Conservative and Liberal-Democratic Indifferent to Muslim Concerns

1 February 2006

Denis MacShane MP has said that yesterday's vote by Liberal Democratic and Conservative MPs to reject a law that would address the concerns of Muslims about the level of hate crimes against their faith and against Muslims showed that Parliament did not understand its duty to help increase tolerance and integration in Britain.

"The arrogance of Liberal Democratic and Tory MPs in refusing even the compromise bill put forward by the Government shows that the deep worry of British Muslims about the need for respect for their faith is not being addressed. This proposal was voted for at the General Election when Labour MPs were elected on the basis of a manifesto which contains this commitment and it is sad that some Labour MPs let down the vast majority of Labour MPs by voting with the Liberal Democratic and Conservative leadership," said MacShane.

The Rotherham MP intervened in the debate to point out that the bill protected freedom of expression. MacShane cited section 29K of the bill which makes clear that someone is not guilty of an offence if their action "consists of criticising, expressing antipathy towards, abusing, insulting or ridiculing (or seeking to ridicule) any religion, religious belief or religious practice."

MacShane told the Commons: "By any measure of plain English, that gives protection to any journalist, any latter-day Voltaire, anyone writing the equivalent of the 'Merchant of Venice', and anyone willing to criticise the Koran and the Bible."

After the defeat of Labour's efforts to show solidarity with British Muslims, MacShane said: "There is a long history in Britain of using Parliament and laws to help British Catholics, British Jews, British Sikhs, as well as all the laws protecting Christian religions so that every faith community can feel at home in Britain. How can I ask British Muslim and my many friends in Rotherham to reject those preachers of hate against gays, or those who argue in support of religious wars against Jews and against Israel to reject such intolerance if Liberal Democrats and Tories show contempt for the fears and worries of British Muslims?"

MacShane praised the letter published in The Times today from Edgar Bronfman, president of the World Jewish Congress who argued that "Religious customs, practices and beliefs by followers of other religions should be respected by everyone. Publishing materials considered offensive by a small religious minority goes too far. It is as wrong as the discrimination against Christian and Jewish populations that takes place in some Islamic countries."

The Rotherham MP said that in the past people who opposed the Race Relations Act argued that Parliament could not pass laws seeking to limit what people say and publish. "Yet surely the tradition of Britain is that we do seek to use law to make people feel protected from hate, violence and discrimination. Gays and women are protected, as are Jews and Sikhs. The bill as it goes into law is an important signal that Labour is committed to making British Muslims feel as much part of today's Britain as any other faith. I regret that no Liberal Democrat or Conservative had the guts to defy their leadership and stand in solidarity with the British Muslim community,” said MacShane