Faizah Gilani, London
After calling an election on December 12, the Conservative party led by Boris Johnson secured a huge victory, leaving the main opposition Labour party absolutely stunned. Although a Conservative victory was predicted, the landslide came as a huge surprise. The result has given Boris Johnson and his party extra confidence moving forward. Labour, on the other hand, has been left badly bruised from this brutal defeat.
This election, as well as the build up towards it, has been ugly, divisive, and chaotic for Britain as a nation. Many issues have come into play during this time, but the polarization of Brexit reigns supreme. The public is still very much divided over leaving the European Union (EU). Some want it over and done with, whilst others demand a second referendum.
Although most critics blame Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as the reason for the party’s failure, it would be naïve to dismiss the role of Brexit in his defeat. Johnson steadfastly maintained his pro-Brexit stance. Another factor that can be attributed to Corbyn’s loss is the issue of anti-Semitism. Corbyn has been heavily criticised for not being proactive in stamping out anti-Semitism from within his party. An intervention by the Chief Rabbi right before the election, stating that Jewish people would feel unsafe under a Labour government, further damaged the party image.
From a British Muslim perspective, this election has been very important. It is noteworthy that British politics has often attracted ethnic minorities, especially Muslims of Pakistani origin. Following this election, ten Muslim MPs have been elected representing the Labour party, and five representing the Conservative party. MPs from the Islamic faith have pushed boundaries to reach a level where they can make a positive impact within their constituencies and society at large.
If taken on face value, this would suggest that British politics is ideal for ethnic minorities, and that this would pave the way for others, while inspiring the younger generation towards a political career. In reality, the UK’s political discourse has become extremely toxic and frightening for the Muslim community recently. Muslims find themselves soft targets, scapegoats for political gains in extremely divisive times.
Anti-immigrant sentiment and Muslim bashing has gradually become the norm within Europe and the United Kingdom (UK). Politics is where it is visibly clear, and it is frightening to see. To observe this closely, we can look at the UK’s Conservative party, where Islamophobic sentiment is rife, but unchallenged. An alarming number of Conservative MPs have been involved in Islamophobic activity, making anti-Muslim comments, or endorsing racist commentary by retweeting anti-Muslim posts made by racists and far-right organisations. None of this has been one off, but a reoccurrence.
This issue has been raised by Baroness Sayeeda Warsi of the Conservative party, who has time and time again publicly highlighted and protested over her party’s failure to address and stamp out Islamophobia. Warsi has been vocal of her party’s state of denial, with the top-level unwilling to accept that there is an issue. Even the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has raised serious concerns. The organisation issued a statement accusing the Conservative party of “approaching Islamophobia with denial, dismissal, and deceit.”
The MCB has further stated that to many Muslims it appears as though the Conservative party tolerates Islamophobia and has a “blind spot for this type of racism.”
But when the top leadership is pandering to the far right and brazenly spouting racism, it is only natural that party members will feel emboldened.
Johnson, Conservative party leader, has frequently courted controversy for comments made towards people belonging to the Muslim faith. Johnson once compared veiled women to “bank robbers and letterboxes.” According to Tell Mama, an organisation that supports victims of racism and Islamophobia, Johnson’s derogatory comments led to a surge in attacks on Muslim women.
But this is not the only time that Boris Johnson has used inflammatory language. In a published article, Johnson once referred to Islam as “the problem.” Johnson has yet to take responsibility for the implications of his views, despite becoming Prime Minister.
In a live debate for party leadership earlier this summer, all candidates including Johnson, agreed to an independent enquiry that would specifically focus on Islamophobia within the party. However, Johnson later backed down from it.
The organisation Hope Not Hate, which works to combat racism and fascism, carried out a poll into the attitudes of Conservative members and concluded that “from the grassroots to the great offices of state, the Conservative members buy into racist myths.” Following its poll, Hope Not Hate found that 67% of party members believe that “there are areas in Britain that operate under Sharia law.” 45% believe that “there are areas in Britain in which non-Muslims are not able to enter.” 39% also believe that “Islamist terrorists reflect a widespread hostility to British amongst the Muslim community.” Finally, 40% believe the number of Muslims allowed to enter the country should be lowered.
It comes as no surprise that racists and far right supporters such as Katie Hopkins and Tommy Robinson have openly endorsed the Conservative party. Far right sympathisers have been emboldened by Johnson’s casual Islamophobia and are gleeful over the fact that the government is unapologetic about it.
And from Johnson’s landslide victory, it is evident that the country voted for and welcomes racism, a disturbing truth to come to terms with. Johnson’s success has genuinely frightened the Muslim community, leading to many Muslim families considering leaving the country, as reported by the British media. Today, most British Muslims feel marginalised, alienated, and demonised.
What we are witnessing within the UK today is a trend that can be seen across the globe. Whether it is the rise of the far right in Europe, Trump’s America, or the rise of Hindutva under Narendra Modi in India, the world is witnessing bigotry elevated to the top ranks and hate being normalised. But we cannot place the blame solely on specific individuals. The normalising of bigotry, in particular within the UK, can be attributed to the media as well. The British media has failed to hold Johnson to account in the same way it held Corbyn accountable for his party’s problem with anti-Semitism.
The British media was quick to highlight Labour’s anti-Semitism problem, and rightly so. All forms of hatred and bigotry should be challenged, and it is vital to root it out. Unfortunately, the British media has failed to give them same amount of importance and coverage to Johnson’s Islamophobia, which has exposed the media’s double standards in the process. Corbyn found himself vilified by the media, despite no evidence of him personally being anti-Semitic. In sharp contrast, Johnson has displayed blatant Islamophobia, but gets a free pass.
In a letter to the BBC days before the election, Secretary General of the MCB Harun Khan accused the broadcaster of failing to be “impartial and consistent in its coverage over similar issues.” This was after the British Broadcast Corporation (BBC) highlighted the Labour party’s lack of action over anti-Semitism. Khan argued that the BBC failed to cover the full extent of Islamophobia within the Conservative party. The MCB also asked the BBC to give racism against Muslims “equal importance.”
Khan pointed out that Islamophobia is not just prevalent within the UK’s political discourse, but also in society and on the streets. The Secretary General raised valid points that expose the double standards in reporting. Facts and figures clearly show that hate crimes against Muslims have increased in recent times, but media has failed to hold the government to account.
This alarming discrepancy in reporting clearly indicates that the media does not consider the government’s Islamophobic streak a serious threat. Failure to hold Boris Johnson accountable for his party’s bigotry raises genuine questions over the British media impartiality.
British Muslims are in for tough times ahead. They will have to rediscover themselves, while putting up with an unapologetically racist right-wing government, headed by a man that has put them at risk due to his casual racism. The conservative party never failed in mentioning Labour’s anti-Semitism problem but refuses to address its own bigotry, starting at the very top.
It is deeply frightening for Muslims to see far right sympathisers and racists endorse and support Johnson, but this is the reality. British Muslims will naturally feel as though this is a target on their identity and existence within the UK. They are beginning to feel increasingly isolated, and the Prime Minister is very much responsible for this.
In his speech after the election, the Johnson spoke of healing and bringing the nation together, words that echo Donald Trump after coming to power. America’s polarization is well-established. Now there is a real fear that the UK is going down a similar route, or worse.
Johnson speaks of unity but is guilty of alienating the Muslim community within his country. Multiculturism has been the UK’s strength. It is a shame that it is no longer being celebrated. Time will tell whether the UK can ever truly heal. But right now it is too polluted for positivity.
Just a day or two after Johnson won his landslide majority, there were reports of verbal and physical attacks against Muslim women who have become easy targets. And the connection of these hate crimes with the conservative party’s electoral victory, and failure to acknowledge Islamophobia, is a no-brainer. The fear is that this is simply the beginning, and that there is more to come. The government can categorically deny the issue of Islamophobia, but Islamophobia threatens to not only hurt the Muslim community, but also tear apart the UK’s multiculturalism and diversity.
The writer has studied History and Politics at Queen Mary, University of London. And Middle East Studies at SOAS, University of London.
