Shock, Horror: Media and Politicans Fuel Rise in Crime Against Muslims

It has taken a long, complicated study by academics to say what many Muslims, particularly MPACUK, have been saying for a long time. The constant negative reporting and stereotyping of Muslims by newspapers looking for sensational headlines and politicians seeking a quick vote translates itself on the street into ACTUAL aggression, assault and abuse against Muslims in the UK.

The study states that there is evidence to suggest that the anti- Muslim hysteria whipped up has lead to deaths, arson and low level assults like spitting and name-calling. Whilst the study doesn't mention newspapers and writers, it does hint that the book written by the right-wing, rabid, anti-Muslim propagandist Melanie Philips' book Londonistan has played a part in triggering hate crimes.

Tellingly , the hate is not being driven by the usual extremists but by the extremists in the tabloids and the extreme views of mainstream politicans, the constant drip, drip effect is leading to the radicalisation of the British population, which has lead to rise of the EDL and the increased support of the BNP.

Perhaps the most worrying part of the study states : “the main perpetrators of low-level, anti-Muslim hate crimes are not gangs but rather simply individuals from a wide range of backgrounds who feel licensed to abuse, assault and intimidate Muslims in terms that mirror elements of mainstream media and political comment that became commonplace during the last decade."

To most switched -on Muslims, this isn't a major revelation. For years now, sisters who wear hijaab and niqaab and for brothers who sport handsome beards and wear traditional Arabic clothing have faced abuse that has almost become a part of their lives and this abuse is increasing. This ‘normalisation of hate’ harks back to another era on mainland Europe; one of its darkest periods where the vilification of a minority group by mainstream society, newspapers and intellectuals went unchallenged and we all know how that ended.

So what can we as Muslims do about it?

We can begin to empower ourselves politically by organising ourselves. We can start with newspapers by writing into them, challenging their lazy stereotypes, misconceptions and downright lies. We need to challenge elected officials in public meetings and hold them to account at the ballot box. We can take a more proactive stance against the hate-filled invective that our enemies throw at us. Alternatively, the next Muslim that is attacked could be someone you know, or the next mosque burnt could be the one you pray jummah in, or the next Muslim woman to have her hijaab ripped off could be your sister.

The time for inaction is over, the time for apathy is over. It 's time to organise.