Submission from the Preston Muslim Society
We have heard that the House of Lords has set
up a Select Committee to look at the issue of problems faced by
faith communities at present in the United Kingdom. As a Muslim
organisation we must warmly welcome your efforts and would like
to say as follows:[16]
(1) That as Muslims we feel that we are treated
as second class citizens in that we have no protection from discrimination
and abuse on grounds of our religion and there is no law that
makes it an offence to vilify Islam; and
(2) as an integral part of the British society
we are entitled to be treated equally and fairly.
We ask that measures be put in place so that
we feel safe, secure and valued. In this context we would like
to see, as a matter of urgency, a comprehensive law on making
discrimination based on religion in all areas of life unlawful,
inciting hatred on grounds of a person's religion or belief illegal
and vilifying a religion an offence.
17 July 2002
16 Identical letters were received from the Abdullah
Quilliam Society, the Lebanese Muslim League, Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith
UK, Mayfair Islamic Centre, Muslim Enterprise Development Service
and the Muslim Women's Helpline. Back
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