Khalid Bin I
21-02-2005, 04:01 PM
Mohammad Sarwar MP Attacks Michael Howard!
The chair of 'Muslim Friends of Labour' Mohammad Sarwar MP has criticised the leader of the Conservative Party Michael Howard for his refusal to back the proposal to prohibit incitement to religious hatred.
Mr. Sarwar said, "The British Muslim community and all Muslim organisations, including the Muslim Council of Britain, support the Labour government’s proposal for a ban on incitement to religious hatred. This is also supported by the Law Society, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Commission for Racial Equality and human rights organisations like Justice.
The current law of incitement to racial hatred does not protect British Muslims. A loophole in this legislation makes British Muslims easy targets from racist far right groups. The protection is only offered to the Sikh and Jewish communities as they are categorised as race groups.
The fact that the Michael Howard is refusing to back this legislation only reinforces the views of many British Muslims that the Conservative Party are not a party who have the interests of the Muslim community at heart.
It is not enough for Michael Howard to stand in the northern cities and give speeches against the racist British National Party. Practical steps have to be taken by the Conservative Party to tackle the hatred that is generated by groups like the BNP against the Muslim community. The Conservatives failure to offer this protection to the Muslims is prove that Muslims should not trust them. As for the Liberal Democrats, they think that it is enough for them to have opposed the Iraq war and Muslims will vote for them. The Muslim community is not a single issue community. There are many other issues that are also important and the ban on incitement to religious hatred is one of them.
The Liberal Democrat Party’s refusal to back this proposal also proves that they are not the best party for Muslims.
It is only Labour which has proven time and time again that it is the party which works for the Muslim community.
The Conservative and Liberals are refusing to send the powerful message that people of all faiths should be treated equally. The Muslim community cannot trust them."
Adding to this, the Founder and Honorary President of Muslim Friends of Labour, Stephen Timms said:
"This legislation should be supported by all political parties. The Labour Party has introduced it, but all fair minded people can see that racist extremists should not be allowed to distribute material aimed simply at provoking hatred for Muslims. I hope the other parties will drop their opposition to the Bill."
Comments
No vote for Conservative
Written by Ilyas Patel on 2005-02-21 11:03:29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am from Watford and my family and I were going to vote Conservative. Not any more.
Written by Anon on 2005-02-21 11:03:16
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow, so this guy actually speaks!
Boycott Tories
Written by Jamshed Khan on 2005-02-21 11:02:58
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Muslims should boycott the Conservative Party until Michael Howard is removed as leader. That includes not voting for any 'Muslim Conservative Candidate.'
Conservative Muslim Forum
Written by Sabiha on 2005-02-21 11:02:46
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is this further prove that the Conservative Muslim Forum is just a 'token' group. No power, no influence but just a bunch of yes men and women to Zionist Michael Howard.
The chair of 'Muslim Friends of Labour' Mohammad Sarwar MP has criticised the leader of the Conservative Party Michael Howard for his refusal to back the proposal to prohibit incitement to religious hatred.
Mr. Sarwar said, "The British Muslim community and all Muslim organisations, including the Muslim Council of Britain, support the Labour government’s proposal for a ban on incitement to religious hatred. This is also supported by the Law Society, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Commission for Racial Equality and human rights organisations like Justice.
The current law of incitement to racial hatred does not protect British Muslims. A loophole in this legislation makes British Muslims easy targets from racist far right groups. The protection is only offered to the Sikh and Jewish communities as they are categorised as race groups.
The fact that the Michael Howard is refusing to back this legislation only reinforces the views of many British Muslims that the Conservative Party are not a party who have the interests of the Muslim community at heart.
It is not enough for Michael Howard to stand in the northern cities and give speeches against the racist British National Party. Practical steps have to be taken by the Conservative Party to tackle the hatred that is generated by groups like the BNP against the Muslim community. The Conservatives failure to offer this protection to the Muslims is prove that Muslims should not trust them. As for the Liberal Democrats, they think that it is enough for them to have opposed the Iraq war and Muslims will vote for them. The Muslim community is not a single issue community. There are many other issues that are also important and the ban on incitement to religious hatred is one of them.
The Liberal Democrat Party’s refusal to back this proposal also proves that they are not the best party for Muslims.
It is only Labour which has proven time and time again that it is the party which works for the Muslim community.
The Conservative and Liberals are refusing to send the powerful message that people of all faiths should be treated equally. The Muslim community cannot trust them."
Adding to this, the Founder and Honorary President of Muslim Friends of Labour, Stephen Timms said:
"This legislation should be supported by all political parties. The Labour Party has introduced it, but all fair minded people can see that racist extremists should not be allowed to distribute material aimed simply at provoking hatred for Muslims. I hope the other parties will drop their opposition to the Bill."
Comments
No vote for Conservative
Written by Ilyas Patel on 2005-02-21 11:03:29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am from Watford and my family and I were going to vote Conservative. Not any more.
Written by Anon on 2005-02-21 11:03:16
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow, so this guy actually speaks!
Boycott Tories
Written by Jamshed Khan on 2005-02-21 11:02:58
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Muslims should boycott the Conservative Party until Michael Howard is removed as leader. That includes not voting for any 'Muslim Conservative Candidate.'
Conservative Muslim Forum
Written by Sabiha on 2005-02-21 11:02:46
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is this further prove that the Conservative Muslim Forum is just a 'token' group. No power, no influence but just a bunch of yes men and women to Zionist Michael Howard.