PRESS RELEASE
15 March 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
Launch of Report: Islamophobia- From Denial to Action
On this day of the UN International Day to Combat Islamophobia, a leading female-led Muslim charity has called for immediate action from the public sector to address Islamophobia, in their report entitled, ‘Islamophobia: From Denial to Action’.
The report by An-Nisa Society highlights the failure of public sector bodies in the United Kingdom in tackling Institutional Islamophobia. It rejects the idea of Islamophobia as a ‘form of racism’ and states that Islamophobia is abuse and discrimination which is caused specifically by prejudice, fear and hatred of Islam and Muslims.
Public bodies, generally have a lack of understanding of faith discrimination, how faith influences needs and what institutional Islamophobia looks like, according to the report. It states that there is instead a focus on race equality, which is about colour and physical characteristics alone, which disguises and renders invisible the Muslim experience of discrimination. This leads to exclusion, alienation and marginalisation and has negative health and socio-economic outcomes for Muslims.
The recommendations of the report include setting up of a working group to develop a fit-for-purpose definition of Islamophobia, that uncouples it from racism and for the establishment of a lobby or pressure group to ensure that the public sector carries out its legal obligation to address discrimination faced by Muslims, as religion or belief is a protected characteristic of the Equality Act.
The report also calls for:
- The Government and public sector to recognise and incorporate the importance of faith to many communities and to refocus their equality policies and services and include faith as a separate strand.
- The development of a definition of Islamophobia that treats it as a separate strand to racism, with its own specific historical and contemporary manifestations.
- Improved understanding of what Institutional Islamophobia is and how it manifests.
- Utilising the potential of the Equality Act 2010 and how this is a more appropriate avenue to address Islamophobia.
- Recognise the importance of faith monitoring for Muslims and implement it.
- Recognise the importance of faith-based services for Muslims and implement the delivery of Muslim sensitive services.
- Recognise the importance of supporting the building a sustainable and vigorous Muslim civil society/voluntary sector.
Khalida Khan, Director of An-Nisa Society said: “The report urges Muslim professionals and activists to think outside of the box, and be BRAVE to devise a definition for Islamophobia that will be truly effective at uplifting Muslims, despite all the obstacles.”
“If we want a fair and just society for all it cannot be right that a section of the community is so vilified and allowed to be second-class citizens. How much longer are we going to keep trying to prove Islamophobia exists? We feel the time is now right to make a change for the betterment of our community.”
#IslamophobiaFromDenialToAction
Read full report: on this link
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
About An-Nisa Society
The Society has been working for nearly 40 years with Muslim families, women and children on the ground in the UK. It has campaigned for a British Muslim identity, the provision of faith-based services and delivered innovative faith-based projects such as Islamic Counselling, the need for legislation against Islamophobia and many issues that affect the Muslim community.
For information. Contact info@an-nisa.org
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