Drive to combat Islamophobia

LONDON, April 10

Muslims and trade unionists in the UK are to hold a seminar on improving the job prospects of Muslim workers and combating Islamophobia, it was announced here Tuesday.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the umbrella organization of British trade unions, will hold the event this Thursday.

The two groups will discuss not only job prospects for Muslims but how to combat the effects of Islamophobia and far right-wing activity in parts of the UK, they said.

The event comes after the TUC and the MCB issued a joint statement last year pledging to work together to encourage more Muslims to join trade unions.

The statement also backed efforts to improve community relations both at work and in society.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said in a statement "We do not under-estimate the scale of the challenge facing us today".

"Islamophobia is a real and present threat, fuelled by prejudice and misunderstandings, and the rise of the far right and electoral success of the British National Party (BNP) are alarming features of recent years".

"Local elections are approaching once again, and by working together, the TUC and the MCB can expose the far right for what they really are and work towards a better deal for everyone in the workplace", he added.

For his part, Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, MCB Secretary General, said "We believe in social justice and equal rights for all".

"The Muslim community is facing real problems of discrimination and poverty, a third of Muslims are living in the 10 percent most deprived neighborhoods of the country, but we have a tremendous amount to offer the UK workplace in terms of skills, optimism and energy", Dr Bari added.

(KUNA - Kuwait News Agency)

Link to TUC-MCB seminar details.