Sir Iqbal Sacranie on Islamophobia and Multiculturalism

Sir Iqbal Sacranie on

Islamophobia and Multiculturalism

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Since British Prime Minister, David Cameron’s Speech at Munich, there have been lots of debates, discussions and deliberations on the subject, whether multiculturalism has failed or not. New Statesman’s Senior Editor (Politics), Mehdi Hassan, disputed the claim that multiculturalism has failed in his write-up, “In defence of multiculturalism” in New Statesman, dated 31st March 2011. I have shown before what the scholars and academicians think about the situation of Multiculturalism and their responses to the British Prime Minister’s speech. Their scholarly observations and comments are of great value and importance. But I was interested to know the feeling of the common people of this country. Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the former Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and the present Chairman of Muslim Aid, who have been working in the community for 30 years, I thought, would be the most responsible and representative voice of the people. I had the opportunity to interview him on these three most important issues.

Sir Iqbal Sacranie said, “Last few months have seen the curse of Islamophobia on the increase; we had seen a number of nasty and unpleasant incidents happening in the community including mosques being vandalised, desecration of Muslim graves, women being attacked because of wearing Hijab or Nikab and list goes on. With all such attacks happening, the mainstream media is either silent or ignorant at worst of these anti Muslim hate crimes. What one finds amazing instead of showing signs of concerns to good community relations and social cohesion by reporting these incidents, the right wing media continues to pursue its agenda of denigrating Islamic values by concentrating on the un-Islamic acts of the few which have been condemned by mainstream Muslim organisations.”

“This results in further isolation of Muslim community and thereby exarcibating the core problem of marginalising the entire community. Sadly, the role of some of the senior politicians and government officials is much desired. Instead of providing the lead to address the serious issue of Islamophobia and it's ramifications on the wider society, they join the bandwagon by making inflammatory speeches wrongly quoting awful examples of forced marriages has to do with some Islamic practices!!” said Sir Iqbal.

Islamophobia – Baroness Warsi

Sir Iqbal commented, “I think it was a very positive message coming out from the most senior figure of the Conservative Party that Islamophobia should not be tolerated and more importantly measures are needed at the political, media and policy level to confront the ugly face of Islamophobia.”

“What we found rather very saddening is the reaction to the excellent speech from the Conservative Party. There was a deadly silence; instead of acknowledging and supporting the stance taken by Baroness Warsi we found within the section of the Conservative party there was huge attack on her. As though she has uttered what was despicable. I think this did not reflect well on the party or leadership,” said Sir Iqbal and added, “Even some of the mainstream papers were not supportive of her stance. Although one must say that there were few journalists including Peter Oborne and Yasmin Ali Bhai-Brown and the Guardian who of course defended the views of Baroness Warsi. That fact she had mentioned that something needed to be done was a powerful message to the Conservative Party from the only Muslim figure in the Government that strong measures to condemn Islamophobia are essential and to take actions similar to those taken to fight anti-Semitism and other forms of racism. It is about time that those who deny the existence of Islamophobia are confronted with facts and figures rather then just rhetoric.”

Prime Minister on Multiculturalism

Commenting on Prime Minister David Cameron’s speech on Multiculturalism, Sir Iqbal said, “I think it was a great disappointment. David Cameron, Prime Minister of a country, brings up an issue relating to Muslim community and Islam at a Security Conference in Munich, Germany. This conference was geared towards discussing issues surrounding international security. Sadly a very high-profile conference was seen as an opportunity for the Prime Minister to have a go at Islam and Muslim community without recognising the tremendous contribution of the vast majority of Muslim community in UK. Nor was there any reference to the scourge of Islamophobia and it's ill effect on the community and the British society. I believe it was a typical blunder to quote forced marriages as somehow related to Islamic practice.”

“Prime Minister’s advisers should have known better that Islam utterly and totally condemns forced marriages. In Islam, forced marriage is no marriage. And yet he uses this example as though it is prevalent widely in the Muslim community. This is a cultural issue; an issue that transcends the sub-continental communities and has no bearing of any of the religions,” said Sir Iqbal and observed, “So for him to condemn multiculturalism by quoting this worst example shows how badly he was briefed. Forced marriages are not a product of Multiculturalism nor does multiculturalism condone forced marriages.”

Sir Iqbal also lamented, “It was rather very sad that he did not have any positive things to say about the Muslim community. There was a negative connotation throughout his speech which alienates the Muslim community from the mainstream. It was quite a disappointing speech. One can certainly criticise the whole concept of multiculturalism but the examples he used could not simply stand to scrutiny.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on Multiculturalism

Commenting on Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s speech at Luton, Sir Iqbal observed, “Nick Clegg, I think, brought back or reversed the position of Cameron by bringing the Coalition government’s view to multicultural and multi-faith society, where he acknowledged that there are clear benefits in a society which respects and understands people of faith and no faiths and cultural identities of the communities. I think it brought out a very important point that diversity is a matter of strength for our communities.”

“Multiculturalism enables us to work together; to appreciate and understand the strengths and weaknesses of each other and enables us to work for the common good of the society. We need to look positively and work constructively to strengthen the common values. Clegg did try to balance the very negativity that came from Cameron and somehow acknowledge what Baroness Warsi had to say,” said Sir Iqbal.

Sir Iqbal also said, “I think, one can simply say that those of us who have been working in the community for last 30 years have seen the real benefits accruing to all sections of our societies whether it is recognition of rights and responsibilities of every citizen or addressing lacunas in legislation. The fact is Multiculturalism recognises that every citizen has an important role to play irrespective of ones religious or cultural identity. The recognition of the fact that we are living in a multicultural society and the different communities have a role to play which together builds a national identity of being a proud British citizen. This has brought together and enabled those communities like Muslim community, who has been marginalised for a number of decades, to play its role in the mainstream.”

Sir Iqbal also argued, “If one were to compare the position of the Muslim community today to that of 20/30 years ago you will see a remarkable improvement in every facet of daily life. In the socio-economic front, our community was lingering behind at the bottom of league in education, high unemployment, poor health and high crime rate. Today, the very same Muslim community has moved forward and is more confident. Of course we still have serious concerns in many other areas such as extremism, high numbers in prisons etc but we do see huge improvement in education and in the socio-economic status of our community.”

“If you look at the political front, a community which had no representation in Parliament and public life 10 years ago, today, we have half a dozen MP's and approaching a dozen in the House of Lords. We have few hundred Councillors from different political parties, playing a key role in the national life of our country," mentioned Sir Iqbal and added, “In addition to that, if you look at the professionals and businessmen they come from across the community consisting of doctors, accountants and engineers. There has been a remarkable increase in the numbers of Consultants in the National Health, as well as in private practice. Same applies to leading lawyers and engineers.”

“If you look at the contribution to the economy of the Muslim community in terms of GDP, we may be the three and a half per cent of the population but our contribution is more than 12% of the GDP. These are fruits of multiculturalism. If the community is not given its due recognition, I don’t think, it would have played such an important role in the mainstream. Muslim community is part of the mainstream and will always remain part of the mainstream,” mentioned Sir Iqbal and said, “If the government faces economic crisis, or has problems with it’s foreign policy then the Muslim community should not be used as a scapegoat or an excuse to distract from the real crisis. We can only succeed if we recognise the realty on the ground and work together with all organisations and institutions sharing same objectives of living in harmony and peace and recognising and respecting the differences but at all times working for the Common good."

Islamophobia Multiculturalism and Extremism

Islamophobia Multiculturalism and Extremism

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Within a short space of six weeks, there were three important speeches by three leading persons on three important issues: Islamophobia, Multiculturalism and extremism. First, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, chairperson of the Conservative Party and the first Muslim woman to sit in the Cabinet delivered her Sir Sigmund Sternberg Lecture at Leicester University on 21st of January, 2011, where she spoke on Islamophobia. Second, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, M.P. delivered a speech at the Security Conference in Munich last February where he said “state multiculturalism” had failed. Third, the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, M.P. gave a speech entitled “An Open Confident Society: The Application of Muscular Liberalism in a Multicultural Society” in Luton where he spoke on “open, confident, liberal society,” on “Smart engagement” etc.

Thus, we have three issues mainly, Islamophobia, failure of multiculturalism and extremism. Before I start the discussion on these issues, I would like to set the stage with some relevant parts of the speeches of the Conservative Party chair, the British Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister.

Islamophobia crossed the dinner table test

Conservative chairperson

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, the Conservative Party Chair said in her much-publicised Lecture at Leicester University. Islamophobia had “crossed the threshold of middle-class responsibility” in Britain and was seen as normal and uncontroversial.

“You could even say that Islamophobia has now passed the dinner-table-test,” said Baroness Warsi and added, “But of course, Islamophobia should be seen as totally abhorrent – just like homophobia or Judeophobia – because any phobia is by definition the opposite of a philosophy. A phobia is an irrational fear.”

Baroness Warsi said that terrorist offences committed by a small number of Muslims should not be used to condemn all who follow Islam. But she also urged Muslim communities to be clearer about their rejection of those who resort to violent extremism. “Those who commit criminal acts of terrorism in our country need to be dealt with not just by the full force of the law,” she said. “They also should face social rejection and alienation across society and their acts must not be used as an opportunity to tar all Muslims.”

On the matter of portraying Muslims as either “moderate” or “extreme”, she said, “Its not a big leap of imagination to predict where the talk of 'moderate' Muslims leads; in the factory, where they've just hired a Muslim worker, the boss says to his employees: 'Not to worry, he's only fairly Muslim'.

“In the school, the kids say: 'The family next door are Muslim but they're not too bad'. And in the road, as a woman walks past wearing a burqa, the passers-by think: 'That woman's either oppressed or is making a political statement'. So we need to stop talking about moderate Muslims, and instead talk about British Muslims.” ”

“I have Muslim friends who complain they go out after work and it is ok for their non-Muslim colleagues to make jokes about people with long beards or wearing burqas,” she said. “If you were to replace the word Muslim with black or Jew, you would be jumped on straight away as racist or anti-semitic.”

Speaking about British Identity and equality before the law, Baroness Warsi said, “I strongly believe that my problem is really our problem….because of the danger it poses to the whole of our society. Ultimately, Islamophobia challenges our basic British identity. One of the most important aspects of our identity is our belief in equality before the law. But deep, entrenched anti-Muslim bigotry challenges that tradition…because it implies that one section of society is less deserving of our protection than the rest. I commend those who understand and condemn the cancer of Islamophobia…whether that be John Denham, Seumus Milne, Peter Oborne, or the Metropolitan Police…”

Multiculturalism has failed – the Prime Minister

British Prime Minister, David Cameron, M.P. in his Munich speech last February said “state multiculturalism” had failed. “Under the doctrine of state multiculturalism, we have encouraged different cultures to live separate lives, apart from each other and the mainstream. We have failed to provide a vision of society to which they feel they want to belong. We have even tolerated these segregated communities behaving in ways that run counter to our values,” he said.

“So first, instead of ignoring this extremist ideology, we – as governments and societies – have got to confront it, in all its forms. And second, instead of encouraging people to live apart, we need a clear sense of shared national identity, open to everyone,” Prime Minister said.

. British Prime Minister said, “We need a lot less of the passive tolerance of recent years and much more active, muscular liberalism. A passively tolerant society says to its citizens: as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone. It stands neutral between different values.”

“A genuinely liberal country does much more. It believes in certain values and actively promotes them. Freedom of speech. Freedom of worship. Democracy. The rule of law. Equal rights regardless of race, sex or sexuality. It says to its citizens: this is what defines us as a society. To belong here is to believe in these things,” said the Prime Minister.

An Open Confident Society – Deputy Prime Minister

The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, in his speech in Luton said, “Today I want to talk about the UK as an open, confident society. It is by being confident – confident in ourselves, in our communities, and in our values – that we can remain an open, liberal nation.”

Clegg also said, “I think the PM was absolutely right to make his argument for 'muscular liberalism'. There are nationalistic or racist extremists, like the members of the English Defence League, or the BNP. There are black extremists like the Nation of Islam. There are Muslim extremists like the members of Islam 4 UK. Very often these groups have a symbiotic relationship with each other, maintained by the media: extremist Muslim groups giving birth to extremist white hate groups, and vice versa.”

“My point is this. We need a perfect symmetry in our response to crime and violent extremism. Bigots are bigots, whatever the colour of their skin. Criminals are criminals, whatever their political beliefs. Terrorists are terrorists, whatever their religion,” he said.

Clegg also mentioned, “Let me say something here about the specific issue of Islam and violent extremism. There is a corrosive tendency, not least in some parts of the media, to confuse the tenets of Islam with the actions of terrorists. The core liberal values - freedom of speech and worship, democracy, the rule of law, and equal rights regardless of sex, race and sexuality - are as compatible with Islam as with any other religion.”

“If we are truly confident about the strength of our liberal values we should be confident about their ability to defeat the inferior arguments of our opponents,” Clegg said and argued, “Smart engagement means engaging in argument at public events, where appropriate and at the right level. Of course these are always difficult decisions to make.”

Clegg also argued, “Liberal societies do not expect everyone to live in the same way, or believe in the same things; conformity can crush liberty. But in liberal societies, all of us must defend the freedoms of others, in exchange for freedom for ourselves. In an open society, values compete but do not conflict.”

Professor Tariq Modood

On segregation and extremism, Professor Tariq Modood of the Bristol University, said in his write-up, “After all, many worry about residential segregation and inward-looking communities. But population distribution could only be achieved by, to coin a phrase, muscular illiberalism. Residential concentrations result more from fear of racism and "white flight" than self-ghettoisation. Research shows that all minorities – including Muslims – want to live in mixed neighbourhoods, and ghettos are created by those who move out.”

On the failure of multiculturalism, Professor Modood observed, “Society cannot be reduced to individuals, and so integration must be about bringing new communities, and not just new individuals, into relations of equal respect. This means challenging racism and Islamophobia and so on, not by denying that there are groups in society but by developing positive group identities and adapting customs and institutions that enable that. Equally importantly, we must not take for granted what we have in common, but work hard to ensure that all citizens recognise themselves in our shared concept of citizenship – imaginatively shaped by our sense of who we are, where we are coming from and where we are going. An out-of-date national story, for example, alienates new communities, who want to be written into the narrative backwards as well as forward. Multiculturalism is incomplete and one-sided without a continual remaking of national identity.”

Professor Tariq Ramadan

Professor Tariq Ramadan observed, “Over the last few years we have this discussion, the rhetoric; multicultural failed, saying that it does not work. Once again, here, we have to be consistent and clear what we are talking about? Because we have all this discussion in Europe, between the French model and now we can have the German model and the British model and then say the British model is multicultural model and other models are all about integration.”

“Now what we are facing is the reality of the pluralistic society of Europe. We have common citizenship and different religious cultural backgrounds and this is what I call, and to discuss what do you mean by this multicultural. The only thing that we have to deal with it is pluralistic society. People are coming with different cultural backgrounds, different religious backgrounds and they have the same status,” said Professor Ramadan and added, “Now how we are going to deal with this? Are we serious about equality? Are we serious about diversity? All our Constitutions and when there is not clear constitutions, are all saying that we have to respect freedom of conscience, freedom of worship and the diversity of culture.”

Professor Ramadan argued, “Now we are changing the substance of what citizenship means because we don’t trust the cultural background, the religious background of some people and this is the all rhetoric. And what should we do to be accepted as complete citizen when we have a Muslim background and a religious background. So there is a discourse, a rhetoric beyond culturalise, to religionise, to Islamise all the questions that is we have, that I have nothing in fact to do with religion at the beginning.”

Interview with Peter Oborne

Last Friday, the 18th of March, 2011, there was MCB’s second annual Muslim Leadership Dinner at the Millennium Hotel, London, where Peter Oborne, Chief Political Commentator for the Daily Telegraph, Mehdi Hasan, Senior Politics Editor of New Statesman and Simon Hughes, deputy leader of Liberal Democrats, came as guests. Before the start of the event, I had the opportunity to talk to Peter Oborne and I enquired on the issue of multiculturalism.

Mr. Oborne said, “I am going through aberration on the David Cameron’s speech. He is capable of being outstanding Prime Minister but I thought this is the worst speech he made since becoming, I mean, as a Prime Minister. I think he shows a lack of understanding of Islam and he did not understand what he is talking about. I felt very uncomfortable with that speech. I think he needs to get out of this.”

Baroness Warsi made an interesting speech on Islamophobia, Peter Oborne, said, “courageous speech, in fact; there is hostility towards Muslims in part of British society; not everywhere at all but in the media which is not acceptable.”

Oborne mentioned, she talked about “categorise Muslims as extremists, about their religion, about their ideology might be,” “let me say that Sayeeda Warsi is very great courageous,” said Oborne, and added, “let me say the British Prime Minister made a great damage categorising good people as being subversive, I think it’s really bad.”

Replying to my query what would ultimately going to be the government policy on multiculturalism, Oborne said, “Lib Dem appears to have much more intelligent understanding of multiculturalism; whereas much less readiness to categorise these Muslims who have strong feeling about Afghanistan war, the war in Iraq, Palestine, does not categorise and does not therefore make them unpatriotic or wrong or evil anything; and on the other hand, you have Cameron who seems to be defining moderate Muslims, were describing very prescriptive, in my view, half-baked way.”

“It’s a very interesting question. If Cameron’s speech turns into government policy, that is very very worrying, something which we have to fight against strongly,” said Oborne.