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Written Question
Religious Hatred: Islam
Thursday 5th July 2018

Asked by: Baroness Afshar (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they have put in place to protect Muslim citizens from verbal and physical attack and abuse on religious grounds.

Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

The Government deplores all hate crime including Islamophobia and is committed to tackling it. Nobody should be a target for hate because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability.

We have a strong legal framework in place with criminal penalties for offences such as incitement to religious hatred, racially or religiously aggravated offences such as intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress, as well as increased sentences for offences motivated by prejudice hostility or prejudice based on a person’s real or perceived religion.

We support Tell MAMA in their work to encourage greater reporting of anti-Muslim hatred and to support victims of hate crime. We also fund projects such as Streetwise and the Anne Frank Trust to work with young people to tackle prejudice and discrimination which may lay the foundations for hate crime in the future.

If anyone feels they have been a victim of hate crime, they should report this directly to their local police force, through the online True Vision portal or to Tell MAMA, who will be able to provide assistance and proceed appropriately.

Written Question
Public Sector: Equality
Monday 3rd July 2017

Asked by: Baroness Afshar (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

Her Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued to government departments, local authorities and other public bodies and agencies to avoid referring to British citizens by their creed, race or colour other than in contexts in which it is strictly necessary to do so.

Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

The Government has issued no such guidance and has no plans to do so.

Written Question
Religious Hatred: Islam
Tuesday 15th December 2015

Asked by: Baroness Afshar (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of Islamophobia on Muslim communities in the UK.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

Everyone in Britain has the right to feel safe and at ease in the place where they live. There is no place for hatred against people because of their race, gender, ethnic origin, faith, sexual orientation, age or disability.

Anti-Muslim attacks rose 30-40% in the first two weeks after the Paris attacks. These attacks are unacceptable in Britain. The Government funds Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks) to encourage reporting of these crimes and to support victims. We have also set up the first cross Government Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group to raise awareness of Islamaphobic attacks. In addition, the Prime Minister announced that the police will disaggregate hate crime by religion beginning in April 2016. This will help the police to build community trust, target their resources and enable the public to hold them to account.


Written Question
Religious Hatred
Thursday 12th February 2015

Asked by: Baroness Afshar (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to introduce measures to combat Islamophobia in the United Kingdom.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

This Government has done more than any other to tackle anti-Muslim hatred:

  • We have set up the first ever cross-government working group on anti-Muslim hatred which was established to consider and take forward proposals to tackle anti-Muslim hatred. The Group engages with Muslim communities and advises Government on how best to take forward key priorities;
  • Provided start-up funding to the Tell MAMA initiative to record incidents and support victims of anti-Muslim hatred;
  • Established a UK Srebrenica Memorial Day which recognises the fatal consequences of hatred and division;
  • Run social media workshops to build the capacity of community organisations to use social media effectively;
  • Held 8 integration roadshows with communities to find out what more Government can do to integrate communities and tackle anti-Muslim hatred. Further roadshows are planned throughout 2015;
  • Following the attacks in Paris, My Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and I wrote on 16 January to mosques across England reassuring them of Government help if they experience anti-Muslim hatred. The Department has also assured faith and community leaders of its support to their commendable efforts to foster mutual understanding and shared respect;
  • Proactive engagement with the police to combat anti-Muslim hatred;
  • Initiated roundtable discussions with representatives of Muslim communities, including Imams and Muslim youth leaders;
  • Regular ministerial engagement and attendance at Muslim community events.

Written Question
Community Relations
Thursday 12th February 2015

Asked by: Baroness Afshar (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to introduce measures to help prevent Muslims born and bred in the United Kingdom from being labelled by their faith and excluded from the mainstream.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

My rt hon friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Eric Pickles) made a Written Ministerial Statement on 18 December, Official Report Column 110WS, setting out the Government’s work on integration. As the Statement notes since 2010 the Department for Communities and Local Government has spent £45 million on supporting integration projects. It also makes clear that we are rising to the challenges, championing what unites our country across class, colour and creed and making clear that Britain is a stronger nation because of its faith communities. We are also taking initiatives and supporting communities in addressing anti-Muslim hatred.

We are clear that British values are Muslim values and there are incredible and powerful examples of Muslim social action and charitable contributions made by Britain's Muslim communities. Britain has a proud track record of multi-faith cooperation and we are confident that our communities work together in strengthening society. This cannot be achieved by Government alone and local communities and faith leaders are in a unique position in working with Government in ensuring that no British citizen feels marginalised.