So Participation Is Inflitration

When is joining a mainstream political party regarded as 'infiltration'? When Muslims do it. Jim Fitzpatrick, MP for Poplar and Canning Town and Energy Minister, is on Islamophobic territory by alleging that because local Muslims have taken an interest in joining the local Labour Party, they are trying to take it over from within.

He specifically singles out the Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE) for his ire. His claims are amongst others highlighted in another Islamophobic documentary by Channel 4’s Dispatches team with a programme (airing of 1st March) making a whole host of allegations. So listen out for silly allegations about segregation at weddings amounting to extremism and compliance with Sharia as a mark of some fifth column organising a takeover of Britain. If these themes sound familiar, that’s because similar conspiratorial allegations we made against Britain’s Jewish population at the turn of the 20th Century. Also listen out for creepy, unnerving bass-heavy music when a 'key point' is being made and also look out for a roster of Muslim apologists who will use the documentary to lay into to the IFE. The subtext of the documentary is simple; Muslims should not join the mainstream parties and expect those parties to reflect their concerns.

MPACUK has fought hard to advocate the idea of Muslim participation in mainstream democratic politics as a far more attractive alternative to the violent reaction we have seen in the past.

So how should Muslims respond? Simply by getting rid of Fitzpatrick and any other MP that makes such allegations at the forthcoming General Election. Fitzpatrick has a surmountable majority of just over 7,000 votes. If Muslims in the constituency organise against him, they can either sweep him out of power or at least erode his majority into marginal territory. Muslims should demonstrate that they can vote tactically in the Election and show malcontents such as Fitzpatrick the door.