Anti-Muslim Rhetoric in the UK

 The toxic political situation in the UK incorporates anti-Muslim rhetoric and 'Islamophobia'. I have covered some of this in my X feed, but for the record am placing some other elements below. Just a reminder - there are multiple opinions here, the posts below are for information and subsequent analysis, and inclusion never does not imply endorsement. The language is not adjusted and can be 'loaded' at times:

 

 

This tweet is magnificent.

The Hard-Right have weaponised the murder of Lee Rigby for years, to justify anti-Muslim hatred BUT denied hating Muslims.

Yet here's hard-right mouthpiece Mahyar Tousi attacking Lee Rigby's widow for telling people not to hate Muslims.

MAGNIFICENT pic.twitter.com/rLrGz1E9Me

— Femi (@Femi_Sorry) March 11, 2024

Conservative MP Mike Fabricant believes that Islamophobia from an MP does not even need to be apologised for...

Seriously. https://t.co/7BEvZeWwH9

— Miqdaad Versi (@miqdaad) March 12, 2024

Sadiq Khan, "We have another example, of a senior Conservative, a Conservative donor, making comments that are clearly racist and clearly misogynistic"

"What Rishi Sunak needs to do. Is to grow a backbone. To have courage. He failed to call out the Islamophobia, the anti-Muslim… pic.twitter.com/6CKehK0jR6

— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) March 12, 2024

Gove who once described the indigenous population of over seas colonies as Fuzzie Wuzzies - has decided to hand pick an Islamophobia advisor. Mr Mughal - whose skill sets include : telling his pay masters what they want to hear, criticising his own community incessantly and… pic.twitter.com/Sshl7IS5y0

— Akunjee 🖋 (@mohammedakunjee) March 9, 2024

Yet another desperate attempt to smear the First Minister of Scotland, and his family.

It seems the leadership shown by @HumzaYousaf to get urgently needed aid to 2.2million starving Gazans must be viewed with suspicion, I’m sure his being Muslim has nothing to do with it? https://t.co/TIz4COXXTL

— Zara Mohammed (@ZaraM01) March 9, 2024

Archbishops of Canterbury and York warn against new extremism definition. Clerics say Michael Gove’s anti-extremism strategy risks targeting Muslims and may threaten freedom of speech and peaceful protesthttps://t.co/BEFKhJF8KW

— William Dalrymple (@DalrympleWill) March 13, 2024

There should never be a hierarchy of racism. But under this government there clearly is.

Islamophobia body has not met for 4 years, despite the rise in anti-Muslim hate crimehttps://t.co/0FDv3fqsAU

— Diane Abbott MP (@HackneyAbbott) March 11, 2024

🧵1/10 Apparently, the government are going to appoint Fyaz Mughal as their “anti-Muslim hatred” adviser! A thread on why this is gaslighting of the highest order, even for this government!! (more to follow) pic.twitter.com/xog00AN3lG

— MEND Community (@mendcommunity) March 8, 2024

For months Sunak and many of his cabinet pushed divisive commentary against the Muslims community. He now talks about tackling anti Muslim hatred rates of which his party directly contributed towards. Disgusted by it but disappointed that a mosque just let him waltz in. Shameful https://t.co/mICn30zs5C

— Bushra Shaikh (@Bushra1Shaikh) March 12, 2024

STATEMENT ON REPORTS THAT FIYAZ MUGHAL IS TO BE THE NEW ANTI-MUSLIM HATRED TZARhttps://t.co/mGezYmmSyH pic.twitter.com/f7f9SGtIOX

— MEND Community (@mendcommunity) March 8, 2024

Anderson and Braverman

 I have a page on the Anderson/Braverman 'Islamophobia' debate on my Virtually Islamic News site, collecting various online responses. It also features on my X @garybunt

Rochdale By-Election Furore

Sky News, Analysis | The sacking of Azhar Ali as Labour's candidate in the Rochdale by-election is the biggest disaster for Sir Keir Starmer in his nearly four years as leader of the party.

Also see Geneva Abdul, Guardian, Labour handling of Azhar Ali 'shambolic', says antisemitism report author. "Martin Forde says storm over Rochdale byelection candidate raises new questions over ‘disparity in treatment’ of Labour MPs"  The story took a new turn with Harriet Line's Daily Mail article

     

Islam Channel fined

Ofcom, £40k fine for TV channel that broadcast antisemitic content, 28 Sep 2023 "Our investigation found The Andinia Plan, a one-hour documentary that examined a conspiracy theory which originated in a neo-Nazi publication, amounted to hate speech against Jewish people. This antisemitic content was also highly offensive and not sufficiently justified by the context."

Arrests on Anti-Semitic Abuse Charges

ITV News, Four men arrested over video of 'anti-Semitic abuse being shouted from car' in London "Footage on social media showed a convoy of cars covered with Palestinian flags passing down Finchley Road, in north London, with passengers heard to shout offensive language and threats against Jews."

Update: Muslim woman praised for defending Jewish family against tube abuser

Updte: Here's the woman involved in this case, Asmaa, speaking on BBC 5 Live:

Powerful from the brilliant @Asmaa96388862. Her bravery & willingness to stand up against hate, is an example for us all! https://t.co/uQnCtklQ8T

— Miqdaad Versi (@miqdaad) November 24, 2019

Muslim woman praised for defending Jewish family against tube abuser pic.twitter.com/4lqQ64hgny

— IlmFeed (@IlmFeed) November 22, 2019

This is profoundly important and moving.

Updated: Plaid Cymru Activist "anti-Semitism" Claims

My original posting from 18.11.19 has been updated

Wales Online, Prominent Plaid Cymru activist suspended over anti-Semitic tweets "Screenshots of tweets from 2014 were circulated on social media after it was shown and Plaid Cymru suspended her from the party."

BBC News, General election 2019: Plaid suspend member over anti-Semitism claims "Plaid Cymru has suspended a party member included in its party election broadcast over allegations of anti-Semitism.

"The party said it will conduct an investigation into historical social media comments made by Sahar Al-Faifi.

"Ms Al-Faifi appeared in Plaid Cymru's party political broadcast for the general election, which aired on BBC Wales, ITV Wales and S4C on Thursday."

See Sahar A-Faifi's statement/apology here:

"This is a statement I have issued in response to recent press coverage. pic.twitter.com/WqCzHUEh4a

— Sahar Al-Faifi (@SaharAlFaifi) November 18, 2019"

Screenshot of the original Plaid Cymru tweet (now unavailable) highlighting Sahar Al-Faifi's contribution (which in turn generated substantil anti-Muslim rhetoric):

Statement from the @BoardofDeputies on @Plaid_Cymru candidate Sahar-Al-Faifi.
“It is worth noting that Al-Faifi remains a regional Manager for #Mend, a highly problematic organisation whose activities risk increasing hostility & suspicion between Muslim & Jewish communities”. pic.twitter.com/Hlhuj4azLc

— Faith Matters (@FaithMattersUK) November 19, 2019