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Coronavirus: Islamophobia

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#1 [Permalink] Posted on 20th April 2020 00:26
Coronavirus: ‘Dangerous’ conspiracy theories could spark wave of Islamophobic attacks when lockdown lifts, report warns

Exclusive: Report raises concern that online hate could translate into attacks when restrictions lift

Muslims are being targeted using “dangerous” conspiracy theories claiming they are spreading coronavirus by violating lockdown restrictions, a report has warned.

Far-right extremists have been circulating old footage to claim that mosques are still open, causing police to be inundated with complaints by duped members of the public.

Abusive online posts have called for the demolition of all mosques to “cure” coronavirus, and Muslim women have been the victims of suspected hate crimes in public during the outbreak.


A report commissioned by independent members of the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group (AMHWG), seen exclusively by The Independent ahead of its release, warned that the claims could lead to a spike in attacks when the lockdown lifts.

Co-author Imran Awan, a professor of criminology at Birmingham City University, said: “The Covid-19 crisis has been used to create ‘others’ of Muslims, blaming them for the spread of the virus. The spread of fake news online is contributing to this extremely worrying trend.

“While we haven’t yet seen this translate into physical hate crimes, once social distancing rules are relaxed there are concerns that this could be the case.”


In one recent incident, a Muslim woman wearing a hijab and a protective mask overheard a man in a supermarket say to his partner “look, a bomb” as he pointed at her.

In another incident, which was reported to the Metropolitan Police, a Muslim woman said she was approached by a man who coughed in her face and claimed he had coronavirus.

Roxana Khan-Williams, who co-authored the report, warned that anti-Muslim hatred and conspiracy theories were “penetrating common-sense thinking”.

She told The Independent that during her research, she saw examples of people who were not being deliberately Islamophobic but “were seeing this fake news and absorbing it”.


“It has gained a lot of traction, which is what has made it more dangerous,” she added.

“It’s the usual suspects peddling [anti-Muslim narratives] but it’s gained a lot of support. What they’ve done has worked because people are worried and Muslims are being scapegoated.”

Analysing posts across Facebook, Twitter, Telegram and WhatsApp groups, the report identified narratives claiming that mosques and Muslims are spreading coronavirus, police are giving preferential treatment to Muslims, and that the “UK’s Muslim population is responsible for a quarter of the country’s Covid-related deaths”.

“Online narratives rooted in anti-Muslim bigotry are evolving and transforming in the new social context created by the pandemic,” the report says.

“In this new context, Islam and Muslims have been associated directly with the causes of the pandemic, fitting well within broader well-known far-right themes depicting Muslims as parasitical to society – foreign, alien and ‘disease-like’.”

Katie Hopkins, Tommy Robinson and former Ukip leader Gerard Batten have been among those sharing posts targeting Muslims in connection with the pandemic.


An old video shared by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, claimed to show worshippers leaving a mosque in Birmingham during the lockdown.

The footage sparked a deluge of complaints to West Midlands Police, which was forced to investigate the false reports.

“Although we can confirm the footage was filmed in Small Heath, our officers have conducted enquiries and are satisfied that the mosque is currently closed,” said a police statement on 30 March, adding that it had not opened since the lockdown was implemented.


It was one of a series of similar incidents, including fake claims over mosques in London, Leeds and Shrewsbury.

The report contains numerous posts claiming that police were turning a “blind eye” to the violations and spreading “unfounded narratives that argue ethnic minorities, and particularly Muslims, are given preferential treatment by the police”.

Its authors are concerned that similar claims will resurface during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which begins next week and traditionally sees Muslims gather for prayers and meals with relatives and friends.

The Centre for Media Monitoring, which campaigns over the reporting of Islam, launched complaints last week about news articles that claimed “experts fear social gatherings in Ramadan will lead to a spike in Covid-19 cases”.

The Muslim Council of Britain called the stories “untrue and dangerous” after issuing guides on performing Ramadan prayers at home and conducting digital worship.


The body said more than 375 mosques and prayer facilities in the UK suspended prayers before Boris Johnson announced the UK-wide lockdown, and the remainder complied with the restrictions.

The Muslim Council of Britain previously issued theological messages saying the individual obligation to perform Friday prayers in congregations was lifted because of the pandemic.

The vast majority of coronavirus-linked hate crimes so far reported in the UK targeted people of Chinese or southeast Asian appearance.

Police said they recorded “localised” spikes in offences that slowed when the virus started spreading more rapidly outside of China.

A report issued by the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion on Friday said antisemitic hate speech had also “risen alarmingly” during the outbreak.

Ahmed Shaheed said it was being exploited “to spread hatred against the Jews and other minorities” amid the spread of conspiracy theories claiming that Jewish people are responsible for developing and spreading coronavirus.

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#2 [Permalink] Posted on 20th April 2020 18:55
Trump implies that Muslims are skirting social distancing, without evidence

April 20

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump has made a number of claims without evidence to back them. Who can forget his now infamous "cure"? Over the weekend, Trump targeted Muslims by claiming mosques could get special treatment during Ramadan. His comments may incite additional Islamophobia during one of Islam's holiest months.

This year, Ramadan takes place from April 23 to May 23. Muslims who are able to do so spend the month fasting from pre-dawn to sunset and, in normal circumstances, would attend nightly taraweeh prayers at the mosque. Although Ramadan celebrations are often communal, Muslims are preparing for changes under lockdown.


Nevertheless, on Saturday, Trump retweeted conservative author Paul Sperry, who wrote, "Let's see if authorities enforce the social distancing order for mosques during Ramadan (April 23-May 23) like they did churches during Easter."

Later that day, a reporter at the White House coronavirus task force briefing asked Trump why he shared that tweet. Trump replied, "You know, I just spoke with leaders and people that love mosques. They love mosques! And I'm all in favor of that. But I would say that there could be a difference. And we'll have to see what will happen. Because I have seen a great disparity in this country."


He continued: "They go after Christian churches but they don't tend to go after mosques. And I don't want them to go after mosques! But I do want to see what their event is," Trump added. He didn't offer further details as to what he was talking about, leaving reporters to parse his vague and contradictory sentences.



Nor is it clear whom Trump was referring to with his repeated reference to "they." Regardless, Trump provided no evidence for his claim that he has "seen a great disparity in this country." On the contrary, the lengthy history of American surveillance of Muslims would suggest that authorities already target mosques more than churches.

While Trump seems to be attempting to use Muslims as a scapegoat — for what, though, it's unclear — Muslims themselves are preparing for massive changes this Ramadan. The Fiqh Council of North America, a body of scholars from the United States and Canada, stated that "[mosques] and Islamic centers shall strictly follow the health and state official guidelines for social gatherings and distancing."


A number of community-led organizations have coordinated digital Ramadan efforts. For example, Believers Bail Out launched its Reimagining Community 2020 (Virtual) Ramadan Calendar, and Black Iftar shared that it will "use various digital tools to replace large, in-person gatherings deemed unsafe by the CDC due to COVID-19."

This is not the first time Trump has amplified Islamophobia on Twitter. Last April, Trump joined in on harassment of Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar (Minn.) by tweeting a video of one of her speeches intercut with footage from 9/11. He later came came under fire after one of his supporters was arrested for threatening to Omar.


Overall, Trump's comments are part of larger trend of Islamophobia creeping into coronavirus rhetoric. And the president's contributions extend past social media and the current crisis. The Muslim-led MPower Change collected a list of dozens of incidents in which the president appeared to traffic in anti-Muslim sentiment, while his policy moves like the 2017 travel ban and his later ban specifically targeting Africans have disproportionately affected Muslims.

www.mic.com/p/trump-implies-that-muslims-are-skirting-soc...
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#3 [Permalink] Posted on 20th April 2020 19:01
When Shariah is allowing us to pray at home, why should we invite issues.
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#4 [Permalink] Posted on 20th April 2020 19:51
RSS / BJP agenda in India.

They are delaying rampant testing to hide real data to the world.

Discouraging states in using Rapid Testing Kits giving excuses of faulty kits being received.

They are waiting for Muslims to make some mistake and then start with Rapid testing and spike the number of cases and put the entire blame on Muslims. They are waiting for:

1. 24th (start of Ramadan) to see Muslims rushing to Masjids for taraweeh prayers n blame them for violating lockdown and spiking up CV case. Excuse to extend lockdown beyond May 3rd.

2. If Muslims do not come out for taraweh on 24th due to lockdown. They will wait till end of lockdown-3rd May and Muslims will start coming for taraweh. Within 2 days they will hike the data number, blame the Muslims n Taraweh as the cause of more cases and declare lockdown again.

3. If any non-Muslim becomes CV positive. He will be asked if he took Ganji, rice soup from mosque and if by chance he says yes. They will blame Muslims for spreading CV thro Ganji.

My request:
Don’t open mosque this Ramadan or distribute Ganji this year.
Pray Taraweeh at home this year, even after lockdown is lifted.

Avoid for 2 reasons:
1. To defeat their plan to blame Muslims.
2. To keep yourself n family safe from Covid-19.

Let this message reach the management of all Masjids. Please keep forwarding to your known source.
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#5 [Permalink] Posted on 5th July 2020 15:12
05JULY2020: Matt Hancock (Health Secretary) & subtle Racism

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-53297782

Matt Hancock has said he is concerned about poor social distancing in clothing factories in Leicester as some were confirmed as having outbreaks.

This is how Tories start the racism campaigns:

  1. A minister makes a "small observation" appearing to be concerned about minorities on a Sunday.
  2. Watch this "small observation" blow up next week and become clear calls for blaming residents of Leicester
  3. Watch this grow to pinpoint "Muslims of Leicester"


Watch this space for the next few weeks in Media and Social Media
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#6 [Permalink] Posted on 5th July 2020 15:44
Muadh_Khan wrote:
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Maybe, and if that happens we should remind him / them of what we have sacrificed for the nation.

Appreciated here by Matt Hancock (also praised the Muslim community in other places)
Halalified YouTube Audio

youtu.be/Qv6zPTg40-A


The hypocrisy may emerge, but we will have to stand up for it in a peaceful way.

We will have to also show how malls, pubs, parks and beaches have been polluted by the non Muslims.
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#7 [Permalink] Posted on 5th July 2020 15:57
abu mohammed wrote:
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Do you really think they care?
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#8 [Permalink] Posted on 5th July 2020 16:09
xs11ax wrote:
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Nope. Its what parts of the public wants to hear and what parts of the "other" public are being forced to listen to!

I remember a quote by a former UK resident.

He said the British are the biggest hypocrites. He said, if America wanted to kill a fish from the pond, they'd blowup the pond, but if the British needed to kill that fish, they would do it by poisoning the pond slowly and no one would ever know what happened to all the fish.
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