Action alert: Get Out and Vote policy pledge area: APPG (All-Party Parliamentary Group) definition on Islamophobia
Thursday April 14 2022
Councils are undergoing local elections, with polling day on the 5th May. The importance of voting in local council elections is that Muslim communities will have a say in who represents their concerns locally. For instance, where communities are concerned about growing Islamophobia, voting for councillors who have or are committed to taking active steps to tackle this is important for the wellbeing of Muslim communities.
Only just over 50 councils in the UK have adopted the APPG definition and only a handful are taking active steps to tackle Islamophobia in local institutions.
Get involved by writing to your local candidates! It will only take 2 minutes:
- Copy and paste the template letter, urging them to commit to the policy pledges. (Please don’t forget to include your constituent details, such as full name and address)
- Register to vote (deadline; 14th April) or postal vote (19th April).
- Turn up to your local polling station on the 5th May!
“Dear ____ ,
I hope this email finds you well and safe.
As a member of the local Muslim community, I am writing to you to urge you to demonstrate commitment and in extension take active steps in tackling Islamophobia if re-elected.
According to the Home Office’s report, 45% of recorded religious hate crime is targeted towards Muslims 2020/2021, highlighting how Muslims are the most disproportionately targeted religious group in the UK. By accepting the following policy pledges, you will be demonstrating allyship with your Muslim constituents by taking small but significant steps to effectively tackle Islamophobia.
Policy pledges read as the following (can also be viewed here):
Commit to adopting the definition of Islamophobia produced by the APPG for British Muslims: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness”, and apply this definition alongside the CAI guidelines.
Commit to work with schools, transport companies, the police force, and other public and private bodies to tackle Islamophobia at a local level.
Commit to collaborate with the local Muslim community to challenge Islamophobia and to meet their needs such that they are encouraged to participate in public life.
Commit to take further steps to tackle and raise awareness of Islamophobia, such as organising Islamophobia training, holding local events on the issue of Islamophobia, etc.
Commit to work with other local stakeholders, such as the local MP to raise awareness of Islamophobia in parliament and urge the UK Government to adopt the APPG definition of Islamophobia.
Thank you in advance and I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely,
[your name]”