RunnymedeThe NEWSLETTER OF THE RUNNYMEDE TRUST Bulletin No.307 November 1997 £1.75 The Islamophobia challenge THE Runnymede Trust Commission on British Muslims and Islamo- insensitive to significant differences phobia has published its report Islamophobia: A Challenge For Us All. The and variations within the world of report was launched at the House of Commons by the Home Secretary, Islam, and in particular they are Jack Straw, and is the first major study into Islamophobia and the posi- unable to appreciate that there are tion of the British Muslims in the UK. tensions and disagreements amongst The Commission was chaired by Professor Gordon Conway, Vice-Chan- Muslims.” cellor of the University of Sussex and The consequences of Islamopho- was established in 1996. Its members bia, the report says, is injustice, char- included eighteen prominent Muslim acterised by social exclusion; a sense and non-Muslim experts, representa- of cultural inferiority among young tives and academics. The report British Muslims; and an increasing makes 60 detailed recommendations likelihood of serious social disorder. It covering subjects which include edu- also makes it difficult for mainstream cation, health, law, politics and the voices within Muslim communities to media. be heard and prevents Muslims and In February 1997 the Commission non-Muslims from cooperating on published a consultative document finding joint solutions to major prob- and received 160 written responses lems. which were taken into account dur- ing drafting of the final report. Islamophobia: A Challenge For Us All is Approximately 100 of these were available from the Runnymede Trust, 133 Aldersgate Street, London EC1A submitted by corporate bodies and Jack Straw . launched report were based on meetings, consulta- 4JA. £11.05 including p&p. tions and discussions. Many were Islamophobia was coined in the late accompanied by lengthy reports and 1980s and is a “useful shorthand way documents. of referring to dread or hatred of Islam — and therefore, to fear or dis- Not easy to participate like of all or most Muslims.” The report states that “the UK Gov- The report emphasises the need to In this issue ernment’s official stance [towards distinguish between “closed” and Muslims] is one of welcome and “open” views of Islam. “Phobic dread Islamophobia: inclusion. The reality, however, fre- of Islam is the recurring characteristic Special report 2-6 quently falls short. of closed views,” the “In practice, it is authors argue, while Jack Straw’s speech 3 not at all easy for ‘Phobic dread of “legitimate disagree- Press reaction 4-6 Muslim citizens of ment and criticism, the United Kingdom Islam is a recurring and also appreciation Ethnic minority ‘to participate freely and respect, are schooling 7 and fully in the eco- characteristic of aspects of open nomic, social and views.” The Stephen Lawrence public life of the closed views’ Closed views also campaign 8-9 nation’ and at the “typically picture same time to take a Islam as undifferenti- News round-up 11 full part in the religious and cultural ated, static and monolithic, and as traditions to which they belong.” intolerant of internal pluralism and The report explains that the word deliberation. They are therefore The Runnymede Bulletin November 1997 ‘A strange and ugly word’ HOME SECRETARY Jack Straw, speaking Gordon Conway at the launch, underlined the vital role the (left), chair of the Commission, Muslim community plays in British life, and Zaki Badawi, saying that British Muslims bring with principal of the them a strong and inspiring history of cul- Muslim College. tural achievement. He said, however, that Both spoke at the launch of the he had no plans at present to legislate on report. religious discrimination (see page 3). Also speaking at the launch, Gordon Conway, chair of the Commission said that for many people Islamophobia was a very strange and ugly word. “It is not, of course, a new word to Muslims. Muslims have known it all their lives. They have experienced it all their lives. There is very Commissioner, said that the focus of policy Speaking before the launch of the report, little in the report that will be new to them.” makers should be on young people, many of Jahangir Mohammed, deputy leader of the He said that the importance of the report is whom feel very isolated and frustrated by Muslim Parliament said that it had not that it is a multi-faith report bringing out the discrimination and stereotyping that looked at the ‘long and bitter’ history of these issues for the whole of the British affects their life chances. “They are British Islamophobia in European civilisation. “If community. and Muslim. They are British Muslims,” he you want to understand a prejudice you He referred to a letter to the Commission said. Young people would like everyone to have to go to its roots,” he said (Today from a 16-year-old Bangladeshi girl who focus on national issues; they do not want Programme, Radio 4, 22.10.1997). reported that when she started to wear a international issues such as events in Iraq headscarf teachers at her school made fun of and Iran to dominate discussion about Futility her. He said that the Commission had Muslims communities. Following the launch Dr Ghayssudin received many such letters describing the Dr Zaki Badawi, principal of the Muslim Siddiqui, leader of the Muslim Parliament, prejudice and discrimination Muslims College, London, said that in Britain many attacked the Home Secretary’s announce- experience in their everyday lives. “That Muslims feel hard done by and the report ment that he would not legislate to outlaw discrimination leads to poor conditions shows that there are good reasons for that. It religious discrimination. “The Muslim under which many British Muslims live: should force these concerns on to the community is sick and tired of ‘nice words’ poor housing, poor health, poor education, agenda of policy makers. He said the report and exercises in futility, such as the high unemployment. Over 50 per cent of shows that people do have an irrational fear Runnymede report. All these things have British Muslims in inner city areas are of Islam and Muslims. “I say irrational been said before. While politicians and unemployed, double the unemployment because it has no foundation at all. Let us policy-makers talk, Muslims continue to rate among white people.” hope that this report will be the cure of this suffer” (New Statesman, 31.10.97). He said that the Commission had disease which affects many sections of our In a statement published before the gathered evidence of discrimination in the society.” launch, the monthly Muslim News accused workplace. He urged the Government to the Commission of being Islamophobic issue codes of good practice for employers Welcomed because it uncritically adopted “Jewish on matters affecting Muslims. The report was broadly welcomed by observations on the Muslim community” Muslim organisations and press but there were (Press release, 18.10.97). Ineffective reservations. The UK Action Committee on The fortnightly magazine Q-News Professor Conway said there is also Islamic Affairs welcomed the report, calling it (November 1997) welcomed the report. It “common Islamophobia” in the press, both a “path-breaking document” which offers said the report was a step in the right in tabloids and broadsheets. The problem, many “constructive recommendations about direction and could pave the way for a more he added, is that where the media lead oth- addressing the problem at the level of policy as positive perception of British Islam. ers follow. He noted that the Press Com- well as legislation” (Press release, 22.10.97). There is an estimated British Muslim plaints Commission is very ineffective in The Islamic Human Rights Commission population of between 1.2 and 1.4 million. dealing with Islamophobia and called for a said it was not happy that the Runnymede Between 65 and 75 per cent of all Muslims code of practice for journalists and editors. Trust Commission “did not include mem- in Britain are from a South Asian back- Concluding his speech, Professor Con- bers deemed ‘controversial’, in the very ground. The report says that a high pro- way warned that “Islamophobia is becoming stereotypical terms the report wishes to portion of South Asians are under 20 and more extreme and more dangerous, leading decry” (New Statesman, 31.10.97). a low proportion are over 60. Because of to prejudice, discrimination and violence.” An-Nisa, a Muslim women’s organisation these demographic facts the communities He urged that a multi-faith agency should based in Brent, north London, said that the are bound to increase in the next twenty be set up to monitor Islamophobia and dis- report vindicated much of the work they years, both absolutely and relatively. By crimination against Muslims. had done locally to highlight “the insidious the year 2020 “the total Muslim Maqsood Ahmad, Director of Kirklees and dangerous upsurge in Islamophobia” population is likely to be approaching two Racial Equality Council and the youngest (An-Nisa Bulletin, November 1997). million”. PAGE 2 The Runnymede Bulletin November 1997 Home news — in his own words THESE are extracts from the speech given by “What fans this hostility towards Mus- “I welcome the contribution which this the Home Secretary Jack Straw at the launch lims and Islam is ignorance. It is too easy to report makes to the debate and, as I again of Runnymede Trust report on Islamophobia. see Muslims as one homogenous group, made clear in my evidence to the Select regardless of their origin or social back- Committee, we are giving the report active “. .This morning’s launch provides me per- grounds. This is patently ridiculous. and careful consideration and I hope to con- sonally with an opportunity to state loud sult the Commission on our conclusions.