NAAR is calling on the government to re-establish links with the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), following its decision to suspend official working relations with them.
The MCB is a broad, umbrella organisation that has a wide variety of Muslim organisations affiliated to it and has grass roots links to mosques across Britain. The necessity to combat terrorism requires an ongoing dialogue between the government and Muslim organisations of which the MCB is the most representative. The MCB welcomed Hazel Blears’ announcement in February that the government would engage with all non-violent Muslim groups to counter terrorism. Such engagement needs to continue being pursued.
Combating the rise of racism against Muslims in Britain requires increased action by government, for which working with the MCB is also important. Islamophobia is a growing and serious threat to British society, as for example documented in the report Muslims Under Siege. As part of this the BNP has for several years been focussing a large part of its racist propaganda against Muslims.
Britain’s Muslim population experiences a high level of disadvantage and discrimination. The TUC report Poverty, Exclusion and British People of Pakistani and Bangladeshi Origin published in 2005 found that 69% of this part of the population is classified as poor compared with 22% of the country as a whole. Overall British Muslims are three times more likely to be unemployed than the population as a whole. Hence the TUC and MCB have been working together in support of workplace justice and against Islamophobia.
Differences of opinion over the situation in the Middle East should not be allowed to become obstacles to the government engaging with all those who oppose terrorism in Britain. Likewise with combating the rise of racism. The government should resume its working relationship with the MCB.