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SearchToday in Islamophobia: In Canada, members of Ottawa’s Muslim community say they’re looking to all levels of government for help fighting Islamophobia and other forms of hate, meanwhile in the United Kingdom, a Sky News interview in Nuneaton was interrupted by anti-Muslim bigotry and slurs when a group of women accused an interviewee of “raping our kids”, echoing far-right rhetoric targeting Muslims, and in Australia, anti-racism scholar and researcher Randa Abdel-Fattah has lost a $870K research grant over criticism of her stance on Israel. Our recommended read of the day is by Maira Butt for Religion Media Centre on how flags and graffiti using the St. George’s Cross and Union Jack symbol in recent weeks have begun showing up outside of Islamic worship centers and on homes across the country in a pattern of intimidation and hate. This and more below:
United Kingdom
‘We belong here’: British Muslims defiant as mosques attacked in flag frenzy | Recommended Read
Motorway bridges, mosques and mini-roundabouts have been plastered with the St George’s Cross and Union Jack in recent days, sparking debate about patriotism. Many of the banners have been raised by self-proclaimed “patriots”, eager to make a statement about borders, immigration and who the country really “belongs” to. In some openly hostile demonstrations, the flag that has become a symbol of nationalism has been daubed on to the walls of mosques. South Essex Islamic Centre in Basildon was sprayed with graffiti proclaiming “Christ is King” and “This is England”, alongside a smeared red cross last week. In Liverpool, a spate of incidents included homes spray-painted with malicious messages such as “Locals only” and “No Islam”, and the St George’s Cross daubed on several sites nearby. But one Birkenhead mosque turned the attack around. When a man pinned a Union Jack outside the gates of the Wirral Deen Centre, the imam, Ibrahim Syed, bought another online and hung it up on the window of the mosque. “They intended to cause offence,” he says. “We turned it on its head. Because this is our flag too.” Mr Syed believes there is a subconscious implication that Muslims are not British, but says: “We are British. Now is the time to say we do belong here. We’re embedded in this country and we’re a part of the fabric of society.” He was praised for his response with many on social media calling his actions an example of “real patriotism”. Mr Syed’s optimism is hard-won. His mosque is in one of the less multicultural areas of the country. Recently, he was verbally assaulted while with his children and told to “go back to your country”. At the end of July, the building was targeted again, with air gun pellets shot through the window, shattering the glass. read the complete article
Union Jack flags put up by mosque not protesters
Union Jack flags hanging on a partially-built mosque were put up by the Islamic centre which owns the building and not as an act of protest. A video posted on Facebook congratulated whoever "did this to the mosque" in Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria and attracted hundreds of comments expressing anti-Muslim sentiment. But the South Lakes Islamic Centre, which is behind the building's construction, said it had displayed the flags itself, to symbolise "our shared belonging". Earlier this year, police patrols were stepped up in the area, following a rise in online abuse directed against the new building, with protests also taking place. The centre said flying the flag was "not about politics or culture wars". A spokesperson said: "It reflects who we are, a British mosque rooted in Cumbria, proud of our home and the community we serve. "The flag symbolises our shared belonging and our commitment to building unity, friendship, and a home for all." read the complete article
UK Muslims raise alarm over attacks, vandalism, as mosques defaced in England flag campaign
Muslims around the UK have reported feeling concerned as several mosques were defaced in recent weeks amid a campaign titled ‘Operation Raise the Colours’. The campaign, which has seen the English flag plastered across the country, comes after growing protests against asylum seekers. The campaign has been championed by a former member of the English Defence League, which is known for its Islamophobic sentiments and anti-immigrant beliefs. Since the start of the campaign, streets have been awash with the England flag, while racist graffiti has also been plastered on buildings, and mosques vandalised. This week, a 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and possession of a knife after allegedly racially abusing families praying at a mosque in Portsmouth, as well as punching a man in the chest before pulling out a knife. According to reports, the incident occurred on 31 August at the Jami Mosque and Islamic Centre in Portsmouth, and took place where children were also on the site. Portsmouth police have launched an investigation into the incident and confirmed that a video exists of the incident on social media. read the complete article
Police investigating after Sky News interview with businessman disrupted by shouting and swearing
Police are investigating after a Sky News interview with a local businessman in Nuneaton was disrupted by women shouting about rape. Zahin, 32, was speaking to correspondent Shamaan Freeman-Powell about tensions in the community over asylum when the incident happened. "You're trying to rape our kids," shouted one of the women. They were accompanied by children and one held a pint of lager. "That's the issue with having youse [sic] in our country, you're raping our kids," one woman shouted. The group of women also swore at the camera. Zahin, who relocated to Nuneaton, Warwickshire, from Malawi when he was six years old, asked the women: "What you teaching them kids?" He later said he believes he was targeted because the women assumed he was Muslim and added: "For them to accuse us of a crime, that's unfair, that is unjust." read the complete article
Canada
Racist graffiti sparks calls for governments to tackle Islamophobia
Members of Ottawa's Muslim community say they're looking to all levels of government for help fighting Islamophobia and other forms of hate. This call comes after a local Muslim association’s building in Stittsville was targeted with racist graffiti. read the complete article
International
Anti-racism scholar’s career “ruined” by pro-Israel lobby
Randa Abdel-Fattah is an anti-racism scholar and author who lost an $870,000 research grant over criticisms of her stance on Israel.The Palestinian Australian writer also recently withdrew from a writers festival after organisers demanded she and other speakers avoid “divisive” topics and abide by an anti-Semitism code. In this Unmute, she talks about censorship in academia and a broader effort to silence pro-Palestinian voices in Australia. read the complete article