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#Islamophobia in #Britain in 2020:
Despite the continuous stream of evidence demonstrating rampant #Islamophobia within the #Conservative party, leadership failed (again) to carry out their promise of an inquiry.
@NesrineMalik https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/07/tories-islamophobia-proud-muslims-scapegoat
#Islamophobia in #Britain in 2020:
Despite the continuous stream of evidence demonstrating rampant #Islamophobia within the #Conservative party, leadership failed (again) to carry out their promise of an inquiry.
@NesrineMalik https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/07/tories-islamophobia-proud-muslims-scapegoat
When it came to #COVID19, British #Muslim doctors were integral in the fight against the deadly virus. Many gave their lives to save others.
They did this in an environment which not only failed to value them but consistently “othered” them.
@ainajkhan https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/4/1/muslim-minority-doctors-first-to-die-on-front-line-of-uk-pandemic
They did this in an environment which not only failed to value them but consistently “othered” them.
@ainajkhan https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/4/1/muslim-minority-doctors-first-to-die-on-front-line-of-uk-pandemic
#COVID19 revealed the impacts of structural & institutional racism as Black ppl & POC were disproportionately impacted by the virus. These communities are more likely to fill low-paid jobs. https://ceasefiremagazine.co.uk/covid-19-hitting-britains-bame-communities-hardest/
The @BBCNews may be able to romanticise their circumstances by calling them ‘minimum wage heroes’; but in reality, racialised communities are being forced to risk their lives to survive.
@RoxyLegane https://ceasefiremagazine.co.uk/covid-19-hitting-britains-bame-communities-hardest/
@RoxyLegane https://ceasefiremagazine.co.uk/covid-19-hitting-britains-bame-communities-hardest/
The #coronavirus pandemic has been a stunning reminder that Global South immigrants will remain an afterthought, unless they are saving western lives.
@matnashed https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/comment/2020/4/1/help-us-fight-coronavirus-but-dont-expect-to-stay
@matnashed https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/comment/2020/4/1/help-us-fight-coronavirus-but-dont-expect-to-stay
Just over 4 in 10 NHS staff are BAME, & almost 1 in 3 doctors are not from the UK. From the first Caribbean nurses who arrived after WWII, the #NHS has been built on the backs of Black people and people of color: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/05/nhs-heroes-and-targets-of-racists
A 2020 study found rampant #Islamophobia w/in the #NHS. Muslim NHS workers revealed the racism they face from their own patients, with taunts about being “terrorists” and being told “go back to your own country”. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/islamophobia-nhs-patients-muslims-religion-abuse-discrimination_uk_5f567984c5b62b3add4442b6?utm_hp_ref=uk-news
The study also found tht #Muslim #NHS workers faced #Islamophobia from fellow doctors & healthcare workers. 81% had experienced Islamophobia or racism & more than half – 57% – felt Islamophobia had held them back in their career progression https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/islamophobia-nhs-muslim-doctors-institutionalised_uk_5f562e80c5b62b3add43cccb
Lady Lawrence’s report found that structural racism led to the disproportionate impact of the #coronavirus pandemic on BAME communities.
Minority ethnic people in UK were "overexposed, under protected, stigmatised and overlooked." https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/27/structural-racism-led-to-worse-covid-impact-on-bame-groups-report
Minority ethnic people in UK were "overexposed, under protected, stigmatised and overlooked." https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/27/structural-racism-led-to-worse-covid-impact-on-bame-groups-report
The pandemic shined a light on systemic inequalities that exist in Britain today. A Public Health England report in June found tht ppl from Black & Asian ethnic groups were 2x as likely to die from #Covid19 compared to white people: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/bame-communities-coronavirus-uk
As if dealing with a deadly virus was not enough, British #Muslims were subject to conspiracy theories accusing the community of evading #lockdown orders. A deliberate campaign of anti-Muslim smears & misinformation gathered pace.
@hopenothate https://www.hopenothate.org.uk/2020/04/01/no-the-mosques-arent-open/
@hopenothate https://www.hopenothate.org.uk/2020/04/01/no-the-mosques-arent-open/
Abusive online posts called for the demolition of all mosques to “cure” #coronavirus, & #Muslim women hve been the victims of hate crimes in public during the outbreak. A report warned that the claims could lead to a spike in attacks when lockdown lifts https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-muslim-lockdown-conspiracy-theories-tommy-robinson-katie-hopkins-a9471516.html
Such dangerous & false accusations were only amplified when mainstream media outlets continued to signal a connection between #Muslims & the virus:
@5Pillarsuk https://5pillarsuk.com/2020/03/29/some-western-media-outlets-could-not-resist-linking-covid-19-to-islam-and-muslims/
@5Pillarsuk https://5pillarsuk.com/2020/03/29/some-western-media-outlets-could-not-resist-linking-covid-19-to-islam-and-muslims/
The Sunday Times & Metro were guilty of promoting such misinformation as @hopenothate found that misleading headlines were adding fuel to unfounded fears about #Muslims & #COVID19. https://www.hopenothate.org.uk/2020/04/17/attention-grabbing-headlines-about-ramadan-risk-provoking-anti-muslim-sentiment/
Not only did PM Johnson & his party fail to appropriately tackle #COVID19, party members & MPs continued to promote #Islamophobia as one MP gave airtime to far-right conspiracy theories claiming Muslims were not taking COVID seriously: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53612230
Speaking of Boris, an article he wrote in 1997 was unearthed, adding to Johnson’s anti- #Muslim track record.
In the piece, he said the 8,000+ #Muslims murdered in the #Srebrenica #genocide "weren’t exactly angels, these Muslims." https://metro.co.uk/2020/06/19/boris-j-12874155/
In the piece, he said the 8,000+ #Muslims murdered in the #Srebrenica #genocide "weren’t exactly angels, these Muslims." https://metro.co.uk/2020/06/19/boris-j-12874155/
Many commentators also pointed out the irony as European govts, including the UK, called for mandatory #facemasks despite having taken hardline approaches against the niqab & #burqa. https://www.indy100.com/news/face-coverings-masks-boris-johnson-grant-shapps-muslim-niqab-burqa-ban-9550826
The double standard was further revealed when the govt issued a #lockdown a mere hours before #Eid. British #Muslims rightfully felt targeted & pointed out the hypocrisy of the lockdown, which allowed for pubs & restaurants to remain open https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jul/31/singled-out-oldham-muslim-community-coronavirus-lockdown-controls-eid
The govt "have done it on the eve of Eid," leading ppl to think "it must be the Muslim community's fault. They're [The govt] highlighting a particular demographic. & people are angry and now that anger is focused on a particular community." https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/06/europe/muslims-coronavirus-england-islamophobia-gbr-intl/index.html
Lockdown orders led to a surge in online anti-Muslim sentiment.
“Everyone will think it’s a Muslim problem…What abt the Liverpool & Leeds fans? Look at some of the pubs, look at Bournemouth beach. You can’t put this down to one religion/one community.” https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/aug/05/islamophobia-surges-amid-lockdown-warn-civic-leaders-in-north-of-england
“Everyone will think it’s a Muslim problem…What abt the Liverpool & Leeds fans? Look at some of the pubs, look at Bournemouth beach. You can’t put this down to one religion/one community.” https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/aug/05/islamophobia-surges-amid-lockdown-warn-civic-leaders-in-north-of-england
To this day, the government has refused to publish evidence behind its decision to impose a coronavirus lockdown in the north of England just hours before the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-manchester-lockdown-eid-refuse-publish-evidence
Many rightfully pointed out the double standard by the govt re: holiday lockdowns as #Boris vowed to 'save #Christmas 
' but had no problem implementing a lockdown hrs before Eid. Such action sends a clear message 2 the UK's minority religious communities: https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/Comment/2020/11/28/The-problem-with-Boris-trying-to-save-Christmas
' but had no problem implementing a lockdown hrs before Eid. Such action sends a clear message 2 the UK's minority religious communities: https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/Comment/2020/11/28/The-problem-with-Boris-trying-to-save-Christmas
To summarize, #Islamophobia in Britain in 2020 manifested in the form of discriminatory policies from the govt singling out the Muslim community.
The #Conservative party failed (again) to tackle #Islamophobia within its ranks, signalling to wider society the anti-Muslim racism is acceptable. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/sep/30/half-of-conservative-party-members-believe-islam-is-threat-poll-finds
