Statement from Leanne Mohamad and more against the racist attacks and to unite against Islamophobia and the far right tomorrow on the march in London:
At least 7 mosques, Islamic centres and schools have been targeted by racist graffiti in the past weeks across London. We condemn these acts of Islamophobic violence that have no place in our communities. But we know they are not isolated incidents.
This is where the racism in parliament and the media leads. Nigel Farage and Reform UK are whipping up anti-migrant racism and Islamophobia. Trump is back in the White House, emboldening racists everywhere. Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has performed Nazi salutes, become the leading defender of fascist Tommy Robinson and is spreading dangerous Islamophobic lies.
Robinson has been boosted by all of this and wants to mobilise more racist violence in Britain. In August, the far right exploited the horrific attack in Southport by stirring up Islamophobia. This led to the far right riots breaking out across Britain.
Opposing the racist mobs
Racist mobs attacked muslims, mosques, Asian and black people while chanting Tommy Robinson’s name. Thousands of antiracists came out across the country to oppose them and say the far right was not welcome on our streets. In a massive showing of unity across Britain, we halted the far right riots. But the threat of the far right is only growing. Robinson has called another march in central London on Saturday 1 February. His racist supporters must not go unchallenged, or feel the confidence to carry out more Islamophobic attacks.
In the wake of the attacks, we call on the government to take action to combat Islamophobia and to meaningfully engage with the demands of muslim communities, organisations and representatives. We must unite against the far right, Islamophobia and all forms of racism. We must build a mass antiracist movement to stop racist attacks and drive the far right off our streets.
We will not be intimidated.
Join us Saturday 1 February 11.30am on St James’s Street, London to march against the far right.
Signed, Sabby Dhalu & Weyman Bennett, Stand Up to Racism co convenors Leanne Mohamad Mohammed Kozbar, Chair of Finsbury Park Mosque Dr Abdullah Faliq, President, European Network on Religion and Belief Raghad Altikriti, Muslim Association of Britain Chair Celsabil Hadj-Cherif, MEND Mahfud Nahid, Director, Muslim Voices Bibi Khan, LICS, President & NLCoM, Chairperson Muhammad Uddin, Newham Muslim Forum
