Exploiting Islamophobia?

At my Trade Union branch AGM yesterday there was a motion called "Say No to Islamophobia". At first sight, most members would think that this must be a "good thing" and automatically support it. However, when you actually look at all of it, you realise it is a classic example of non-representative political groups, trying to slip in their own sectarian ideology into a consensual issue and exploit it for their own ends. These "template" motions are unfortunately pretty common place in the trade union movement and the Labour Party

Certainly, it is right and proper that our branch should have a public policy opposing Islamophobia, in all its forms. However, what we need is a policy that unites all members in opposition to Islamophobia not one that deliberately divides and splits us over such an important issue.

I believe that the motion is an attack not on Islamophobia, but actually an attack on the Labour Government and the Labour Party. Therefore with regret, I spoke against the motion. Here is why (original motion in italic and my response underneath).

"1. This Conference declares its solidarity with all the Muslim peoples in Britain facing a hurricane of official and unofficial legal, political and physical attacks in a climate of Islamophobic hysteria. We recognise that these attacks are essentially racist and anti-democratic.
2. They are driven by the same political agenda as has inspired the criminal and disastrous war on terror” which has laid waste to Iraq and Afghanistan and presently threatens Iran and elsewhere.

I think that you could call some (not all) of the comments made in recent months by government ministers about multi-culturalism, unwise or even foolish at times. However, 1&2 above clearly equates these comments with real physical and verbal attacks on Muslims by real racists and real Islamophobes such as the BNP. To suggest that government ministers are the same as BNP thugs is not going to unite us, neither is the clear suggestion that all those who support the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan are war "Criminals".

3. In particular we condemn the statements made by government ministers designed to isolate, demonise and even criminalise Islamic religious practises, choice of dress and cultural expression. We affirm that such diversity in fact makes an important contribution to the overall development of our society.

Again, I would agree that in parts the government has mishandled the situation, But, I am not aware of any minister proposing that Muslims are "criminalised" (line 5) for the way some of them choose to worship or the way they dress. To suggest that the government are going to make Islamic worship and culture unlawful is simply dishonest and will of course, again, not unite us, because it is untrue and offensive.

4. We condemn terrorist atrocities such as the London bombings, which are in all circumstances indefensible. However we believe, in common with the majority of British people, that the key to tackling the threat of such atrocities is a change to the foreign policy of the government. It has subordinated this country to the aggressive foreign policy of the Bush government, in its invasion of Iraq, its threats to Iran, and its support for Israel’s aggression against Libya.

I am glad that the terrorist atrocities in London last year are condemned, however the blame for the bombs is clearly laid against the Labour government rather than the brain washed morons who actually carried out the attacks. Whatever is the reason you think is to blame, again, how is such a motion going to unite us against fighting Islamophobia? One other thought is how old is this template? Israel's aggression against Libya??? (Line 11) What on earth is that about?

5. We call on the people of Britain to:
Oppose all racist rhetoric and violence directed against Muslims
Reject legislation directed against free cultural and religious expression and any legislation seeking to abridge the civil liberties of all citizens. Support the right of Muslims, like any other people, to dress, follow their culture and worship as they please, within the limits of the present law. Support the open letter against Islamophobia and in defence of the Muslim community published recently in the Guardian. 6. Conference resolves to continue to support the work of groups that campaign against Islam phobia and attacks on civil liberties such as Unite Against Fascism and the Stop The War Coalition and to support any public activities, which are in line with UNISON policy which they call in response to these attacks (end).

Yes, I welcomed the idea of the branch stating its solidarity with Muslims, recognising the contribution that diversity plays in our society, the call to oppose all racist rhetoric and violence against Muslims, freedom of religious and cultural expression and its call to support anti-fascist groups. But what conference (line 17) are they talking about; this motion is before a branch AGM? This motion is so badly crafted.

I accept that the proposer and many of the supporters at the meeting did genuinely believe that this template motion, was in their view, a positive attempt to "Say No to Islamophobia". But, and it’s a big But, the people who originally wrote it intended it to be solely, an attack on the Labour Party and its supporters, and libel them as racists and war criminals. If this is their view then by all means they are entitled to express such views. However, they should not "dress up" these views with motions on legitimate issues which would normally create consensus and rally the branch behind the many positive sentiments expressed in the last paragraph.

Instead we are left with the situation that many will simply dismiss the entire motion as another "Trot Trick" (not my words). Why is there never any attempt to create a consensus beforehand and move a motion which will have support of all, rather than fit in the views of a tiny, tiny minority that want to divide us? ....I think I know why.