“Stop Islamophobia” Conference

by non-voter Sun May 30, 2010 14:13

There’s a link here to site of the UK Stop The War Coalition . http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1860/1/ .STWC is organizing this timely anti-racist conference with the British Muslim Initiative http://www.bminitiative.net/.:

Hopefully the Defend the Muslim Community conference will be well attended in spite of the recent split in the British SWP - DMC seems like it is more orientated to the Lindsay German /Respect side of that split.. The growth of groups like the EDL in Britain and the rise of Islamophobia in Europe is disturbing .Conferences like this one deserve the support of anti-racists across Europe and internationally

by pat c Sun May 30, 2010 21:54

Islamophobia should certainly be combatted but the mere criticism of Islam is not Islamophobic any more than the criticism of Catholicism is Cathlophobic. Remember religion s not race. All religions should be criticised and no religion is above mockery.

Laws banning the wearing of the Hijab are wrong and bring in cultural as well as religious harassment of Muslim women. All socialists and anti-racists should oppose these laws. But equally a womans right not to wear the Hijab should also be supported. Remember women in many Islamic societies do not have a choice about wearing a Hijab.

Wearing or not wearing a Hijab should be an act of personal choice. Religion should be totally seperated from the State.

by Castell Mon May 31, 2010 10:42

What about having a Build a socialist alternative to Islamic fundamentalism conference instead of pandering to the backward reactionary imans and theocrats! Will the SWP past and present be raising women and gay rights issues at this conference?