In my previous blog post, I delved into the concerning issue of escalating Islamophobia, a problem that appears to persist despite efforts for progress
The Telegraph, a prominent newspaper, boldly declares on its front page (£), “Islamists are now in control, says Braverman amid speakers row.”
This headline raises a critical question: What defines an Islamist, and how does one distinguish them from an average Muslim? Many Muslims grapple with this challenge daily as they seek to integrate into modern Britain, only to face fear weaponisation by politicians like Suella Braverman.
Reflecting on Sir Lindsay Hoyle, I perceive him as a good man who perhaps erred in the SNP’s opposition day. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge the constant threats faced by MPs, exemplified by the tragic murders of Sir David Amess and Jo Cox, both victims of extremism regardless of their ideological alignment. The Conservative Party seems to be on shaky ground, with Rishi Sunak’s declining popularity and the realisation that a return to power may take a generation. Suella Braverman’s potential leadership bid hints at a shift towards the right, a move that, as a Muslim, fills me with apprehension.
Why must my faith be manipulated as a political pawn? As a liberal, I believe my views align with common sense, aiming for what’s best for the country. However, certain segments of the political elite persist in perpetuating the theatricality of identity politics. After reading Braverman’s article, I can’t escape the feeling that people sharing my faith are unfairly perceived as less British, their loyalties questioned. It’s disheartening to witness my religion become a casualty in the ongoing political drama.
* Mo Waqas is a vice chair of the Liberal Democrats' Racial Diversity Campaign and was the PPC for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East.
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9 Comments
There are always people who will condemn a particular group simply because a few individuals who are or appear to be part of that group behave badly. Suella Braverman thrives on this, making generalised statements that cannot be backed up by proper evidence. This recent one about Islamists follows the one she made about the Church simply because one person who claimed to be converted to Christianity committed an evil act. In any case how can she accuse Islamists when the killer of Jo Cox had nothing to do with that so-called group. She is the kind of person who is totally unfit for government office, acting entirely out of person prejudice and feeding on people’s fears.
It is one of the greatest sins of humankind to say that you are either with us or against us simply on the basis of your political allegiance, group identity or belief label.
It is difficult to imagine Braverman holding down a job that came with a proper job description. Unfortunately within the current government there seem to be a number of ministers who see the job as exercising power in a way that offers license to say or do whatever they like and simply do not understand why any institution (e.g. the law, national or international) should get in the way.
Suella Braverman’s article in the Telegraph was awful, and continues the path of stoking division that she has long followed.
I was interviewed about it on GB News just after 12:00 today. The clip is not yet online as far as I can tell.
It is important for Muslims to speak up in the media and in particular emphasise how far our country has come on integration and successfully combating racism and religious bigotry.
When doing so, we need to avoid defending the indefensible. For example I agreed with Braverman’s concerns about the Batley picture of Mohammed incident.
The right wing of the tory party and Reform need someone to blame. Brussels will no longer do, since Brexit, so now there’s refugees, Muslims, rough sleepers (a lifestyle choice!) trans prople, single mums, disabled people skiving off work, woke lefties, lefty lawyers, judges, the “deep state” :))) and so on. They’ll be really angry when they discover who has been in government for the last 14 years.
The Telegraph came through my door yesterday, probably because the FT had failed to supply my newsagent. What a terrible paper! The Braverman article was clearly Islamophobic, but it was in tune with the rest of the newspaper, which was geared towards stoking a hysterical fear in its readers that their very fabric of life is under attack.
Braverman and others on the right who peddle this stuff are the front people for others who hide in the shadows. Those who own the vehicles that put out these soundbites which work to divide us, and by that of course I am referring the majority of our media. We need to be asking how did we allow this to happen? How did a small number of people aquire such wealth, such power? And most of all, the silent majority needs to become vocal and start calling the peddlers of this hatred out at every opportunity.
>” They’ll be really angry when they discover who has been in government for the last 14 years.”
Well, step back a little and effectively we’ve had Conservative governments since 1979; 45 years.
Yes New Labour were in power 1997-2010, but their tenure was very much “conservative lite” with little real change in economic policy.
” effectively we’ve had Conservative governments since 1979; 45 years.”
Yes. Whoever you vote for, global neo-liberalism gets in. Aka. we’ve got to vote for our lizards, or else the wrong lizards might get in.
Roland,
“New Labour were in power 1997-2010, but their tenure was very much “conservative lite” with little real change in economic policy”
We once had a different economic policy but since 2010 we haven’t.
The question that needs answering is how do we change our economic policy? And once we have done so, how do we make it acceptable to the public?