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SearchToday in Islamophobia: In India, authorities in New Delhi stopped a demolition drive in Shaheen Bagh – a Muslim-majority neighbourhood – after hundreds of residents and a number of opposition party workers gathered in protest, meanwhile in Singapore, the government has banned a “controversial Indian film about the exodus of Hindus from Muslim-majority Kashmir, citing concerns over its ‘potential to cause enmity between different communities,'” and in the United States, commentary following the leaked SCOTUS draft opinion has been “highly emotional and incorporated yet again the necessary dose of American denialism” and Islamophobia. Our recommended read of the day is an excerpt published by Middle East Eye from Peter Oborne’s new book, which “explains how Policy Exchange has helped to dismantle traditions of tolerance and multiculturalism in the UK, with Muslims its main target.” This and more below:
United Kingdom
How a neo-conservative think tank defined British Muslims | Recommended Read
In an exclusive extract from his new book The Fate of Abraham, award-winning MEE commentator Peter Oborne explains how Policy Exchange has helped to dismantle traditions of tolerance and multiculturalism in the UK, with Muslims its main target. In the UK, Policy Exchange, a London-based think tank, is one organisation which kept the neo-conservative flame burning. Though its public profile is small, it has exerted prodigious influence in political circles. In conventional politics, Policy Exchange was at first associated in particular with ‘marketisation', an ugly word which describes how the disciplines of the private sector have been introduced into the education system and the wider civil service. The think tank’s most enduring achievement, however, has probably been the reshaping of government policy towards British Muslims. To simplify a rather complicated story, the British government, police and intelligence services originally saw their job as enforcing the law rather than policing ideology or personal beliefs. Policy Exchange dismantled the British approach of tolerance. Its analysts naturally agreed that the police should counter violence. But they disagreed profoundly with any tolerance of the ideas which (so they maintained) might become gateways to this violence. Policy Exchange’s connections were second to none. It was set up in 2002, in the wake of heavy Conservative Party defeats in the 1997 and 2001 general elections, by a group of Conservatives who feared their party was destined to perpetual opposition. These were the self-proclaimed Tory ‘modernisers’. They greatly admired Blair and had supported the Iraq War. These modernisers believed that their mission was to help the Conservatives copy Blair’s achievements in making the Labour Party electorally successful. Michael Gove, at the time of writing a senior member of the Boris Johnson government, was the first chairman of Policy Exchange. When David Cameron ran for the Tory leadership after the 2005 general election defeat, he looked to Policy Exchange for ideas. The organisation – defined by the Evening Standard as "the intellectual boot camp of the Tory modernisers" – helped shape his thinking. At its heart, Policy Exchange spoke of a political philosophy which appeals almost as deeply to the Blairite or Starmer wing of the Labour Party as it does to David Cameron or Boris Johnson’s Conservatives. Better than any comparable organisation, it has come to articulate what was rapidly becoming the philosophy of the British governing class in the 21st century. read the complete article
United Staes
Overturning Roe v. Wade Doesn’t Need Sharia Analogies
The leaked Supreme Court opinion draft on Roe v. Wade created an upheaval in an increasingly polarized and intense American political and social discourse. Understandably, the commentary that followed was highly emotional and incorporated yet again the necessary dose of American denialism. The Republicans were Taliban, the opinion draft was essentially sharia law, and the land of the free no longer resembled itself. And here is where we delve into problematic rhetoric. On the topic of abortion in particular, sharia is by far more flexible and willing to look into the context on a case-by-case basis before a final ruling, and there are no punishments threatening the woman. Sharia law remains a synonym for extremism, despite Muslims explaining for more than two decades that it is not that simple. The ease with which Islam becomes a reference point for all that is inherently backward each time conservatives in America inflict another regression of civil liberties is telling, even when the intentions are not to “otherize” Muslims. When people of Muslim majority countries learn about Evangelicals and conservative lawmakers, other comparisons are made. “They are like our Islamist parties,” for example, in that once they obtain power using democratic and legal means mostly, their first targets are often women and minorities. In America, the rhetoric is the opposite. It expresses utter shock and disbelief that America, in all its greatness and glory, has adopted alien concepts that do not reflect the exceptionalism and liberty this country is defined by. American fundamentalism is just that. It is not comparable to any other because its trajectory is very specific to America only. For five decades, lobbyists and pro-life advocates have pushed to overturn Roe vs. Wade; not sharia law enthusiasts. The American political system allowed for the Supreme Court to become right-leaning; not governing rules inspired by the Taliban. read the complete article
India
India: Demolition in Shaheen Bagh halted after residents protest
Authorities in New Delhi have stopped a demolition drive in Shaheen Bagh – a Muslim-majority neighbourhood at the heart of 2019-20 citizenship protests – after hundreds of residents and a number of opposition party workers gathered in protest. No buildings were razed down before the bulldozers retreated on Monday. The demolition drive planned by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled South Delhi Municipal Corporation was the latest in a series of demolition drives that have razed Muslim-owned properties in several states across India. Critics say bulldozing of Muslim-owned properties and homes in the garb of the anti-encroachment drive is part of the ruling BJP’s majoritarian agenda. As the bulldozers drove away, Mohammed Niyaz, a 47-year-old resident in the neighbourhood, called it “vote-bank politics” intended to divide the Hindu and Muslim communities. “They (government) want to trouble us and keep them (Hindus) happy. It’s as simple as that. Trouble 20 percent of the people and take the vote of 80 percent. It’s vote bank politics,” he told Associated Press. read the complete article
International
Singapore bans controversial Kashmir film praised by India's Modi
Singapore has banned a controversial Indian film about the exodus of Hindus from Muslim-majority Kashmir, citing concerns over its "potential to cause enmity between different communities". "The Kashmir Files" has been praised by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his right-wing Hindu nationalist followers, and has proved a box office hit, but critics say it is loose with facts and fans anti-Muslim sentiment. "The film will be refused classification for its provocative and one-sided portrayal of Muslims and the depictions of Hindus being persecuted in the ongoing conflict in Kashmir," the Singapore government said in a statement on Monday in response to media queries. "These representations have the potential to cause enmity between different communities, and disrupt social cohesion and religious harmony in our multi-racial and multi-religious society," the statement added. read the complete article