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SearchToday in Islamophobia: In Australia, The Australian National Imams Council’s Bilal Rauf has labelled the delay of the Albanese government’s choosing of an Islamophobia envoy as “very disappointing and concerning”, meanwhile in the U.S., rights groups are urging the Democratic National Committee to condemn the attack on a Muslim woman who was silently protesting US arms sales to Israel during the Democratic convention in Chicago last month, and lastly, the Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA) has called for hate crime charges to be brought against a driver who allegedly intentionally hit two Muslim women wearing hijabs and a baby in a stroller. Our recommended read of the day is by Daniel Boffey for The Guardian on how the head of the Muslim Council of Britain has called for an explanation and a review of the government’s policy of non-engagement after her appeals for contact during the summer’s anti-Muslim riots were ignored. This and more below:
United Kingdom
‘Quite shocking’ lack of government contact during UK riots, says MCB head | Recommended Read
The head of the Muslim Council of Britain has called for an explanation and a review of the government’s policy of non-engagement with the body after her appeals for contact during the summer riots were ignored. Zara Mohammed, who was elected more than three years ago as the MCB’s youngest and first female secretary general, said there had been a “quite shocking” lack of contact with the new government at a time when mobs were targeting Muslims and mosques. The MCB had been “heavily engaged” with Labour’s shadow cabinet when the party was in opposition, including a meeting in 2021 between Mohammed and Keir Starmer where they discussed “the importance of engaging with Muslim communities”, she said. Downing Street then ignored attempts to discuss the dangers being posed to Muslim people during the riots, Mohammed said, even as Northern Ireland’s first minister, Michelle O’Neill, and senior police officers held talks with her in Belfast. Mohammed, 33, whose tenure as MCB leader will end in January, said she hoped ministers would now review the government’s “baffling” approach to the UK’s largest Muslim umbrella group, which has more than 500 affiliated members including mosques, schools and charitable associations. “But I think what was really disappointing, and perhaps for many in the Muslim community, quite shocking, was no formal or meaningful engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain during a time when mosques and Muslims were being targeted by the far right in a terrifying way.” read the complete article
After the riots: the Muslim women filming everything to stay safe – video
Lila Tamea was one of the worshippers inside Abdullah Quilliam Society mosque in Liverpool when it was targeted by far-right rioters in August. Alongside Imam Adam Kelwick, she went out to speak to them and offer food. In the weeks that followed, Lila took a leading role in trying to rebuild her community after the violence. But now, despite promises of community cohesion in Liverpool, fear and paranoia are still a daily reality for Muslim women. read the complete article
United States
‘We are not OK:’ Arab Americans, feeling ignored, organize for the long haul
There were fits of crying, screaming matches, thoughtful strategizing sessions and joyful rallies. And there was consensus around one thing: Staying home Nov. 5 is not an option. Engage. Speak up. Vote — at least in local elections, if not in the presidential race. Those were the primary messages conveyed at ArabCon, a tearful, four-day national gathering of about 1,000 Arab Americans that concluded Sunday in Dearborn. The Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee typically holds its annual convention in the Washington D.C. area. This year, it needed to be in Dearborn. From the perspective of anguished Arab Americans who’ve waited in vain for a cease-fire and a sign of change from the Democratic presidential campaign, that movement, at least in the short term, appears to have failed, despite tireless efforts by Arab Americans in influential positions. read the complete article
Condemnation urged for attack on pro-Palestinian protester during DNC in Chicago
Rights groups are urging for the Democratic National Committee to condemn the attack on a Muslim woman who was silently protesting US arms sales to Israel during the Democratic convention in Chicago last month. The incident reportedly took place on 19 August when US President Joe Biden was giving his farewell address. Nadia Ahmad, a Florida delegate at the Democratic convention, along with several other protesters, was silently holding a sign reading "Stop Arming Israel" when several men sitting in nearby seats allegedly attacked the group from behind. The group of silent pro-Palestinian protesters were expressing their opposition to Israel's war on Gaza and US financial support for Israel's military campaign on the small enclave, which has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The alleged attackers, witnesses said, were carrying signs reading "We Love You Joe" with long poles attached, which they reportedly used to attack Ahmad, who was wearing a hijab, causing her to have a concussion, she said. The men were later identified by the victims and witnesses as union members, part of LiUNA, and their names have been shared with the authorities and the Democratic convention organisers. read the complete article
Amid GOP Outrage Over Witnesses, Omar Welcomes Hate Crimes Hearing
On the eve of a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about "stemming the tide of hate crimes" nationwide, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar on Monday commended the panel's chair, Sen. Dick Durbin, for "hosting this groundbreaking yet overdue" event. Discrimination against Jews and Muslims has significantly increased in the United States since the Hamas-led October 7 attack on Israel and the U.S.-backed Israeli retaliation on the Gaza Strip, which critics worldwide call genocide. In May, Durbin (D-Ill.) vowed to hold a hearing "in response to the ongoing and persistent rise in antisemitism and other forms of bigotry across the country." The committee announced last week that it had scheduled a Capitol Hill hearing for 10:00 am Tuesday to "examine how we can better protect Jewish, Arab, and Muslim Americans, and other vulnerable communities from bigoted attacks." Durbin—who has faced calls from Republican committee members to hold a hearing focused on "the civil rights violations of Jewish students" and "the proliferation of terrorist ideology"—said at the time that "hate crimes are a threat to justice everywhere. Sadly, no community is immune from violent acts of hate. Congress cannot turn a blind eye to it." Omar (D-Minn.) expressed gratitude for Durbin's broader event, saying Monday that "this vital hearing is a crucial step in addressing the alarming rise of hate crimes across our nation, particularly those targeting Muslim, Jewish, and Palestinian Americans." read the complete article
CAIR-WA Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Hit-and-Run Targeting Two Muslim Women, Newborn in Stroller
The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for hate crime charges to be brought against a driver who allegedly intentionally hit two Muslim women wearing Islamic head scarves (hijab) and a baby in a stroller on the evening of September 12. A mother and grandmother were reportedly walking with a 5-month-old infant in a stroller on Thursday evening at 4 Corners shopping center in Maple Valley, Washington. Both women wear a hijab, a head scarf worn by Muslim women. They were in a crosswalk with the right-of-way when an approaching vehicle saw the women walking and sped across the intersection, intentionally hitting the group. The driver allegedly sped off after striking both women as well as the stroller, causing it to tip over with the baby boy inside. The infant was uninjured, but both women were hospitalized with serious injuries, including a leg fracture and internal bleeding. read the complete article
International
Hindu Supremacists and White Supremacists Have One Thing in Common for Now: Islamophobia
Notorious British racist Tommy Robinson has told the world that he plans to go to India in December. On August 4, Robinson posted this on X: “I’m coming to India in December & I can’t wait”, sharing a link to an interview he had done the day before on Indian news channel CNN-News18. We should all be very concerned. It is now time to pay attention to the growing alliance of far-right forces across the globe. White supremacists and Hindu supremacists together doesn’t sound like a match made in heaven. Most Hindus are brown. Most white supremacists have a problem with brown people. Yet, apparently these factions can put aside their differences to spread racist, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim hate and violence. This is exactly what is happening with supremacists in India and the UK. When the recent violence and unrest – now dubbed “the 2024 United Kingdom riots” – broke out, it became clear that racism, Islamophobia, anti-immigrant hate, anti-refugee sentiment and fascism are connected to each other. Given my work campaigning against Hindutva, I made it one of my main priorities to highlight the far-right alliance between white supremacists and Hindu supremacists (Hindutva ideologues). I have been doing my best to raise awareness of this unlikely alliance, especially since July 31, when I saw and posted about the fact that Tommy Robinson had been interviewed on July 25 by Sree Iyer on Iyer’s platform PGurus – a California-based YouTube channel that has repeatedly spread Hindu supremacist propaganda and hate speech. read the complete article
India hits out after Iranian leader criticises treatment of Muslims
India has hit out at comments from Iran’s supreme leader regarding the treatment of its Muslim minority. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Monday that remarks made by Ali Khamenei in a post on X were “misinformed and unacceptable”. While India and Iran generally enjoy close relations, the approach of India’s Hindu nationalist government to minorities has led to disagreements in the past. The curt missive followed a social media post from Khamenei on Monday that said, “We cannot consider ourselves to be Muslims if we are oblivious to the suffering that a Muslim is enduring in Myanmar, Gaza, India, or any other place.” read the complete article
Australia
Muslim leaders set deadline for Islamophobia envoy, months after anti-Semitism envoy appointed
When Jillian Segal AO took up the anti-Semitism envoy role in July this year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelled the appointment a "critical step" on the way to easing the tensions playing out in Australia as a result of the war in Gaza. But more than two months on, the promised Islamophobia equivalent hasn't been appointed, leading to concern within some influential parts of the Islamic community. The Australian National Imams Council's Bilal Rauf has labelled the delay "very disappointing and concerning" and has called for urgent action. "I think it needs to occur this month, in the matter of a week or two," he said. "Any longer than that, it almost does become farcical, and one begins to question: 'what's the point?'." As the weeks without an Islamophobia envoy roll on, he said there's a growing sense of skepticism and disappointment within parts of the community. read the complete article
Israel
Israeli TikTok influencer-politician Hadar Muchtar accused of anti-Palestinian incitement after October 7
An Israeli and a Palestinian launched a joint petition Monday to the Israeli Attorney General against Hadar Muchtar, an Israeli politician and influencer who they claim incited violence against Palestinians on social media. Muchtar is a famous young political influencer in Israel and founded her party, Tzeirim Boarim, or Youth on Fire, to protest rising prices years before October 7. Amir Segev Sarusi, 29 and Ali, who we have given a different name over safety fears, accused Hadar Muchtar of incitement, dehumanisation and defamation of Palestinians in videos posted on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Muchtar, who is believed to be serving with the IDF as an academic soldier, published videos where she claimed 97 percent of Palestinians supported October 7, appearing to say that they are legitimate military targets and criticised the Israeli government for allowing the supply of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the complainants said. Segev Sarusi and Ali claimed they were both victims of Muchtar’s posts but for different reasons, however, despite their differences, the two came together to put forward their plea. “She posted a few videos and called for genocide, and that we should kill all the Palestinians and… starve to death,” Ali said. “If I called for the death of Israelis on social media and we were both brought to the same judge, I would be jailed and she would not.” read the complete article
India
Maharashtra: BJP’s Nitesh Rane booked for alleged hate speech in Navi Mumbai
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Nitesh Rane has been booked for allegedly propagating hate speech targeting a minority community at a programme organised to celebrate the Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, reported PTI on Monday. According to Mint, Rane asked realty brokers in the region “not to deal with non-Hindus” and to check the Aadhaar cards of persons before making any property deals. He also reportedly asked them to ignore the principle of “sarva dharma samabhava”, or equal respect for all religions.The remarks sparked protests by the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen. Party spokesperson Imtiaz Jaleel said he plans to visit Mumbai on September 23 and gift copies of the Constitution to the leaders of Maharashtra’s Mahayuti government, which includes the BJP. read the complete article