Government criticised for 'Islamophobic' lockdown rules meaning British Muslims are unable to

[Soph0571]

celebrate Eid

On Thursday night, the government surprised everyone with a brand new set of lockdown rules for people in the north of England.

Announcing there had been a ‘spike’ in cases, stricter rules were imposed from midnight on households in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire.

The city of Leicester was also included in the new rules.

They mean that people from different households can no longer meet indoors, including in pubs and restaurants.

But the announcement was made the night before Eid al-Adha, one of the holiest days in the Islamic calendar.

[link:https://www.indy100.com/article/lockdown-north-england-muslim-eid-celebrations-9647266|]

I know there are spikes in some South Asian communities but if the government can say that delaying a week did not matter at the start of lockdown, surely delaying a day for Eid would not have had that big an impact - but they just didn't think about Eid at all in this decision making. People are likening it to cancelling Christmas at 10 pm on Christmas Eve. Yet another unforced error by this government. If they even knew it was Eid, or what Eid represents - which I would find doubtful - I can guarantee they did not give one seconds thought to the impact of this lock down on Muslim families. This is what happens when you have a bunch of posh privileged white right wing tossers in charge - they are unable to perspective take from a minority point of view because they firstly, could not give a shit about those communities and secondly they do not have those minority communities sitting at the top table. And so of course they just cancelled Eid for large sections of our Muslim communities, of course they did. They will be highly offended at being call Islamaphobic but just not bothering to consider the impact of the lock down on this day of days is at the very least uncaring of the many Muslims living in the north, I personally think it is worse than that - you can go to the pub but not into another persons home... which community does that serve?!?! Hhhmmm

[Squinch]

1. If we will need to cancel Christmas at 10pm on Christmas Eve to stop people from dying, I will be

fine with it. And the way we are going it is a distinct possibility.

And because there is a spike, it is for the benefit of the Muslim community that the ban is put into effect. This virus hits families because families gather. This will reduce a spread within Muslim families that the Eid gatherings would have caused.

This isn't a matter of making accommodations for religions. This is a virus.

And your source says that they CAN'T meet indoors "including in pubs and restaurants." So you CAN'T go into pubs.

[T_i_B]

2. I don't have any issue with these localised lockdowns

It's the shambolic manner in which this was announced that I have an issue with.

[BooScout]

3. You can't go to the pub in that area...

And it serves the entire community by limiting situations where the virus is most likely to be contracted. Easter, one of the biggest Christian holy days was smack dab in the middle of lockdown and no one went to church....so your assertion that the government's actions are biased towards any one religion ring false.

[LeftishBrit]

4. Agree with T-i-B

I think that we still have to be ruthless about large gatherings, especially in places where there has been a spike. This did include Easter and Passover, and could well include Christmas and Hanukkah - I am sure that both the Jewish and Christian sides of my family would accept this. Better than ending up in hospital, or, worse, the morgue!

The Muslims whom I know are all prepared to avoid gatherings where necessary to stop the virus.

And I am sure that the areas with local lockdowns don't let people go to the pub either.

But I also agree that the government have no planning ability whatsoever, and constantly act on impulse. Not a prefrontal cortex between the lot of them! You'd think they were all drunk teenagers.