Research will explore twin impacts of discrimination and Covid-19 on minority ethnic groups

A new research project will explore how inequalities and discrimination are worsening the direct and indirect impacts of the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic on Black, Asian, and minority ethnic groups throughout the UK.

The four projects are funded to a total of £4.5m by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) via the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Professor Iyiola Solanke, at Leeds University’s School of Law, has been awarded a £2.5m grant to launch the Consortium on Practices for Wellbeing and Resilience in Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Families and Communities (Co-POWeR).

In a statement, Professor Solanke said: “There are two viruses affecting people from Black and Minority Ethnic communities across the UK. One is COVID-19 and the other is discrimination. We want to illustrate that the way in which COVID-19 is exacerbating the experience of inequality for those in these communities.”

She added: “There is agency – people are able to adapt and support themselves – but the combined impact of COVID means that government intervention is essential to ensure the ongoing wellbeing of people of all ages who are subjected to these two viruses.”

The 18-month project will assess the combined impacts of the pandemic and discrimination on the wellbeing and resilience across these groups.

The new investment supplements previous UKRI funding streams to better understand Covid-19 and ethnicity, bringing the overall total to £8.8m of government research investment, according to a UKRI press release.

A research team from the University of Manchester will assess the pandemic’s impact on including health, housing, welfare, education, employment and policing (including the disproportionate issuing of fines).

Researchers from the University of Leeds will explore the twin impacts of racial discrimination and coronavirus on the wellbeing of black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities across all age groups.

Smaller research groups will focus on the impacts of the pandemic on Muslim communities in Birmingham, and the mental health impacts the pandemic is causing.

Amanda Solloway, Minister for Science, Research & Innovation, said: “COVID-19 has shone a light on the inequalities facing our society, with evidence showing that people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds are more severely impacted by this dreadful disease.

Not only does science and research offer us a way out of this pandemic, but it will also help us to understand why these disparities exist. These four government-backed research projects will work directly with BAME communities to provide crucial insight that will enable us to address these inequalities and continue protecting as many people as possible.”

Professor Bridget Byrne, who will lead the University of Manchester project, said: “The pandemic has brought the lethal impact of racial and ethnic discrimination into sharp focus. We know COVID-19 has caused more deaths among racial and ethnic minority communities, but it’s also urgent that we understand and take steps to mitigate the wider social and economic impacts.”

Tell MAMA welcomes this important new research and awaits its findings.

 

 

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Categories: BAME, Birmingham, Black and Minority Ethnic, Coronavirus, COVID-19, discrimination, Muslim, News

Sri Lanka to allow burial of Muslims who die with coronavirus

Sri Lanka will begin giving permission for Muslims who die with Covid-19 to be buried, the prime minister said, following an outcry over a previous ban.

Mahinda Rajapaksa gave the assurance in response to a question in Parliament.

Sri Lanka has required the cremation of all people who die from Covid-19, saying the virus in human remains could contaminate underground water.

Muslims and non-Muslims have protested against the rule over the past year, calling it unscientific and insensitive of Muslim religious beliefs.

The United Nations and the United States have also raised concerns with the government.

The World Health Organisation and Sri Lankan doctors’ groups have said Covid-19 victims can either be buried or cremated.

Muslim lawmaker Rishard Bathiudeen said he is happy with Mr Rajapaksa’s assurance, but that the government should implement it by withdrawing the compulsory cremation rule.

“Many people have been cremated before and their families are living in great agony.

“I am happy that they showed some compassion even at this stage, but it has to be implemented soon because people are dying every day,” he said.

Sri Lanka is a predominantly Buddhist country where it is customary for Buddhists and Hindus, the second largest religious group, to cremate the dead.

Muslims make up about 7% of the country’s 22 million people.

Sri Lanka has reported 71,211 coronavirus cases, including 370 deaths.


Read more: Buddhist mobs target Sri Lanka’s Muslims despite the state of emergency

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Categories: COVID-19, Muslim burials, News, Sri Lanka

Charity sees third highest annual tally of anti-Semitic abuse despite lockdown

Anti-Semitic abuse recorded by a Jewish community charity fell last year but the number of incidents remained its third highest annual total.

The Community Security Trust (CST) said it had recorded 1,668 anti-Semitic incidents in the UK in 2020, down from 1,813 in 2019, but still the third highest total it has ever recorded.

The highest monthly totals were before lockdown in January (188 incidents) and February (140), and when restrictions were eased in June (178) and July (180).

Amid the pandemic and increased use of video calls, 19 events were so-called Zoom-bombed by anti-Semites interrupting the meetings, the CST said.

The events targeted included online synagogue services, memorial prayers for someone who had died, and a Holocaust survivor’s talk.

The incidents involved anti-Semitic comments in the group chat, verbal abuse, as well as anti-Semitic images or usernames.

Amid the pandemic, there were also 41 incidents linked to Covid-19, including conspiracy theories about Jewish involvement in spreading the virus itself or a hoax about the virus, or expressing a desire that Jews would die from the illness.

While the number of physical assaults decreased from 158 in 2019 to 97 in 2020, there were an additional three – two stabbings and an arson attack – classed as extreme violence.

Incidents of online abuse fell from 700 in 2019 to 634 last year. Those recorded included a flurry of abuse sparked by a series of anti-Semitic tweets by rapper Wiley in July.

The CST recorded 23 incidents linked to users who shared his racist views. He has since been banned from a number of social media sites.

It said that the 634 incidents of online abuse were the second highest yearly total, and that 527 of them took place on social media.

They included 389 on Twitter, 66 on Facebook, seven on YouTube and 65 on other social media.

The number of anti-Semitic incidents recorded at people’s homes rose from 118 in 2019 to 158 last year, which the Trust put down to perpetrators lashing out at those in close proximity as frustration built during lockdown.

CST chief executive Mark Gardner said: “CST had hoped that anti-Semitic incidents would fall by more than this during 2020.

“The fact that they didn’t means we must remain even more vigilant for 2021, especially as the economic impact of Covid-19 may cause more extremism and division within society.”

The post Charity sees third highest annual tally of anti-Semitic abuse despite lockdown appeared first on Faith Matters.

Categories: Antisemitic abuse, Assaults, Community Security Trust, CST, Figures 2020, Jewish communities, News

Charity sees third highest annual tally of anti-Semitic abuse despite lockdown

Anti-Semitic abuse recorded by a Jewish community charity fell last year but the number of incidents remained its third highest annual total.

The Community Security Trust (CST) said it had recorded 1,668 anti-Semitic incidents in the UK in 2020, down from 1,813 in 2019, but still the third highest total it has ever recorded.

The highest monthly totals were before lockdown in January (188 incidents) and February (140), and when restrictions were eased in June (178) and July (180).

Amid the pandemic and increased use of video calls, 19 events were so-called Zoom-bombed by anti-Semites interrupting the meetings, the CST said.

The events targeted included online synagogue services, memorial prayers for someone who had died, and a Holocaust survivor’s talk.

The incidents involved anti-Semitic comments in the group chat, verbal abuse, as well as anti-Semitic images or usernames.

Amid the pandemic, there were also 41 incidents linked to Covid-19, including conspiracy theories about Jewish involvement in spreading the virus itself or a hoax about the virus, or expressing a desire that Jews would die from the illness.

While the number of physical assaults decreased from 158 in 2019 to 97 in 2020, there were an additional three – two stabbings and an arson attack – classed as extreme violence.

Incidents of online abuse fell from 700 in 2019 to 634 last year. Those recorded included a flurry of abuse sparked by a series of anti-Semitic tweets by rapper Wiley in July.

The CST recorded 23 incidents linked to users who shared his racist views. He has since been banned from a number of social media sites.

It said that the 634 incidents of online abuse were the second highest yearly total, and that 527 of them took place on social media.

They included 389 on Twitter, 66 on Facebook, seven on YouTube and 65 on other social media.

The number of anti-Semitic incidents recorded at people’s homes rose from 118 in 2019 to 158 last year, which the Trust put down to perpetrators lashing out at those in close proximity as frustration built during lockdown.

CST chief executive Mark Gardner said: “CST had hoped that anti-Semitic incidents would fall by more than this during 2020.

“The fact that they didn’t means we must remain even more vigilant for 2021, especially as the economic impact of Covid-19 may cause more extremism and division within society.”

The post Charity sees third highest annual tally of anti-Semitic abuse despite lockdown appeared first on Faith Matters.

Categories: Antisemitic abuse, Assaults, Community Security Trust, CST, Figures 2020, Jewish communities, News