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.