Muslims protest against media bigotry
British Muslims demonstrated outside Downing Street at the weekend demanding equal rights and an end to rampant Islamophobia in the media. Around 100 people representing a number of organisations took part in Saturday's demonstration under the slogan "Yes to equal citizenship, No to double standards." Grievances referred to included the bugging of Tooting MP Sadiq Khan and the media furore over the Archbishop of Canterbury's comments on sharia law.
Organised by the British Muslim Initiative (BMI) and supported by over 20 other Muslim groups, including the Muslim Council of Britain and British Muslim Forum, the vigil took place in Westminster at 2pm.
BMI spokesman Anas Altikriti said that recent events "provide further evidence of bias, prejudice, xenophobia and even borderline racism rampant in wide corners of the media, as well as in the corridors of government." He argued that they "reinforce the expanding belief that serious unfairness, bias and double standards rise to the surface when Muslims and Islam in Britain come into consideration."
Mr Altikriti warned that it would be "a catastrophe" if the media and politicians continued to associate all Muslims with extremist thought. "It would be a catastrophe not only for Muslims but for society as a whole. If you cannot distinguish between friends and enemies, there is no future. The vast majority of Muslims are against terrorism," he stressed.
Institute of Islamic Political Thought director Dr Azzam Tamimi told protesters that "biased hysterical reporting on Muslim issues" was stirring up hatred. "There is no contradiction between being British and being a Muslim. In reality, you can be British and can be anything else at the same time as long as you are law-abiding," he added.
Morning Star, 18 February 2008
Martin Sullivan