Islamophobia
IMAM Sajid has been an
advisor to the Commission on British Muslims and Islamophobia since 1996.
Commission on British Muslims and Islamophobia
http://www.insted.co.uk/islam.html
Early in 1997 the Commission on British Muslims and
Islamophobia, under the chairmanship of Professor Gordon
Conway, issued a consultative document. The final
report,
Islamophobia: A Challenge for Us All, was launched
in November 1997 by the Home Secretary, Jack Straw.
This was the first time that the subject of Islamophobia
had been comprehensively tackled in relation to a
British Muslim population estimated at between 1.2 and
1.4 million. Sixty recommendations were put forward in
the report targeted at government departments, bodies
and agencies, local and regional statutory bodies, and
voluntary and private bodies. It attracted, and
continues to attract, wide interest and media coverage
in both the UK and abroad.
Our 2004 report notes that much of the credit for combating
and reducing Islamophobia in Britain over the last few years
must go to Muslim organisations, working nationally, regionally
and locally. To the government also, however, must go a degree
of credit. Notable developments introduced by the government
include: changes in employment law, so that Muslims are now
protected from direct and indirect discrimination in recruitment
and workplace practices changes in the criminal justice system,
so that crimes against Muslims attract higher sentences if they
are aggravated by anti-Muslim hostility the appointment of
Muslims to take chaplaincy roles in hospitals and prisons the
creation of Muslim schools within the state education system
encouragement of inter-faith activity and cooperation, and the
involvement of faith communities in neighbourhood renewal the
potential of the community cohesion agenda to promote equality
and dialogue in local settings greater sensitivity to the
concerns and needs of Muslims throughout public services.
Runnymede
Trust
The
Runnymede Trust has
identified eight components that
they say define Islamophobia.
This definition, from the
1997 document ‘Islamophobia:
A Challenge For Us All’ is
widely accepted, including by
the
European Monitoring Centre on
Racism and Xenophobia. The
eight components are:
- Islam is seen as a
monolithic bloc, static and
unresponsive to change.
- Islam is seen as
separate and 'other'. It
does not have values in
common with other cultures,
is not affected by them and
does not influence them.
- Islam is seen as
inferior to the West. It is
seen as barbaric,
irrational, primitive and
sexist.
- Islam is seen as
violent, aggressive,
threatening, supportive of
terrorism and engaged in a
'clash of civilisations'.
- Islam is seen as a
political ideology and is
used for political or
military advantage.
- Criticisms made of the
West by Islam are rejected
out of hand.
- Hostility towards Islam
is used to justify
discriminatory practices
towards Muslims and
exclusion of Muslims from
mainstream society.
- Anti-Muslim hostility is
seen as natural or normal.
http://www.runnymedetrust.org/publications/pdfs/islamophobia.pdf
Definition:
Islamophobia is the
fear and/or hatred of
Islam,
Muslims or
Islamic culture.
Islamophobia can be
characterised by the belief that
all or most Muslims are
religious fanatics, have violent
tendencies towards non-Muslims,
and reject as directly opposed
to Islam such concepts as
equality,
tolerance, and
democracy. It is viewed as a
new form of
racism whereby Muslims, an
ethno-religious group, not a
race, are nevertheless
constructed as a race. A set of
negative assumptions are made of
the entire group to the
detriment of members of that
group. During the
1990’s many sociologists and
cultural analysts observed a
shift in forms of prejudice from
ones based on skin colour to
ones based on notions of
cultural superiority and
otherness
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamophobia
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Islamophobia Report
Islamophobia News
Islamophobia
Islam as Religion of Peace
QUOTES:
The adviser for the report was Imam Dr Abduljalil Sajid. He
is chair of the Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony
UK and for several years was chair of the social policy, welfare
and regeneration committee of the Muslim Council of Britain, and
chair or vice-chair of the Joint Council for the Welfare of
Immigrants. He has been a member of the Commission on British
Muslims and Islamophobia since 1996.
"IMAM Sajid said: "People have the
perception that anyone who looks like a Muslim is a terrorist.
It is important that they should distinguish between a few
individuals and the majority who have nothing to do with these
attacks." Much of the "Islamophobia" is expressed in the form of
low-level harassment. But even physical attacks are often not
being reported to the police."
LINKS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamophobia
"Why Terror—is there no alternative?",
compiled by
Abduljalil Sajid, Chairman of the Muslim
Council for Religious and Racial
Harmony, UK.
Do we really
understand the reasons behind the growth
of terrorism, violence and suicide
bombings?
The 19 who struck on September 11, 2001,
had a fanatical aim. The 19 Muslims in
this booklet show another way to fight
for justice, freedom and peace. Or will
terror continue to pervade the whole
world?
Read the
commentary by Mary Lean
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