British MP for Manchester Gorton Afzal Khan has called for a full-fledge debate on Islamophobia in the parliament.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Labour MP Khan asked that given the rampant Islamophobia in the UK that had devastating consequences for the British Muslim community, if the leaders of the house would consider a debate on Islamophobia. He said that on Wednesday, the United National General Assembly proclaimed March 15 the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
Khan hoped that the leader of the house would join him in commending the international community for taking this important step to promote a culture of tolerance based on respect for human rights and freedom of religion or belief.
Leader of the House, MP Mark Spencer, while applauding Afzal Khan for raising the issue, said that he was right to draw attention to the fact that all forms of racism should be called out.
“We have a responsibility as members of parliament, but also members of society to call out any form of racism,” he said. “I think March 15 is an opportunity to once again take that opportunity to remind people that it is unacceptable in all forms and should be called out by anyone who sees it.”
MP Afzal Khan, a member of the parliamentary group on British Muslims, has been calling on the government for defining Islamophobia. He said that after defining and identifying the issue, the authorities would know what the problem was. He said that British Muslim communities were disproportionately suffering more in different walks of life. In this regard, MP Khan said that Home Office’s figures showed that in the last few years, religious hatred against Muslims had increased drastically.
Afzal Khan pointed out that hostilities faced by the Muslim communities were increasing, which were resulting in preventing their freedoms and consequently preventing them from participating in all walks of life.
