RACIST HATE CRIME ON MUSLIM WOMEN RISES

When you read this headline, maybe you’re thinking about the Taliban as they are often reported as a group that mistreats women. It actually refers to Muslim women here in the UK and their attackers are on many occasions, those who sympathise with groups such as the British National Party (BNP) or the English Defence League (EDL).

According to recent research, one in three of those who attack Muslim women have a link to the far right EDL or the BNP. One of those who sympathised with the EDL suggested shooting Baroness Warsi between the eyes.

The cowardly thugs have a target, the Muslim woman who wears a hijab or niqab (face veil).

Recently in Solihull, Ian Brazier pulled off Farhana Chugtai’s niqab in broad day light whilst she was shopping with her family. Mr Brazier claimed that he was angry as he could not watch the movie that he wanted to and was under the effect of cannabis. In another report it suggested that he thought that Ms Chugtai was an illegal immigrant. The fact that is concerning is that why would anyone think that a Muslim is an illegal immigrant? Muslims have played a role in Britain since 1558 and to many Muslims, Britain is the only place they call home. To me there is only one clear answer, the negative portrayal of Muslims in swathes of the mass media. So much so that it has become acceptable for some to take out their anger on Muslim women.

Ms Chugtai later commented:

Mr Brazier was ordered to pay a £100 fine and complete 250 hours of unpaid community service.

However in another incident, NurJahan Khatun was attacked by a group of 7 to 8 white men. They pushed her to the floor and started shouting ‘Paki’ and ‘Bin Laden’ to her. If that wasn’t bad enough they urinated on her and rubbed dog faeces in her face. No words could describe how I felt when I heard this, to think this can happen to a woman, today in Britain, just because she is a Muslim is truly disgusting.

The Tell Mama organisation state that their findings show that attacks on women who wear the hijab or niqab are on the increase.

These sisters wear hijab, so why don’t the Imams in the Masjid do more to defend them? Why is it that they are very concerned about the wearing of the hijab but they are not concerned for the sister who wears the hijab? It doesn’t make sense to me.

However, it’s not just the Imams job to defend these sisters it’s your job too. We are all one Ummah and when our sisters are being attacked we are all being attacked.

We need to speak out and defend our sisters and the Imams should be doing more against the far right groups such as the BNP and the EDL. Why aren’t the Imams who preach to our sisters that they should wear the hijab doing anything to get these groups banned?