Sayeeda Warsi, former Chair of the Conservative Party
Should you switch on any mainstream news program or read any mainstream news articles you would be mistaken for thinking that the Labour Party was a cesspool of anti-semitism and racism, with figures such as Alan Sugar ridiculously comparing Jeremy Corbyn to former German leader, Adolf Hitler.
While any leftist criticism of Israel and its policy regarding Palestine is spun and twisted to suggest that anytime you speak up for Palestinian rights or a two-state solution is anti-semitic, those who throw around accusations of anti-semitism and racism clearly have issues regarding racism and in this instance, Islamophobia in the UK Conservative Party.
There are genuine instances of anti-semitism surrounding the Left, with George Galloway's "no Israel flags" tweet during last year's Champions League Final coming to mind - this is was deemed a hateful statement by losing finalists Tottenham Hotspur FC, a club with historically Jewish support. During the 1930's, Tottenham's support was one-third Jewish with the support coming from Jewish communities in East and North London, however as the clubs support has grown, these Jewish communities now only make up roughly 5% of Tottenham's support.
Right-wing 'journalists' such as Brendan O'Neill have comically claimed that while anti-semitism is a real and pressing issue, for which he has written countless articles bashing the Left for perceived anti-semitism, Islamophobia is a "recently invented term to shut down criticism of Islam."
You have to wonder why this only works one way, where it is acceptable to have "critical discussion" regarding Islam but even the mention of the IDF's bombing and oppression of the Palestinians or bringing up the lobbying power of AIPAC (which is explicitly labelled as a 'lobbying group which advocates pro-Israel policies to the Congress and Executive Branch of the United States') is deemed anti-semitic and the need for a "critical discussion" immediately disappears.
Regarding Islamophobia within the UK Conservative Party, a Business Insider poll exposes how widespread the issue actually is. Conservative Party members were polled on their feelings regarding Muslims and the results are rather upsetting:
The issue of Conservative Islamophobia is perhaps even more prominent today, as current leader and UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has previously likened Muslim women who wear the burqa to "letterboxes" and "bank robbers" and has yet to apologise, even after being confronted on his comments from Sikh Labour MP, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, in parliament.
Sayeeda Warsi, a former leader of the Conservative Party, has blown the whistle on Islamophobia within her own party. Warsi has called for an independent inquiry into the issue and asked former Prime Minister, Theresa May, to publicly acknowledge the issue of Islamophobia within the Conservative Party. Back in July, the Muslim Council of Britain stood with Warsi and accused the Conservatives of turning a blind eye to Islamophobia within their ranks.
Back in March, fifteen Conservative Party councillors that were previously suspended for Islamophobia and racism, were allowed back into the party. Some of the councillors were caught calling Saudi's "sand peasants", compared Asian people to dogs, referring to Muslims as "cavemen" and that "most" of the religions followers are sex offenders.
Both anti-semitism and Islamophobia are issues that need to be stamped out in political parties as well as the wider society. Unfortunately, Islamophobia is going to remain tough to defeat while those who are caught are hardly punished and in denial of the gravity of what they're saying, and while idiotic 'journalists' are claiming that hatred of Muslims in British society isn't anywhere near as important as mild criticism of Israel and their actions.
Our goal should not be to compare the issues and claim that one is worse than the other or one political party is more bigoted than the other, but to defeat both instances of hatred.
While any leftist criticism of Israel and its policy regarding Palestine is spun and twisted to suggest that anytime you speak up for Palestinian rights or a two-state solution is anti-semitic, those who throw around accusations of anti-semitism and racism clearly have issues regarding racism and in this instance, Islamophobia in the UK Conservative Party.
There are genuine instances of anti-semitism surrounding the Left, with George Galloway's "no Israel flags" tweet during last year's Champions League Final coming to mind - this is was deemed a hateful statement by losing finalists Tottenham Hotspur FC, a club with historically Jewish support. During the 1930's, Tottenham's support was one-third Jewish with the support coming from Jewish communities in East and North London, however as the clubs support has grown, these Jewish communities now only make up roughly 5% of Tottenham's support.
Right-wing 'journalists' such as Brendan O'Neill have comically claimed that while anti-semitism is a real and pressing issue, for which he has written countless articles bashing the Left for perceived anti-semitism, Islamophobia is a "recently invented term to shut down criticism of Islam."
You have to wonder why this only works one way, where it is acceptable to have "critical discussion" regarding Islam but even the mention of the IDF's bombing and oppression of the Palestinians or bringing up the lobbying power of AIPAC (which is explicitly labelled as a 'lobbying group which advocates pro-Israel policies to the Congress and Executive Branch of the United States') is deemed anti-semitic and the need for a "critical discussion" immediately disappears.
Regarding Islamophobia within the UK Conservative Party, a Business Insider poll exposes how widespread the issue actually is. Conservative Party members were polled on their feelings regarding Muslims and the results are rather upsetting:
- 40% want cap/limit on Muslims entering UK
- 43% oppose a Muslim Prime Minister
- 67% believe Sharia Law rules parts of the UK (it doesn't)
- 45% believe there are no-go zones for non-Muslims (there aren't)
- 39% believe that Islamist terror groups reflect a widespread hostility to Britain among the Muslim community
The issue of Conservative Islamophobia is perhaps even more prominent today, as current leader and UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has previously likened Muslim women who wear the burqa to "letterboxes" and "bank robbers" and has yet to apologise, even after being confronted on his comments from Sikh Labour MP, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, in parliament.
Sayeeda Warsi, a former leader of the Conservative Party, has blown the whistle on Islamophobia within her own party. Warsi has called for an independent inquiry into the issue and asked former Prime Minister, Theresa May, to publicly acknowledge the issue of Islamophobia within the Conservative Party. Back in July, the Muslim Council of Britain stood with Warsi and accused the Conservatives of turning a blind eye to Islamophobia within their ranks.
Back in March, fifteen Conservative Party councillors that were previously suspended for Islamophobia and racism, were allowed back into the party. Some of the councillors were caught calling Saudi's "sand peasants", compared Asian people to dogs, referring to Muslims as "cavemen" and that "most" of the religions followers are sex offenders.
Both anti-semitism and Islamophobia are issues that need to be stamped out in political parties as well as the wider society. Unfortunately, Islamophobia is going to remain tough to defeat while those who are caught are hardly punished and in denial of the gravity of what they're saying, and while idiotic 'journalists' are claiming that hatred of Muslims in British society isn't anywhere near as important as mild criticism of Israel and their actions.
Our goal should not be to compare the issues and claim that one is worse than the other or one political party is more bigoted than the other, but to defeat both instances of hatred.
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