Britain’s opposition Labour party has called on the ruling Conservatives to “get serious” about tackling Islamophobia.
Despite seeing fewer hate crimes recorded against Muslims in 2020-2021, nearly half of all religious hate crimes last year targeted them.
For the first time, the Government’s Prevent scheme to target suspected extremism had more far-right cases than Islam-based referrals.
Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds and Manchester Gorton MP Afzal Khan wrote to the Tory chairman, Oliver Dowden, demanding action.
In the letter, they said Muslims “remained consistently, and especially, vulnerable to religiously motivated hate crimes — a trend that shows no signs of abating under the Conservative Government".
They said the Conservative Party refused to use the term Islamophobia, instead referring to “anti-Muslim hatred”, which they said – coupled with a refusal to adopt the definition of Islamophobia agreed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims – was “undermining (the party's) credibility over tackling this problem".
A review led by Professor Swaran Singh found earlier this year that “anti-Muslim sentiment remains a problem” within the Conservative Party.
But the investigation did not find evidence of a party which “systematically discriminated against any particular group".
In May, then party chairwoman Amanda Milling said the party accepted all the recommendations set out by the Singh report.
She said: “We held this investigation to address these allegations to make sure that any instances of discrimination are isolated and to look at how we can improve and strengthen our complaints process.
“The Conservative Party will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination of any kind and take immediate action to improve our handling of complaints."
Labour said Home Office statistics showed the number of recorded hate crimes against Muslims had decreased by 12.5 per cent between 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, from 3,089 incidents to 2,703.
In 2019-2020, offences against Muslims made up 50 per cent of all recorded religious hate crimes, compared to 45 per cent in 2020/21.
Speaking before a visit to Cambridge Central Mosque to mark Islamophobia Awareness Month, Ms Dodds said: “It's about time the Conservatives got serious about tackling Islamophobia in our society and in their own ranks.
“They can't do that if they won't even name it.”
“The Tories have dragged their feet on this issue for far too long. The theme for this Islamophobia Awareness Month is 'time for change' — that change must start at the top of this Conservative Government,” she said.
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Gifts exchanged
- King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla - Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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