I want Rishi Sunak to say this one word in Parliament | UK News
Today marks the three month anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel, and the escalation of the conflict has had a terrible impact on those in the area and beyond.
Tensions have ramped up all over the world, harming both Jewish and Muslim communities.
The UK is no exception to this and while most people are able to express their views peacefully and respectfully, we have sadly seen too many instances of antisemitism and Islamophobia.
In the month immediately following Hamas’s attack on Israel, the Community Security Trust noted a 514% increase in acts of antisemitic incidents this year compared to the same period last year, which is also reflected in data from police forces across the UK released last week.
Meanwhile, Muslim Council of Britain has also noted a troubling surge in Islamophobic attacks, stating: ‘Over the course of this devastating conflict, we have seen a surge of hate crime, with a 140% increase in Islamophobic offences in London alone’.
Organisations may collate their data differently, but the important thing for all of us to note is that these worrying incidents are on the rise.
Yet, amazingly, according to Hansard records, Rishi Sunak has never once uttered the word ‘Islamophobia’ in the House of Commons – he has only referred to it as ‘anti-Muslim hate’.
This doesn’t cut it. It is not good enough to redefine something – if we do not name the problem, we can’t possibly tackle it.
Sunak shouldn’t shy away from using the word, in the same way he doesn’t with antisemitism, which he has mentioned in Parliament 16 times since the war started.
It is imperative that from the Prime Minister down, the Tories need to start calling this hatred what it is – and invest time and more money in stamping out Islamophobia.
Tackling the evils of antisemitism and Islamophobia takes us all working in tandem – we must all come together and condemn any instances of hate.
Unfortunately, with the Tory Government, that is not what is happening – and that’s both wrong and disturbing. What I’ve witnessed forced me to write to the Prime Minister to ask for urgent action.
I commend Rishi Sunak for his stand against antisemitism, this is important. He has condemned it on many occasions, on social media and in the House of Commons.
But there has been no equivalent urgency, determination or effort evoked to tackle the scourge of Islamophobia and that is deeply disappointing – especially when the government will know as much as anyone how much it has increased.
Over the last 12 weeks, the government has had multiple opportunities to announce a similar level of support to combat Islamophobia – and hasn’t taken any of them. We cannot be selective in tackling hate.
But the Conservatives are doing just that.
Incredibly, the Government job position of independent adviser on Islamophobia has been vacant for over a year now. This is a slap in the face to the Muslim community.
Parliament’s first responsibility is to protect its citizens – no matter what our religious or ethnic background. At a time of rising tensions, their inaction is as inexplicable as it is inexcusable.
If our leaders are not seen to be tackling the twin evils of antisemitism and Islamophobia in equal measure, people will rightly conclude that they don’t think the latter is important or worthy of attention.
That will only add to people’s pain. And give oxygen to the racists.
More from Platform
Platform is the home of Metro.co.uk’s first-person and opinion pieces, devoted to giving a platform to underheard and underrepresented voices in the media.
Find some of our best reads of the week below:
Sheela Banerjee has had a lifetime of people pronouncing her and her family’s names incorrectly. She explains the damage that is done every time someone decides not to put in the effort.
Dad-of-three Chris Edwards recounts the moment his youngest, Tommy, started acting quieter than usual – and how that unfolded to a devastating diagnosis.
Trans woman Sarah Stephenson-Hunter came out after completely losing her eyesight at 40. She explains that she doesn’t need to be able to see herself to know her identity.
And Almara Abgarian explains why she said yes to a date with a handsome stranger – who asked her out while she was on a date with someone else.
We need the full weight of the British state behind the vital mission to eradicate all forms of racism and discrimination.
I always say of my community in Brent, one of the most diverse areas in the country, that it is a beacon of hope and that diversity is truly our strength.
In these difficult times, where global events can have very real local consequences, I have appealed to people to extend an arm of friendship to our neighbours across all faiths and none during these troubled times.
This is what we need across the country. But it cannot be just left to communities, we also need people to be reassured that a Government that is supposed to represent them is doing all it can to protect all citizens in the country.
Rishi Sunak needs to show he cares, or at the very least pretend to. He can start by finally getting around to appointing an independent adviser on Islamophobia.
Until then, this Tory Government will continue to look weak and ineffective and cannot claim to be taking Islamophobia seriously.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk.
Share your views in the comments below.
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