Members of the Muslim community speak out regarding discrimination and violence

Members of the Muslim community gathered this evening (Wednesday 19 November) to air their concerns and thoughts in relation to the discrimination and violence that they say is being displayed towards the Muslim community in the borough of Rochdale.

Community activists, local business men and women and residents met at Castlemere Banqueting Hall.

The meeting came on the back of a group of Asian taxi drivers who went on strike in Heywood after their boss revealed that he would supply white drivers upon request.

Speaking at the event, one driver said: “It is not fair that taxi drivers are guilty by association and people are suffering at work because of what is portrayed. It is time we stood up against this and show that enough is enough.”

One female in attendance told about her experiences on the streets of Rochdale. She said: “Because of what I wear I have people looking at me and asking me if I'm a terrorist or if I have a bomb under my clothes. I have people spitting at me on a daily basis and this makes me not want to go out. I was born here but because of my clothes, I suffer abuse on a daily basis.”

As part of their action plan, the group intend to give leaflets with information to taxi drivers so they can be given out to their customers, they also want to see mosques open to the non-Muslim community and to hold workshops.

A statement released by the group states:

“Over the last few weeks it has become apparent of the discriminatory and violent conditions that sections of our Muslim community in the borough of Rochdale are living under. From racist attitudes to violence, the situation is both unprecedented and totally unacceptable.

“It has become evident that to anyone that follows events on the media that Islam is being portrayed negatively and that Muslims living in Britain are bearing the brunt of discrimination and violence. There is little doubt that this has resulted in not only the community feeling vilified but could potentially breakdown social cohesion within society.

“Irresponsible comments from senior, local and national politicians are aiding the negative portrayal of the Muslim community. Time and time again some politicians and the media have attempted to equate issues such as grooming and the Muslim community as one and the same. It is only natural that this sort of misinformation will stigmatise the whole of the Muslim community. This has meant that casual xenophobia towards Muslims has now become an acceptable norm.

“The excessive focus on the ethnicity and religion of non-white sexual abuse perpetrators has led to the stigmatization of the Muslim community. Whereas the ethnicity and religious affiliation of individuals such as former Rochdale MP Cyril Smith and Stuart Hall, none of whom were Muslim or Asian, have been ignored by the wider media, even though they used their position of responsibility and power to carry out abuse against vulnerable women.

“Unfortunately we are now facing a situation where a disdain of the Muslim community is something which is deemed acceptable. We do not wish to go back to a situation where discrimination against minorities becomes the norm. We believe the segments of society have a duty to stand up against Islamophobia in all of its guises no matter how subtle or apparent. We intend to double our efforts in order to alleviate the misconceptions that have been manufactured by irresponsible speech, not only by far right but mainstream politicians and media. Part of our action plan will be to educate the wider society about the Islamic belief to help overcome stereotypes against Islam.”

The Rochdale Council of Mosques said they did not support the meeting and tried to get it cancelled.