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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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7 July 2004

Press Release: Blunkett’s Incitement Law Spells Danger for Ethnic Communities

IHRC would like to express its deep concern at Home Secretary David Blunkett’s latest proposals to outlaw incitement to religious hatred. Rather than enjoying additional protection from the law, religious minorities could find themselves the targets of prosecutions under the proposed legislation.

Beginning with the prosecution of black activist, Michael X, those charged under the existing laws against incitement to racial hatred have been disproportionately drawn from black and ethnic minority groups, when the legislation was supposed to have been brought in to protect these very groups.

IHRC Chairman, Massoud Shadjareh stated:

“In the light of the well-recognised institutional Islamophobic society that we have at the moment, this legislation could very well be used against Muslim communities, rather than protecting them.”

If the British government were truly interested in protecting Muslims, it would extend the Race Relations Act to cover discrimination against Muslims. Currently, the Act prohibits discrimination against Jews and Sikhs but not against Muslims.

For more information please contact, (+44) 20 8904 4222 or info@ihrc.org.

Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183
Email: info@ihrc.org
Web: www.ihrc.org