Islamophobia Archives

A Third of Muslims Associated with UK’s Labour Party have Witnessed Islamophobia

by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World

Forty-four per cent said they do not believe the party takes the issue of rising Islamophobia seriously, and 48 per cent said they have lost confidence in the party’s complaints structures

LONDON – British Muslim Labour Party members and supporters have witnessed Islamophobia within the the country’s biggest opposition party, a recent report has found.

An investigation carried out by Labour Muslim Network and reported by ITV News, revealed that more than a third of Muslims associated with the Labour Party have witnessed Islamophobia.

Forty-four per cent said they do not believe the party takes the issue of rising Islamophobia seriously, and 48 per cent said they have lost confidence in the party’s complaints structures.

Ali Reza Milani, who stood against Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Uxbridge and South Ruislip parliamentary constituency in the last year’s general election, claimed a fellow party member told him Muslims could not be in the parliament because of “their propensity to violence” and asked if he was a terrorist, ITV News reported.

Milani said: “It hurts to feel like I experienced that sort of abuse from a party member and it not only took a year for them to get back to me, but the complaint was lost. It’s just hurtful.”

Muslim MP from Manchester Gorton, Afzal Khan, who also heads the parliamentary chair of Labour Muslim Network, said Islamophobia within the party had gone “unnoticed” and “deserved immediate attention”.

“Whilst the Labour Party has enjoyed the overwhelming support of the Muslim community for decades, we cannot take their support for granted.

“The Labour Party must commit to a zero tolerance of Islamophobia and rebuild confidence with its Muslim members,” Khan said.

Labour MP Apsana Begum representing the Poplar and Limehouse constituency told ITV News: “It’s quite regular to be asked questions and to constantly be asked to reaffirm my commitment towards British society as if in some way my identity and politics are not compatible.”

The report also revealed that 59 per cent of Muslims surveyed said they did not feel well represented by the Labour Party.

Responding to the report, the Labour leader Keir Starmer, and deputy leader, Angela Rayner, 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.

“We look forward to working with LMN to implement their recommendations and will be meeting with them to discuss the next steps in tackling the scourge of Islamophobia.”

French court rules halal supermarket to be closed down after refusing to sell pork, alcohol

by admin | May 25, 2021 | Halal Food, Halal Industries, World

Paris : The court of Nanterre in the western suburbs of Paris in France has ruled that a halal supermarket in the Colombes to be closed down and its rental lease to be canceled after it failed to heed warnings that it must “sell pork and alcohol products.”

The supermarket had come under fire last year in August by Nicole Goueta, mayor of Colombes and local authorities for “not catering to the general public.”

The matter was taken to court after the owner of the market objected accusations that it was “discriminatory” and not following the conditions on its lease which stipulated that the market must act as a “general food store.”

The court said that the market had not added alcohol and non-halal meats to its range of products and therefore went against its lease, and ruled its lease to be canceled while ordering the owner of the shop to pay 4,000 euros’ worth of court fees and empty the premises, Daily Sabah News reported.

The warnings to the market came after locals complained that they could no longer get a broad range of products at the now-halal market, which had replaced a regular supermarket and had to travel further to get the products they desired.

The market owner had told Le Parisien, a French daily newspaper, that he did not sell pork or alcohol because he took the supply-demand balance into account in the neighborhood. Many on social media had come to the owner’s rescue, saying there were many specialty shops across France which only sold specific products, and that authorities’ insistence was a “discriminatory” practice.

—SM/OIC-UNA

‘Muslims Get Out’ sign owner invited to mosque

by admin | May 25, 2021 | World

Washington, (IANS) : The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) said they were reaching out to a business owner who put up a “Muslims Get Out” sign outside his restaurant to invite him to mosque.

The hope is that by giving Treats Family Restaurant owner Dan Ruedinger an opportunity to come to a mosque and interact with Muslims, he will learn more about Islam and the local Muslim community, kare11.com reported on Tuesday.

“Our experience has shown that interaction with ordinary American Muslims and enhanced knowledge of Islam are key factors in the reduction of Islamophobic attitudes,” said CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein.

“We invite Ruedinger to visit the mosque in Fairbault and to learn more about Muslims and Islam in Minnesota.”

Hussein also thanked community members of different faiths and backgrounds who demonstrated outside the Lonsdale restaurant and spoke out against the “Muslims Get Out Sign” on social media.

It was, however, not known if Ruedinger will accept the invitation.