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MP Wants Faith Equality Law |
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Written by IslamOnline.net
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Wednesday, 17 September 2008 |
British Muslim minister and MP Sadiq Khan wants a new discrimination law that legally requires public bodies to promote equality between faiths in the European country.
"In my view, there is an overwhelming case for the public service duty in the Bill covering the strands of race, gender and disability – to which the proposed Bill will address – and also the remaining strands of religion of belief," Khan writes in his pamphlet "Fairness not Favors: How to reconnect with British Muslims."
"Of course, this would not apply exclusively to British Muslims – but it would make a real difference to this community."
Khan wants provisions against religious discrimination to be included in the Single Equality Bill that is to be introduced to parliament.
He believes the bill, which proposes codes of practice for public bodies to stamp out discrimination on grounds of sex, race, gender and disability, should also include religion.
Khan, a minister in the government's whip office, contends that including religion would help eradicating the rampant "Islamophobia in the workplace."
It would prevent Muslims from being treated as second grade citizens, he believes.
Britain is home to nearly 2 million Muslims.
Last month, a UN human rights report has disparaged Britain over growing anti-Muslim sentiments and called the government to address the negative public attitudes towards Muslim.
In his pamphlet, a year-long research to be published by the UK’s leading centre-left think-tank the Fabian Society, MP Khan describes reconnecting Muslims and the government as a two-way road.
He urges British officials to understand why Muslims are disillusioned with the government.
"Learn lessons of 'revolving door' consultations which lack credibility."
The former human rights lawyer says that too little attention was paid to British Muslims' issues of inequality and poverty.
"A new approach to citizenship will not work unless the government adopts a new approach to policy towards citizenship, faith and foreign policy, and challenges British Muslims to participate fully in the mainstream issues of British society and politics."
The Muslim lawmaker, meanwhile, recognizes that Muslims must change too and should revisit their priorities.
"I challenge British Muslims to accept that as strongly as they feel about Iraq or counter-terror measures, poverty and inequality have the biggest impact on the lives of the majority of British Muslims."
Khan urged mosques to tackle gender equality.
"A failure to deal with the inequalities of British Muslim women flies in the face of any attempts to build a socially just and fair society."
He believes the Muslim community also needs to realize the importance of learning English for everyone who lives in Britain.
"The requirement to learn English is not colonial.
"English is a passport to participation in mainstream society – jobs, education and even being able to use health services."
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