I'm appalled by the behaviour and comments of Conservative MPs in @Afzal4Gorton's #IslamophobiaAwarenessMonth debate today. 🧵
1) There was constant tone policing and eye-rolling of Muslim MPs' contributions. They objected to people raising instances of Islamophobia by Tories.
1) There was constant tone policing and eye-rolling of Muslim MPs' contributions. They objected to people raising instances of Islamophobia by Tories.
They even said that "you're not doing your cause any favours". Tackling racism shouldn't be conditional on tone or reliant on favours.
2) They made appeals to "take the politics" out of the debate. When our PM compares Muslim women to letterboxes, it is political.
2) They made appeals to "take the politics" out of the debate. When our PM compares Muslim women to letterboxes, it is political.
When our government refuses to adopt the APPG on Islamophobia's definition, it is political. This argument is used as an excuse not to act.
3) Minister Kemi Badenoch started her speech by bringing up the terrorist that murdered Sir David Amess. This is appalling beyond words.
3) Minister Kemi Badenoch started her speech by bringing up the terrorist that murdered Sir David Amess. This is appalling beyond words.
4) Tory MPs took everything personally, referencing their Muslim friends and colleagues to defend themselves.
This is not about you or your individual credentials. Deliberate or not, it is a classic move which shifts attention from the real victims of racism.
This is not about you or your individual credentials. Deliberate or not, it is a classic move which shifts attention from the real victims of racism.
5) They focused on Muslims' positive contributions. Of course these should be celebrated.
But the right not to be abused in the street should not be conditional on how much volunteering someone has done.
Conflating the two in this “good immigrant” narrative is very unsettling.
But the right not to be abused in the street should not be conditional on how much volunteering someone has done.
Conflating the two in this “good immigrant” narrative is very unsettling.
6) They also focused on Islamophobia as an individual problem.
But it isn't. This isn't only about people shouting abuse in the street - it's about the structures that disadvantage Muslims throughout their lives. There was no acknowledgement of this.
But it isn't. This isn't only about people shouting abuse in the street - it's about the structures that disadvantage Muslims throughout their lives. There was no acknowledgement of this.
7) I'm not Muslim and I found the debate chilling - I can only imagine how awful it was for Muslim colleagues and those watching.
Solidarity with you all, this month and every month, as we fight to eradicate Islamophobia - in our communities, institutions, and government.
Solidarity with you all, this month and every month, as we fight to eradicate Islamophobia - in our communities, institutions, and government.
@DrRosena spoke powerfully during the debate about her experiences of Islamophobia. Rosena also tried to call out the Minister for Equalities on how she began her remarks, but the Minister refused to take an intervention.
https://twitter.com/drrosena/status/1463553672185532426
@ApsanaBegumMP shared her lived experience as a Muslim woman and first hijab-wearing MP, and why Islamophobia is structural.
https://twitter.com/apsanabegummp/status/1463593853324300292
@Afzal4Gorton, who secured this debate, spoke about the kind of world he wants his grandchildren to grow up in - one free from Islamophobia.
And he sets out what the government must urgently do to start building it 👇🏽
And he sets out what the government must urgently do to start building it 👇🏽
https://twitter.com/afzal4gorton/status/1463911320735072257
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