions within the UK, as a Muslim it often feels as though we are towards the bottom of the list when it comes to human rights, being respected and having our best interests heard/advocated. It feels as though within all institutions within the UK it has become increasingly acceptable to condemn and even abuse Muslims.”

A Labour source told the Guardian that there was significant concern within the party over the way that Islamophobia complaints are handled, with no code of conduct for dealing with Islamophobia comparable to that which has been put in place for dealing with antisemitism. As a result, high-profile cases, such as that of Trevor Phillips, suspended by the party in March over allegations of Islamophobia, are still in limbo.

The source said that the party had changed its processes around antisemitism following scrutiny from the media: “But such a thing doesn’t exist with Islamophobia. Also, other parties are significantly worse. The Tories are just off the charts with Islamophobia, as well as antisemitism.”

An LMN spokesperson said the findings of its report were deeply concerning and called on Labour to take “comprehensive action” on the racism experienced by Muslims in the party.

A statement provided by Labour and attributed to Starmer and his deputy, Angela Rayner, did not address the issues raised with leadership, but said they would work with LMN to implement its recommendations.

It said: “We thank Labour Muslim Network for this important report, as well as their work to ensure our Muslim members are represented, included and heard. Islamophobia has no place in our party or society and we are committed to rooting it out.”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...ers-do-not-trust-party-to-tackle-islamophobia

 

[Robert]

Big problems for Labour, supposedly the good guys party.

 

[Firebat]

This is really really poor , the party that's supposed to fight for all rights and they're having big issues with 2 minorities now.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I think the Labour party is stuck between a rock and a hard place, Muslims are not well liked by large sections of the public and if Labour is seen as too sympathetic to them they risk losing votes of the majority. Just look at the efforts to paint Labour as anti-semite because they took a critical stance against some Israeli policy.

 

[Robert]

I think the Labour party is stuck between a rock and a hard place, Muslims are not well liked by large sections of the public and if Labour is seen as too sympathetic to them they risk losing votes of the majority. Just look at the efforts to paint Labour as anti-semite because they took a critical stance against some Israeli policy.

Not what happened. Numerous complaints of racism were made by Jewish members.

The EHCR found Labour to have breached the Equality Act, in that Jewish members were discriminated against and harassed by other members, and were not sufficiently supported by the Party

 

[Tubs]

Well, what is 'Islamaphobia'? It's a bad term to use. Anti-Muslim sentiment is much better, as that can't be conflated with criticisms/attacks on the ideology (Islam). Attacking an ideology is fine, but it is not fine to attack people- in this case Muslims.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

It tackled anti semnitism so I'm not sure why it can't tackle islamophobia
Sadiq khan as an ex lawyer himself has fought islamophobia while defending majid nawaz etc
Naz shah won her seat in Bradford against George Galloway and obviously there's also zara sultana in Coventry, the youngest one

 

[James]

At least Labour is trying to deal with any antisemitism and Islamophobia that emerges within its ranks and they are having an open, though uncomfortable conversation about it.

In the meantime there are plenty of racists, sexists and homophobes within the Tory Party, and still not a single internal nor external enquiry has been commissioned to have a look at any of this.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Not what happened. Numerous complaints of racism were made by Jewish members.

The EHCR found Labour to have breached the Equality Act, in that Jewish members were discriminated against and harassed by other members, and were not sufficiently supported by the Party

Did EHRC take into account ownership of public media outlets?

 

[Robert]

Did EHRC take into account ownership of public media outlets?

That’s a non sequitur.

They looked at the evidence and made a determination in law.

 

[Robert]

At least Labour is trying to deal with any antisemitism and Islamophobia that emerges within its ranks and they are having an open, though uncomfortable conversation about it.

In the meantime there are plenty of racists, sexists and homophobes within the Tory Party, and still not a single internal nor external enquiry has been commissioned to have a look at any of this.

Agreed. That party simply doesn’t care.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

That’s a non sequitur.

They looked at the evidence and made a determination in law.

I don't know what non sequitur means but I assume it means above the law.

 

[Robert]

I don't know what non sequitur means but I assume it means above the law.

It means the question makes no sense, like asking Why is purple?

No, the EHCR does not take notice of media hearsay, that is outside their scope and irrelevant to it - they only gathered evidence from LP members and determined that the LP broke the law.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

When will they forsake their bias against Muslims​

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UK politicians are whipping up an anti-Muslim panic. Where’s the evidence?​

Over the last few months a troubling narrative has steadily been gathering strength in British politics.

It goes: radical Islamists are taking over the streets of London. They are using their muscle to intimidate politicians, and are destroying the authority of parliament. As a result, democracy itself is under threat.

Over the past 24 hours, this narrative that British Muslims are corrupting the British political system has gone viral.

Robert Jenrick, a former cabinet minister, speaking in the Commons on Thursday, said that Britain has "allowed our streets to be dominated by Islamist extremists".

He spoke of "a pattern of Islamist extremists intimidating those they disagree with, backed by the prospect of violence". Penny Mordaunt, leader of the House of Commons, replied that she "could not agree more".

On Thursday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak fanned the flames, warning that "we should never let extremists intimidate us into changing the way in which parliament works."

These are powerful accusations - and neither Sunak nor Jenrick produced evidence to support them.

Islamophobic rhetoric
It's important to explain the context of this latest epidemic of Islamophobic rhetoric. It was unleashed in the wake of Wednesday’s chaotic events at Westminster after the Scottish National Party (SNP) tabled a Commons motion supporting a ceasefire in Gaza.

This motion was acutely embarrassing for Labour leader Keir Starmer, many of whose MPs are deeply opposed to his support for the war.

This helps explain why both the SNP and the Conservatives tore into Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle when he over-ruled the advice of his Commons clerks and defied parliamentary convention to allow a Labour Party amendment which got Starmer off the hook.

Amidst furious calls for him to quit, Speaker Hoyle went on the record to say that when making his controversial decision he had been "very, very concerned" about the safety of MPs, their families and members of their staff.

Yesterday, he came back to the Commons to repeat his alarm: "The details of the things that have been brought to me are absolutely frightening," adding that "if my mistake is looking after members [of parliament], I am guilty".

He made clear that he had been influenced in his decision-making by Starmer’s own concern about threats to his MPs.

The speaker, however, did not explain exactly who it was that threatened the safety of Labour MPs - but nobody at Westminster was in any doubt who he was referring to: Muslims.

A media storm
As night follows day, the British media supported these claims.

Alicia Fitzgerald, a political reporter, fuelled the sense of panic on Talk TV when she said she’d been talking to Labour MPs, particularly women, who were "absolutely terrified" of leaving the Commons in the face of a pro-Palestinian "mob" outside.

She added: "We have crossed a line now. We are not a properly functioning democracy if this is a factor in how our elected representatives act."

Source: Middle East Eye