The role of politics and decision makers is critical to addressing the scale and scope of Islamophobia in our society, and so the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) continues to bring it to their attention. This November, the MCB joined Afzal Khan MP and Human Rights Watch in hosting an IAM2022 parliamentary drop-in session for parliamentarians.
Delighted to join @Afzal4Gorton MP & @hrw for an Islamophobia Awareness Month drop-in event @UKParliament today.
Looking forward to MPs from all parties coming together to pledge to tackle #Islamophobia in the UK. #IAM2022 #TacklingDenial pic.twitter.com/lsFlh47QBC
— MCB (@MuslimCouncil) November 23, 2022
We were pleased to see so many MPs from across parties attend, all pledging their support in tackling Islamophobia. Constructive dialogue is always a powerful connector, and it was heartening to see MPs be receptive to it, listening and learning about the pervasiveness of Islamophobia in our midst, how it manifests and how we can come together to tackle it.
Thank you to all the MPs that attended my Islamophobia Awareness Month drop-in today.
It was great to see cross-party support on this important subject.
Together we can tackle this awful hatred which impacts Muslim communities in the UK and worldwide.#IAM2022 pic.twitter.com/e64HYBVwx0
— Afzal Khan MP (@AfzalKhanMCR) November 23, 2022
Islamophobia cannot continue to be as pervasive as it has become in recent decades. Failure to tackle Islamophobia as a matter of urgency poses a continued threat to the safety and success of British Muslims, and the diverse communities of which they are a part. As such, IAM 2022 may be coming to a close, but that does not mean we stop raising awareness and forging connections.
The MCB, for its part, will continue to engage parliamentarians on this vital issue, encouraging political parties to look inwards to address Islamophobia, however, it may manifest, within their rank and file.
The Government itself needs to take definitive steps towards tackling Islamophobia, by first and foremost adopting the APPG on British Muslims definition of Islamophobia, the most widely recognised and endorsed in the UK.
It also needs to proactively engage with a cross-section of Muslim-led organisations on the issue and provide regular updates on actions it has taken to tackle Islamophobia within its own party since the release of the Singh Investigation in May 2021.
For more information and resources on Islamophobia, visit our dedicated page here.