Multiple mosques and communities around the country have been targeted by violent riots over the last week, including Southport, Hartlepool, Sunderland, and Liverpool. Dozens more protests and riots are planned across the country.
Muslims are being systematically targeted and it must be an urgent priority for the government to get on top of these disturbing developments.
Today, Muslims in the UK are fearful of going to town centres and to attend their places of worship.
What the Government urgently needs to do:
- Convene a meeting with the Prime Minister and Home Secretary with the representatives of the Muslim organisation with a mandates from the community: The Muslim Council of Britain (“MCB”).
- Commit to constructive dialogue with the Muslim community and to reset relationships with representative Muslim organisations such as the MCB and others.
- The £117m Government funding for Mosque protection is already in place but has not been used. The Government to confirm this funding is still in place.
- Once confirmed, The Government to put in place mechanisms to help this funding be effectively utilised. This will save police costs long-term. Ideas include – full marketing of the availability of such funding as well as allocating a small amount of the funding towards professional grant writers who can facilitate this process for mosques ill-equipped to make the applications.
- £10m in funding for organisations fighting discrimination and Islamophobia. Candidates would include – The Islamophobia Response Unit, The Community Policy Forum as well as specific programmes offered by mosques and other charities across the country.
- £25m in funding to heal divisions between marginalised societies such as Muslims, Black communities, the white working class. This is vital to reverse the grievance the far right is preying upon.
- Tighter press regulation around Islamophobic and prejudicial language through a full implementation of the Royal Charter recommendations.