ID :
197480
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 08:43
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/197480
The shortlink copeid
Islamophobia blamed as factor behind Norwegian atrocities
London, July 27, IRNA – Politics and media have some responsibility, not for the Norway's worst-ever terrorist attack, but for the culture which has demonised Muslims and created an atmosphere of hatred, according to the convenor of Stop the War Coalition, Lindsey German.
“While anyone who commits such acts must be classified as mentally ill, these actions also need to be put within a political context.
That context is a rising tide of Islamophobia in Europe which has seen the growth of right wing parties in many countries,” German said.
“So when asked what Britain can ‘do to help’ let’s try: End the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya; Don’t scapegoat immigrants; Stop blaming Muslims for their religion, their dress, their food or their politics; Campaign against racism instead of pandering to it,” she suggested.
Following the attacks, Foreign Secretary William Hague declared that Britain stood “shoulder to shoulder with Norway” and was committed to “work tirelessly with them to combat the threat from terrorism in all its forms.”
But the convenor of Britain's largest peace group network said that this was when Hague, along with US President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy “all thought that the bombing and shootings in Norway were the work of al Qaeda or other Muslim terrorists.”
“The initial response to the killings was that it must be the fault of 'Islamic terrorism'. This was the tenor of messages from world leaders. Reports from Oslo suggest verbal attacks on Muslims in the immediate aftermath,” she said.
As the facts became known, German said that the atrocity was carried out by Anders Behring Breivik, a “far right Christian who clearly planned a strategy of tension. He wanted to further create divisions in society which would lead to greater restrictions on immigration, attacks on Muslims and a rise in racism.”
Prime Minister David Cameron has also said he was taking 'extremely seriously' Breivik's claims of links to the far right in Britain, while Home Secretary Teresa May has come under pressure to examine government's anti-terror Prevent strategy after review played down far-right terror attacks.
“Politics and media do have some responsibility, not for the killings themselves, but for the culture which has demonised Muslims and created an atmosphere of hatred in some parts of society,” German said.
“Here in Britain the English Defence League has targeted Muslims. In France and Belgium there have been bans on women wearing the burka. In two speeches in the last few months David Cameron has gone out of his way to target Muslims. The media has depicted Muslims as a group as terrorists and extremists,” she said.
The peace campaigner believed that many people in Norway “clearly want to strengthen anti-racism and multiculturalism and to use these attacks to build a more fair and decent society.”
“But in every country in Europe those who campaign against war and fascism will have to rely on grassroots organisation to do so,” she said in an article on SWTC's website./end
“While anyone who commits such acts must be classified as mentally ill, these actions also need to be put within a political context.
That context is a rising tide of Islamophobia in Europe which has seen the growth of right wing parties in many countries,” German said.
“So when asked what Britain can ‘do to help’ let’s try: End the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya; Don’t scapegoat immigrants; Stop blaming Muslims for their religion, their dress, their food or their politics; Campaign against racism instead of pandering to it,” she suggested.
Following the attacks, Foreign Secretary William Hague declared that Britain stood “shoulder to shoulder with Norway” and was committed to “work tirelessly with them to combat the threat from terrorism in all its forms.”
But the convenor of Britain's largest peace group network said that this was when Hague, along with US President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy “all thought that the bombing and shootings in Norway were the work of al Qaeda or other Muslim terrorists.”
“The initial response to the killings was that it must be the fault of 'Islamic terrorism'. This was the tenor of messages from world leaders. Reports from Oslo suggest verbal attacks on Muslims in the immediate aftermath,” she said.
As the facts became known, German said that the atrocity was carried out by Anders Behring Breivik, a “far right Christian who clearly planned a strategy of tension. He wanted to further create divisions in society which would lead to greater restrictions on immigration, attacks on Muslims and a rise in racism.”
Prime Minister David Cameron has also said he was taking 'extremely seriously' Breivik's claims of links to the far right in Britain, while Home Secretary Teresa May has come under pressure to examine government's anti-terror Prevent strategy after review played down far-right terror attacks.
“Politics and media do have some responsibility, not for the killings themselves, but for the culture which has demonised Muslims and created an atmosphere of hatred in some parts of society,” German said.
“Here in Britain the English Defence League has targeted Muslims. In France and Belgium there have been bans on women wearing the burka. In two speeches in the last few months David Cameron has gone out of his way to target Muslims. The media has depicted Muslims as a group as terrorists and extremists,” she said.
The peace campaigner believed that many people in Norway “clearly want to strengthen anti-racism and multiculturalism and to use these attacks to build a more fair and decent society.”
“But in every country in Europe those who campaign against war and fascism will have to rely on grassroots organisation to do so,” she said in an article on SWTC's website./end
