In recent months, the UK has been consumed by a row over claims the Labour Party is a hotbed of anti-Semitism. The party leadership has been accused of failing to address these ongoing allegations.
The Sunday Times has reported that 863 complaints of anti-Semitism were received against Labour party members and councillors. Critics say that, at best, the party leadership is in denial, and, at worst, is actively stoking prejudice. The matter has now been referred to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to investigate.
Alongside this, the UK's Conservative party has been facing mounting pressure to launch an inquiry into Islamophobia within its ranks, after more than 200 allegedly Islamophobic incidents. The outgoing prime minister Theresa May has rejected proposals for an official definition of Islamophobia. And despite promises on national TV from five potential Conservative prime ministerial candidates – including the favourite Boris Johnson – to support an inquiry, there has been plenty of mealy-mouthed backpedalling from all of them. In fact, Mr Johnson has been accused of Islamophobia, commenting that Muslim women who wear niqabs looked like bank robbers and letterboxes.
Both the alleged anti-Semitism and Islamophobia under scrutiny in British politics are a reflection of a wider society in which hate crimes, discrimination and incidents of racial and religious violence are on the rise. A UK survey by Opinium published in May found that 71 per cent of people from ethnic minorities say they have faced racial discrimination, compared with 58 per cent in January 2016. Meanwhile, the NSPCC reported that racial abuse and bullying of children had risen by one fifth since 2015-2016.
The normalisation of prejudice stretches far beyond the UK. Last month, the UN secretary general spoke of a visible and violent “tsunami of hatred” gathering speed across the world. US President Donald Trump has long perpetuated the basest and most old-fashioned racism – only this week, he told non-white congresswomen to “go back home”.
Studies clearly show that where there is rising anti-Semitism there is also rising Islamophobia
The rising tide of hatred is not just drowning one group, it is engulfing all of us.
Into the fray in the UK has stepped Trevor Phillips, former chair of the EHRC, with an intervention that can only be described as back-to-front logic. In the Financial Times, Mr Phillips recently wrote that the EHRC should "ignore protests that the Conservative party should also be investigated for Islamophobia".
His reasoning? That the call for an inquiry into Islamophobia within the Conservative party is an attempt to distract attention from the anti-Semitism enquiry and to get the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn “off the hook”.
The reason that this is back-to-front logic is obvious: hatreds are connected. Where one hatred is legitimised and rises, the same happens with other prejudices.
Studies clearly show that where there is rising anti-Semitism there is also rising Islamophobia. It’s a longstanding connection. We also know that violent extremists – the vast majority of whom are men – typically have a history of domestic violence against women. The racist alt-right provides an object lesson in how white supremacy and misogyny are intertwined.
A YouGov poll commissioned in the UAE earlier this year looking at national attitudes towards different faith groups demonstrated clearly that the more unfavourably one particular minority faith group is seen in a country, the more unfavourably other minority faith groups are also seen.
Simply put, hate breeds more hate. It sounds obvious when you say it out loud, but as Mr Phillips clearly demonstrates, this fundamental connection is often overlooked.
If we want to tackle the many different varieties of racism and religious prejudice, the first step is to realise that they are all inextricably linked. This means that our understanding of how they operate and the way we tackle them must be wide-ranging and interconnected, too.
As the poet John Donne wrote: “Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee."
Shelina Janmohamed is the author of Love in a Headscarf and Generation M: Young Muslims Changing the World
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Norway v Spain, Saturday, 10.45pm, UAE
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
BeIN Sports currently has the rights to show
- Champions League
- English Premier League
- Spanish Primera Liga
- Italian, French and Scottish leagues
- Wimbledon and other tennis majors
- Formula One
- Rugby Union - Six Nations and European Cups
Biog:
Age: 34
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite sport: anything extreme
Favourite person: Muhammad Ali
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Rooney's club record
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
THE SPECS
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE
Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors
Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode
Power: 121hp
Torque: 142Nm
Price: Dh95,900
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
THE SPECS
Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Engine: 5-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 680Nm
Price: Dh465,071
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)