It's time to support hate crime victims
Over the weekend, my brother called me from Birmingham, having seen news reports that Muslims across the country were receiving hate mail from anonymous sources. He was, understandably, nervous about the threats and scared for the safety of his family, especially with his little sister working in London and in the public eye.
As MPs, we become immune to abuse and hate. Ever since I was first selected, it’s something I’ve had to endure. The racist, sexist and islamophobic abuse was a shock, but unfortunately it comes with the territory of being an approachable, public figure like an MP.
What’s so troubling about the recent spate of islamophobia, whether it be the “punish a Muslim day” letters or the suspicious packages sent to Parliament, is the fear that this could be an orchestrated campaign of hate. While you can always have hope that it’s just some sad, twisted individual, the fear remains that there is a coordinated operation that will instil fear across so many families and communities.
Having served on the Home Affairs Select Committee and investigated abuse, I have full faith in the fantastic police and security forces to root out the person or people behind these sad acts of intolerance. Working cross party and behind the scenes, I know that there is no tolerance for hatred, whether it’s islamophobia, anti-Semitism, right-wing or hard left extremism, or any other kind of uncontrolled bigotry.
Our commitment to tackling hate crime was laid out in the House of Commons earlier this week. With a clear and robust legislative framework, and a dedicated security service, we are combatting extremism head on. The hate crime action plan sets out the offences of inciting racial and religious hatred, providing all ethnic and religious groups with absolute equality under the law.
The Home Office has committed £2.4 million to protect places of worship that have been the subject of hate crime attacks. Community centres and places of worship that are vulnerable to any attack, whether it is racially, religiously or ideologically motivated, have extra funding set aside for their protection, following the Finsbury Park terror attack last summer. So far, 45 mosques have been funded under this scheme.
I have long supported the Tell MAMA project, which records incidents of islamophobia and provides support to the victims. The Government have provided funding for the project, as they provide an accessible and approachable resource for Muslims who have been the victims of hate crime across the country.
Providing support is one step to helping people who suffer hate crime attacks. We must make sure they aware that they are not alone, and that they will be protected. The people who carry out these acts of hatred are narrow-minded and intolerant. But they are also afraid. They are afraid of the tolerant, open and welcoming country we have become. It is important to remind ourselves that hate crime is a minority view.
The UK is a country that believes in the rule of law, freedom of speech and democracy, and with that comes equal rights and freedom of worship. We will not let a few isolated extremists undermine our spirit of tolerance or our traditions of pluralism and inclusivity. Our diversity is one of our key strengths, of which I am very proud just as my brother is very proud of his little sister who has made it to Parliament.