Head of probe into discrimination in Tory Party seeks further evidence

September 17, 2020 Article

The head of an investigation into the Conservative Party’s handling of complaints of discrimination and prejudice, including Islamophobia, has issued a call for further evidence.

Professor Swaran Singh, a former commissioner of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said the investigation is nearing the end of its first phase of work.

It has examined all existing documentary evidence relating to formal complaints of unlawful discrimination made to the Tory Party complaints team.

But the investigation is now seeking further evidence relating to allegations which may have been raised in the past but not considered by the party’s complaints team.

Prof Singh said: “The independent investigation is reaching the end of its initial examination of the Conservative Party’s handling of past complaints of discrimination.

“We are now calling for further evidence that we may not already have seen to ensure that we are aware, as far as realistically possible, of all evidence relating to alleged discrimination within the party.

“We need to determine whether all important evidence of discrimination has been considered in the framework of the party’s existing complaints process.”

The deadline for submissions is 4pm on October 17.

The Tories announced in December that Prof Singh would head the party’s review into its handling of complaints of discrimination and prejudice, including Islamophobia.

Boris Johnson originally promised an independent inquiry into Islamophobia in the party when he was campaigning to be Tory leader last summer.

The commitment was later widened to cover all forms of discrimination and prejudice.

The post Head of probe into discrimination in Tory Party seeks further evidence appeared first on Faith Matters.

Categories: Equality and Human Rights Commissioner, News, Professor Swaran Singh, Tory Party

Man spat at Muslim woman in niqab in Tooting

September 16, 2020 Article

A man spat at a Muslim woman who wears the niqab as he bent down to collect his lighter, the saliva landed on her thigh and the sleeve of her abaya, causing her great shock.

The assault occurred on the morning of August 17 in Tooting, south London.

Wishing to maintain her anonymity, the woman consented to have her story told to raise awareness.

She described how upon leaving a Superdrug store, a grey-haired male, aged in his mid-to-late fifties and slim build, had approached her before dropping his lighter, adding that he had a flushed appearance.

The man remained silent, even after the Muslim woman said ‘you just spat at me,’ and soon walked away.

She soon removed the abaya and was thankful for wearing layers, as a member of the offered to help her wash the garment at a nearby shop, assisting her further with hand washing.

Speaking of her restraint, she wanted to set a good example and refrained from responding with profanities and felt blessed that the saliva had not hit her face. Reflecting on past experiences of anti-Muslim and Islamophobic abuse, she described how two men had referred to her as ‘Batman’.

Tell MAMA continues to document the disproportionate targeting of Muslim women who wear the face veil.

In 2018, six per cent of Muslim women reporting to Tell MAMA wore the niqab or the face veil in combination with the abaya.

You can get advice from our confidential and free helpline on 0800 456 1226. Or through our free iOS or Android apps. Report through our online form. Or contact us via WhatsApp on 0734 184 6086.

The post Man spat at Muslim woman in niqab in Tooting appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Categories: assault, London, News, Niqab

Muslim woman called a ‘f****** P*ki’ by teenage boys when sat waiting in her car

September 1, 2020 Article

A Muslim woman spoke of her shock and dismay after a group of teenage boys called her a “f****** P*ki” as she sat in the passenger’s side of her family car.

The racist incident took place today (September 1) around lunchtime in a northern area of Edinburgh, the location of which, we are not fully disclosing to protect those impacted.

Speaking to Tell MAMA, and wishing to remain anonymous, she described the three white teenage boys as being aged between 13 and 15-years-old, adding that as one of them approached the passenger window (where she sat) and said the racist abuse, one of the other boys added an “ooh” sound, before walking off.

She had not caught a direct glimpse of those responsible as she had been browsing her phone beforehand.

The racist abuse directed towards was motivated by her South Asian ethnicity and her hijab, demonstrating how the racialisation of religious clothing propagates harmful and misogynistic stereotypes about Muslim women.

She also lamented how emboldened young people felt to be so direct with their racism in a diverse city like Edinburgh.

Tell MAMA reported on the harassment of Muslim women in the east of Scotland due to their religiosity in June, a member of the public intervened that day, ushering the perpetrators away.

On this occasion, the Muslim woman intends to speak with Police Scotland regarding the racist abuse

The post Muslim woman called a ‘f****** P*ki’ by teenage boys when sat waiting in her car appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Categories: hjab, News, Scotland

Statement: Life sentence for the white supremacist terrorist who murdered 51 Muslims in Christchurch

August 27, 2020 Article

We welcome the whole life sentence without parole given to the white supremacist terrorist who murdered 51 Muslims as they prayed in Christchurch, New Zealand. That fateful day tore families apart and thousands of miles away inspired further acts of far-right terror – from Norway, Germany, England, and parts of the United States. It also created one of the biggest ever spikes in reports to Tell MAMA – a 692% rise, with 12 incidents recorded in the previous week (March 8 – 14) and 95 the following week (March 15 – 21). Some celebrated this terrorism, as a ‘job well done’ on social media. In Oxford, on March 18, a Muslim woman, who wears the hijab, described hearing ‘shooting sounds’ from a middle-aged man as she walked to work.

The anti-Muslim and Islamophobic ideology espoused by Brenton Tarrant also took inspiration from mainstream politics in his native Australia and parts of Europe, as he also took inspiration from other far-right terrorists, including Anders Breivik of Norway.

Our report also shows the obsessive, far-right historiography of Europe, which glorified violence, conflict, and genocide against Muslims in the Balkans were written on the weapons used and in the screed published online.

As Justice Mander said: “He caused permanent and immeasurable suffering and harm to victims and families, the Muslim community and New Zealand.”

On Twitter, we kept a running thread of statements from the family members who lost loved ones, of those injured, and those traumatised by the events of March 15, and we urge members of the public to read them in full through the various links provided.

As the press focus in New Zealand rightfully shifted towards those impacted, we must also challenge the inconsistencies in the press coverage in the UK, where headlines did and did not reference terrorist or terrorism.

Headlines are drawn from Daily Mail Australia (top), the Guardian (left, which uses the word terrorist in the sub-heading), and Sky News (right).

Sources drawn include BBC News (top), Asian News (middle), and The Sun (bottom).

This inconsistency speaks to a wider, systemic problem in the framing of far-right terror more broadly, and is something we have long challenged. The goal was ideological: to use violence and murder for a white supremacist cause, to encourage harm, violence, and to terrorise Muslims globally. To dissaociate this violence from the ideology which underpins it is self-defeating and wrong. It must be confronted and challenged in all its forms.

Today, our thoughts are with the 51 victims, their families, survivors, and all those impacted by the terrorism enacted against the Muslims of Christchurch of New Zealand, amid celebrations of the verdict.

The conversations around racism, anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia must endure, as we continue to challenge those who seek to divide and who help mainstream the ideologies of violence and terror.

The post Statement: Life sentence for the white supremacist terrorist who murdered 51 Muslims in Christchurch appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Categories: Christchurch, News, terrorism

Woman with dogs pushed Muslim family and shouted “f*** off” at a pedestrian crossing

August 25, 2020 Article

A Muslim woman, walking with her young daughter, described how a woman who had two medium-sized dogs with her, flouting social distancing guidelines, barged into them and shouted abuse as they waited to cross a street in East London.

Speaking to Tell MAMA, the mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, added that her young daughter, who is autistic and fearful of dogs, fell into the road after jumping to avoid contact with their dogs, and she was able to calm her by speaking to her in Arabic.

The perpetrator then shouted various non-sequiturs and abuse at them, including “f*** off” and “f*** off, get back to work,” which the mother believes were motivated by anti-Muslim and Islamophobic prejudice, due to her hijab and speaking in Arabic.

She described the perpetrator as being a white female in her mid-to-late forties.

The Metropolitan Police are investigating the incident which occurred on July 25.

Consistent with existing research, a clear majority of reports to Tell MAMA in the interim months of 2019 (January to June), occurred in public areas (n=98).

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we have documented examples of how in the realms of social media and on streets, individuals have targeted Muslims, whether with violence or acts of hate speech or racialised forms of online fakery.

How #COVID19 increased and influenced the nature of anti-Muslim and Islamophobic reports to our service. #no2h8 #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/7D9MN3OqTl

— Tell MAMA UK (@TellMamaUK) August 5, 2020

Tell MAMA also called on the Conservative MP Craig Whittaker to apologise for his comments made on LBC radio.

Others have warned about rising racism in areas like Oldham.

The post Woman with dogs pushed Muslim family and shouted “f*** off” at a pedestrian crossing appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Categories: Coronavirus, hate crime, Hijab, London, News

Muslim woman abused, called ‘smelly,’ and told ‘this is not your home’ on London tube

August 20, 2020 Article

A Muslim woman who wears the niqab faced a torrent of anti-Muslim and Islamophobic abuse from a female passenger who told her, “this is not your home,” adding that she was “smelly” on a busy Central Line train when travelling with her husband and children.

The incident occurred on August 15.

Speaking to Tell MAMA, a witness, who wishes to remain anonymous, described how the perpetrator also said: “you, Muslim, why are sitting next to me? Why are you wearing that?”

The witness also described how the abuse left the Muslim woman tearful, and that she was comforted by a white female passenger, who challenged the perpetrator who then left the train one stop later.

She described the perpetrator as being a black female in her mid-to-late sixties.

Tell MAMA has long documented the discrimination, abuse, threats, and violence Muslim women who wear the face veil experience.

In 2018, 13 per cent of verified reports to Tell MAMA occurred on public transport networks, and in the first six months of 2019, Tell MAMA verified 374 offline reports, with almost one in 10 reports occurring on public transport.

You can get free advice from our confidential helpline on 0800 456 1226. Or through our free iOS or Android apps. Report through our online form. Or contact us via WhatsApp on 0734 184 6086.

The post Muslim woman abused, called ‘smelly,’ and told ‘this is not your home’ on London tube appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Categories: London Underground, News, Niqab, TFL, tube

‘Nobody batted an eyelid’ as racist shouted ‘P*ki’ at two Muslim women on a busy street

August 3, 2020 Article

A Muslim woman spoke of her shock as members of the public did not intervene after a man shouted the racist slur ‘P*ki’ at her and a friend in a West Yorkshire town on July 30.

Speaking to Tell MAMA, the woman, who wears the hijab, said the lack of intervention “was the most shocking thing about the incident.”

They reported the incident to raise awareness and agreed to have their story told anonymously, having described the perpetrator as being a white male in his early forties.

Tell MAMA continues to educate members of the public about the importance of meaningful solidarity and safely intervening when racist, anti-Muslim, and Islamophobic hate crimes or harassment occur.

This includes calling the police on behalf of individuals to speaking with victims when the perpetrator(s) leave and offering reassurance, to challenging the perpetrator(s) when safe to do so.

The racialised, gendered nature of anti-Muslim prejudice, discrimination, and Islamophobia and how it overlaps with misogyny and the disproportionate targeting of Muslim women, are a consistent theme in Tell MAMA annual and interim reports.

The post ‘Nobody batted an eyelid’ as racist shouted ‘P*ki’ at two Muslim women on a busy street appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Categories: Hijab, News, West Yorkshire

‘Nobody batted an eyelid’ as racist shouted ‘P*ki’ at two Muslim women

August 3, 2020 Article

A Muslim woman spoke of her shock as members of the public did not intervene after a man shouted the racist slur ‘P*ki’ at her and a friend in the Huddersfield area on July 30.

Speaking to Tell MAMA, the woman, who wears the hijab, said the lack of intervention “was the most shocking thing about the incident.”

They reported the incident to raise awareness and agreed to have their story told anonymously, having described the perpetrator as being a white male in his early forties.

Tell MAMA continues to educate members of the public about the importance of meaningful solidarity and safely intervening when racist, anti-Muslim, and Islamophobic hate crimes or harassment occur.

This includes calling the police on behalf of individuals to speaking with victims when the perpetrator(s) leave and offering reassurance, to challenging the perpetrator(s) when safe to do so.

The post ‘Nobody batted an eyelid’ as racist shouted ‘P*ki’ at two Muslim women appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Categories: Hijab, Huddersfield, News

Racist shouted ‘Go back to Iraq’ at Muslim woman who challenged his misogynistic abuse in a supermarket car park

July 31, 2020 Article

A South Asian Muslim woman who wears the hijab was walking with their husband in a Morrisons car park when a man had targeted her with misogynistic and racist abuse on July 12.

The abuse began when a white male, in his mid-to-late sixties, said, “Don’t rob me” about her face mask and thinking nothing of the remark, believing it to be a joke, she replied, “You’re safe.”

He then muttered “You f*cking b*tch” as she passed him, causing her to stop, turn around, and challenge him to repeat his abuse.

Rather than repeat his misogyny, he shouted racist abuse: “Why don’t you go back to Iraq, your own country.”

Not wanting to let him get away with it, she described to Tell MAMA how she followed the man towards a car owned by a friend as he continued to make racist remarks towards her, before departing.

The Metropolitan Police are investigating the Islamophobic hate crime, which, to protect her identity further, we are only disclosing a partial location of south-east London.

This racist incident again demonstrates how misogyny intersects with the racialised targeting of Muslim women for their ethnicity and religious clothing. Dehumanising and othering statements linking Muslims to robbery or as ninjas for wearing the face veil (niqab) is a theme long documented in our research.

Academics have analysed how racialised and gendered forms of prejudice, violence, and discrimination harm Muslim women.

The post Racist shouted ‘Go back to Iraq’ at Muslim woman who challenged his misogynistic abuse in a supermarket car park appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Categories: Hijab, London, Metropolitan Police, News

Post blaming Muslims for Leicester’s Covid-19 outbreak still on Facebook despite false information flag

July 21, 2020 Article

Facebook did not remove a viral anti-Muslim falsehood about the coronavirus (Covid-19) in Leicester, even after the post was flagged as false by one of its UK third-party fact checkers, a Tell MAMA investigation has revealed.

The charity Full Fact concluded on July 15 that the meme was fake “because there is no evidence or suggestion that Muslims were not using hand sanitiser.”

How the post appears on Facebook with a warning about it being false information. Credit: Facebook.

Nor did the platform consider the post to have breached its Community Standards.

Tell MAMA investigated the post which appeared on July 5 from a pro-Trump account saturated in conspiracist and racist content. The account holder also recycles historic antisemitic canards about so-called “Jewish power” in public life, with a notable obsessive interest in the Hungarian philanthropist and Holocaust survivor George Soros.

Other examples of falsehoods shared on their profile include a post which claims that London Mayor Sadiq Khan was trialling “Shakira Law” in three boroughs. Reuters, another trusted fact-checker, has debunked this claim.

The July 5 post, however, gained 425 shares on Facebook, with more than one-quarter of public shares occurring on July 7, after an unofficial page in support of the Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg named ‘Moggmania’ had shared the falsehood without comment or context, attracting various anti-Muslim and Islamophobic responses.

Credit: Facebook.

Comments below the Moggmania post ranged from individuals calling for deportations to broader resentments about English language proficiency, and stigmatising comments about misappropriating social housing and benefit claims (which obscures the deep structural inequalities in place), to victim-blaming comments about the virus. Such language broadly taps into what some academics argue is a “spectrum of deviance” in tabloid newspapers where stigma to othered groups is attached acts of non-conformity (including perceptions of misappropriating benefits to single mothers) to extreme forms of deviance and violence.

Facebook deemed this comment, written in response to the falsehood, to have not breached its Community Standards. Credit: Facebook.

The “Stop Hate for Profit” boycott of Facebook has seen more than 1,000 companies to not advertise on the platform during July in protest at its failure to address hate speech. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Walt Disney Company is the latest major advertiser to slash its budget on Facebook-owned platforms.

The much anticipated civil rights audit, commissioned by Facebook, which brought together various civil rights solicitors over a 2-year-period, criticised the platform’s recent decision making as a “setback for civil rights” as other criticisms focused on Facebook prioritising free expression over non-discrimination.

Facebook has agreed to implement some but not all of the recommendations made in the 89-page report.

Some of the recommendations include Facebook investing more to address organised hate towards Muslim, Jewish, and other minority communities. A ban on posts which in direct or indirect forms, praise or advocate white nationalism. And steps to address discrimination and algorithmic biases.

Facebook has since removed various high-profile disinformation networks, including those linked to Roger Stone, and employees of Brazil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and his two sons.

Criticisms, however, remain in how the platform deals with climate change misinformation. And this week, Facebook removed an anti-masks group with 9,000 members for spreading harmful misinformation about Covid-19.

To help fight the spread of false news and misinformation, Facebook provides a lengthy guide for publishers regarding fact-checking, including how such content, deemed to have fallen foul of third-party fact-checkers will see the reach of such content diminish. Pages and websites found to be repeated breach risk demonetisation, bans, and reduced content distribution.

But what is deemed eligible for fact-checking? The guide makes clear that “newsworthy Facebook and Instagram posts, including ads, with articles, photos or videos.”

What is unclear, however, is how such limits impact personal accounts, as in this example, the falsehood spread from a single user before gaining the attention of the “Moggmania” page.

Interest in the post on Facebook did decline over the following days, with its appeal further restricted to a pool of people with overarching ideological interests, even after the Facebook post comes with a warning and a link to the Full Fact article.

The appeal of this flagrant falsehood raises questions about the influence of echo chambers and filter bubbles, concepts that remain contested amongst academics despite broader concerns about the role of hyperpartisanship in mainstream politics. Empirical evidence has found evidence of such echo chambers during and after the 2016 elections in the United States, as others argue that social media has had a positive influence on political engagement, as studies made similar points about users in Britain and Australia. Gab, an ‘alternative’ social media platform, is an example of where academics have identified far-right forms of echo chambers.

If not echo chambers, the ability of some to fall for false news may reflect the idea of group polarisation, as individuals harden their previous beliefs, practise self-segregation, and develop a mistrust of others.

A wide-ranging study explored the motivations individuals hold for sharing or creating false news. Motivations included (but not limited to) for malicious intent, for financial gain or fun, or out of ideological passion, where users “are blinded by their ideology and perceive the false information as correct,” which increases its reach.

And for those embedded within echo chambers that promote conspiracy theories, the resistance to debunkings was born not out of gullibility, but a commitment to particular ways of thinking when faced with untrusted opinions and challenges online.

Other research argues that “fake news susceptibility is more a matter of non-reflectiveness than of political partisanship.”

Tell MAMA will raise the points made in this article further with Facebook.

The post Post blaming Muslims for Leicester’s Covid-19 outbreak still on Facebook despite false information flag appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Categories: COVID-19, News