BNP 'pitting Muslims against Sikhs'
The British National Party has been siding with Hindus and Sikhs to create tension against Islamic groups and undermine community cohesion, an academic has claimed.
Professor Gurharpal Singh, from Birmingham University, has carried out research for Faith Matters, a not-for-profit company promoting community cohesion. It notes over the past nine years Muslim and Sikh youth have been ‘mobilising’ against each other which has sometimes led to serious acts of violence.
The report states: ‘At the same time as this tension is increasing, the BNP is seeking to fish in troubled waters by making overtures to sections of British Sikhs (and Hindus) to form tactical and strategic alliances against British Muslims for the promotion of its virulent Islamophobia.
‘While the number of Sikhs who have responded to the BNP’s calls is no more than a handful, the broader resentment among British Sikhs against Muslims has the potential to grow beyond its current narrow local confines by drawing on events in south Asia, the historic narratives of the two communities’ shared and antagonistic paths.’
The report also suggests the policies of British political parties over the past few decades have ‘promoted racism from below’ and that ‘excessive promotion of cultural diversity among minority ethnic communities has fostered the development of parallel lives and separate communities that have little in common’.
The report, The Adab: ‘Respect’ Research Programme, aims to highlight the bonds between Sikhs and Muslims, such as a common Punjabi heritage, history, language, culture and shared experience of living in Britain.
But it warns: ‘The current tensions between Muslims and Sikhs in some towns and cities have the potential to adversely redefine the relationship between these two important communities.
‘And if to this picture is added the factor of BNP efforts to exploit these differences, there is a real danger of serious communal disorder in the future.’
The research calls for further work to be done to improve relations between the communities. It also says efforts should be made to promote better links and networks between the two groups, through inter-faith dialogue, documentation for popular consumption of shared heritage and a toolkit that explores interactions between Muslims and Sikhs.
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Readers' comments (18)
zoomhoody | 17/05/2010 9:15 am
1. The BNP is "pitting Muslims against Sikhs"
2. "‘excessive promotion of cultural diversity among minority ethnic communities has fostered the development of parallel lives and separate communities that have little in common"
Has the Professor only just noticed what has been glaringly obvious for years?
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Ben Connett | 17/05/2010 9:45 am
I agree with some of the researcher's findings having lived in Birmingham for a number of years where there is a large diverse South Asian population. Of course, there are negative outside influences beit political that can affect communities such as the ones' discussed. I believe however, that the years of 'hyped' news media focus and mis-representation of political, social, cultural and economic divisions between certain factions within racial and inter- faith communities in our towns and cities have brought us to this brink. Maybe it's time that we move from the academic classroom discussion of the problem to the grass-roots in order to bring together a coalition of communities, which can work together harmoniously to offset some of the political, social and economic disadvantages they share regardless of their cast, racial orgin, income status and faith.
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the purple avenger | 17/05/2010 11:01 am
I think that ethnic minorities have their own rivalries and problems. Some may seek to use the BNP as a vehicle to express this, however, I think IH has rather sensationalised this. I am not a supporter of the BNP, but I think most people will vote against the BNP out of basic decency (as they did at the election). I get concerned when the media tries to smear the BNP as it may perversely gain them support if it appears that there is some campaign against them.
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michael read | 17/05/2010 11:05 am
Well, I never. Stone me. Who would have thought it?
Muslims against Sikhs. For a couple of thousand years they've been at it each other's throats.
And then, just like that, Tommmy Cooper-style, the professor discovers the BNP are fomenting trouble.
Just as a matter of academic interest, how on earth do the BNP manage to do this?
"We hate A. You should hate B. We hate B too. You should hate A".
I'd like to think that both A and B - when they're not hating each other - might not like being told to hate someone else especially when they're told to do so by someone they know hates them, if you follow.
You've got to have faith in these matters.
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paul HINDLEY | 17/05/2010 11:18 am
I think you should look at the labour party and the likes off Harold Wilson who on the 10th of may 1947 gave the land to the muslins that pakitan now resides on, i think they call it the day of the partition.
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Alex | 17/05/2010 11:28 am
Communities should try to understand why they have these problems, why people hate them and try to resolve it. These might originate from countries people come from; if you don’t let other practice there religions or does not tolerate others beliefs, you will have problem where you move too; especially if you cannot tolerate peoples belief in host countries or when you want host to change to your religion.
Live and let others live.
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Sancho | 17/05/2010 11:58 am
Paul Hindley - Are you saying that the Secretary of State for the Ministry or Works unilaterally declared the independence of Pakistan from the British Empire?
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John Bull | 17/05/2010 1:38 pm
the report correctly says ' the excessive promotion of cultural diversity' This is a major cause of the problem. We should welcome all who want to come and work here and become British with all the addvantages that holds, but anyone wanting to do so should have been required to integrate. English (or welsh etc) should be an absolute requirement, and anyone weak in it should undertake to study untill reasonably proficient. All other languages should be banned, no translation services, no publication of documents other than in the indigenous ones ( we have eight thats quite enough). no one admitted to work, even from the EU, for any job unless they can show an O level standard of English for use as a first or second language depending on where they are going in the UK ( channel Isles IOM ) etc.
Multi culturalism is a disaster, we need the melting pot or intergration model.
all over the world there are bitter conflicts going on, if anyone wants to come here they should leave those conflicts at the Border, or go home and fight them. We have enough conflicts in between the original residents.
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Sancho | 17/05/2010 2:48 pm
John Bull, I know you like to get all excited about Jonny Foreigner, but we are talking about British people who were born here and speak English.
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paul HINDLEY | 17/05/2010 5:07 pm
sancho ? just cause jeius were born in a stable doe,snt make him a donkey doe,s it.
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