Community relations ‘deteriorated’ following war on terror
Relations between British Muslims and the wider community have “deteriorated” since the September 11th, 2001, terror atrocities in the US and the resultant war on terrorism, MPs said in a report yesterday.
Britain is home to 1.8 million Muslims.
MPs found many Muslims felt persecuted under controversial anti-terrorism laws and expressed fears over the perceived rise in institutionalised Islamophobia evidenced in the rise in the number of police security checks.
The report by the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee read: “Muslims in Britain are more likely than other groups to feel they are suffering as a result of the response to international terrorism.
“We do not believe the Asian community is being unreasonably targeted by stops and searches but accept that Muslims perceive they are being stigmatised by the legislation,” it said.
Labour MP and committee chairman John Denham called on the Government to sustain better community cohesion to ensure the Muslim community was fully involved in developing “the next steps in tackling terrorism”.
The report added religious leaders had an important part to play “in challenging prejudice and reinforcing tolerance”.
With the election now set for May 5, the report came as the Government said it would shelve plans to outlaw incitement to hatred on religious grounds.
