A couple of weeks ago Hina Bokhari AM (our Leader on the London Assembly) wrote: “Britain is a tinderbox and our efforts to confront Islamophobia are not good enough“.
She has now followed that up with a letter to the Mayor Of London, which has caught the attention of the BBC: “London mayor urged to do more to tackle Islamophobia“. In her letter she wrote:
The threats we face as Muslim Londoners are not abstract or hypothetical – they are immediate, real, and growing.
For many of us, this is not merely about perception or politics. It is about safety. Muslims today live in legitimate fear. Whether walking down the street, engaging online, or simply existing visibly as Muslims, we find ourselves bracing for abuse, harassment or worse.
Hina calls on Sadiq Khan to set up training on Islamophobia.
We need to eradicate Islamophobia, and that will only happen through training. I don’t think people really understand what Islamophobia is, or believe it exists. Some of the attacks I’ve been getting online have been about the fact that people think there is no such thing as Islamophobia.
If we had training then at least people would know what we mean by Islamophobia.
She has been doing the rounds of the TV studios highlighting the issue, even though it is obviously difficult for her.
Some of the reactions to this on social media have been disgusting and totally prove her point.
Hina Bokhari is a hero and needs all the support and love we can give her.
* Mary Reid is a contributing editor on Lib Dem Voice. She was a councillor in Kingston upon Thames, where she is still very active with the local party, and is the Hon President of Kingston Lib Dems.
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5 Comments
I agree.
Anti-Muslim hatred is being whipped up for political purposes, in the same way that hatred of Jews was whipped up in the 1920’s and 1930’s.
Mary, this is a very moving interview and Hina Bokhari deserves every plaudit for her courage in speaking out about Islamophobia.
How though, is it helpful for Liberal Democrats to say that the country is a tinderbox, ie likely to erupt into flames at any moment?
All of us should sympathise with Hina, especially those like me, who as white men, don’t get abused on trains – ever. Having a complete stranger make nasty, aggressive remarks about or at you must be distressing, and must leave a lasting impression.
But without wishing to deny the hurt Hina speaks about, I have to admit I’m a bit doubtful that it’s “an everyday experience”, and wonder if it might actually be quite rare, but is extremely alarming when it happens. I say this because I’ve used public transport for more than half a century and never heard anyone racially abuse another passenger. If I’m right, it’s still very horrible when it happens, but it doesn’t prove our society is a “tinderbox”. My guess is that at least 99% of people have never said anything of the kind Hina quotes, which would mean only a very small number actually do. I would advise Hina to try think of the small number of openly racist people as what they are: sad and damaged people with low self-esteem, who don’t represent the prevailing British culture, and never will.
Andy, I find your comments dismissive of Hina’s experience and that of many other Muslims. As a white man perhaps it night be better to remember that you have two ears and one mouth for a reason.
Caron, there was always the danger that people might think I was being dismissive. The reason I posted a comment was to suggest that, difficult though it might be for them, people who have been racially abused in public by a stranger perhaps should draw comfort from the fact that the vast majority of us are on their side. I thought I had made that clear, but I obviously didn’t, so I offer my apologies to anyone who was offended.