Islamophobia will be tackled by the council
South Lanarkshire Council has adopted a wide-ranging definition of Islamophobia and has committed to tackling racial abuse.
At a full council meeting in December, councillor Ali Salamati (East Kilbride West) brought forward a motion asking for the local authority to adopt the UK All Parliamentary Group definition of Islamophobia.
As well as this, the motion called for the local authority to reestablish its commitment to opposing racism and discrimination in all forms and to support and promote Islamophobia Awareness Month in November each year.
The definition is: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expression of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness”.
Councillor Ali Salamati, introduced the proposals, and he said: “I’m delighted to be moving the SNP motion and the adoption of all-party parliamentary groups’ definition of Islamophobia. South Lanarkshire Council covers a vast geographical area, consisting of a number of towns and villages and it is proud of its growing diversity and has a strong history of welcoming people from across the world.
“The Muslim population in Scotland has significantly increased in recent days and Muslims contribute to all aspects of life and are essential for parts of Scottish Society.
“We have Muslim teachers, doctors, lawyers, business owners, police officers, nurses, carers, council officers and in so many more fields which all contribute to our thriving economy.
“Islamophobia has been on the rise in recent years, especially due to false narratives created by the far right – a recent study by a Muslim engagement and development group found that in the last three years almost half of mosques across the UK experienced religiouslymotivated attacks from vandalism to theft.
“A report by the parliamentary cross party group on tackling Islamophobia found out that 75 per cent of Scottish Muslims said that Islamophobia is an everyday issue in society.
“Based on the responses these incidents are happening at work, schools, colleges and universities and so on.
“One of the most concerning things from the report was that only 22 per cent of respondents reported Islamophobia – many respondents lack confidence in the justice system and felt that their reports could not be taken seriously.”
He added: “Islamophobic abuse is clearly on the rise across Scotland.
“As councillors we represent communities across South Lanarkshire and have a duty to call out Islamophobia abuse and to support those who are subject to horrific abuse from bigots.
“Many Muslim citizens will be able to give their own awful experience of Islamophobia – it’s important that we listen to their experiences so we can learn from them, because being subject to Islamophobic discrimination can be one of the most horrendous things a person can experience in their lives.”
Councillor Salamati took the opportunity to reflect on the negative experiences he and his family have faced, saying: “My family and I have experienced Islamophobia on a number of occasions.
“My wife who wears a hijab was spat on, my children suffer racist abuse within our schools and on football pitches and I have been attacked and chased many times, examples go on and on.
“The colour of my skin and the clothes I wear should never define who I am.”
He concluded: “By adopting this definition we will be able to effectively tackle and
root out racist and Islamphobic abuse in South Lanarkshire. The APPG definition is capable of capturing all the different forms of Islamophobia that may otherwise go unnoticed.
“Since over a decade ago the month of November has been established as Islamophobia Awareness Month in the UK. It is important that we all in this chamber raise awareness of the growing levels of Islamophobia, no one should ever be discriminated against because of their religious belief.
“I’m aware that many political parties including Labour, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Scottish Conservatives as well as numerous local authorities across the UK have already adopted the APPG definition of Islamophobia. This time we all unite together and pass this motion, so we can show that we recognise the hardship being faced by Muslim communities and that tackling Islamophobia is a priority for the council.”
The motion was seconded by Councillor Janine Calikes (Rutherglen Central and North), who said: “I’d like to formally second the motion, and leave space for us all to reflect on councillor Salamati’s impactful words.”
The motion also outlines specific examples of Islamophobia, and calls for the council to campaign to stop abuse directed towards Muslims.
A range of examples include making mendacious, dehumanising, demonising or stereotypical allegations about Muslims, accusing Muslims as a group of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoings committed by a single Muslim person or group of Muslim individuals, or even acts committed by non-Muslims.
Councillor Mo Razzaq (Blantyre), warmly welcomed the proposals, and he said: “I wholeheartedly support councillor Salamati’s motion, I think that what has been started with the cross party group in the Scottish Parliament has been outstanding, and I welcome that. I myself have taken part in that and I went to meetings and I think there is a big issue with Islamophobia.
“I myself was born in Edinburgh and when I moved to Lanarkshire when I was young and I was in primary school, the level of abuse or even from adults we took was absolutely ridiculous and I think that even from a very young age we had abuse.
“I was followed down the streets, I was called over to a van and spat at because of the fact that I was Asian and I think I’m so glad that this has been brought forward and the Scottish Parliament has done something about this.
“I think this is an ongoing thing just as antiSemitism is that we need to address in any sort of hate head-on and not hide from it and I do welcome this and I think that the other work we are doing in the equalities committee as well will echo this as well and work hand in hand with this.”