Guardian UK: Cameron's scapegoating will have a chilling, toxic impact

[marmar]

Cameron's scapegoating will have a chilling, toxic impact
Blaming Islamists and multiculturalism for the backlash from US and British wars risks fuelling violence on the streets

Seumas Milne
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 9 February 2011


In parts of Britain, Muslims are effectively under siege. They are routinely spat at and abused in the street. Over the past couple of months there have been arson and other attacks on mosques in Hemel Hempstead, Leicester, Scunthorpe, Stoke and Kingston, as well as desecration of a Muslim graveyard and fire-bombing of a halal shop.

Most of these outrages weren't even reported in the national media, let alone the occasion for a supportive visit from a government minister. As elsewhere in Europe, far-right organisations such as the British National party have increasingly switched the focus of their hatred from Jews and migrant populations in general to Muslims. More than half the "significant demonstrations" in the past 18 months, according to the Inspectorate of Constabulary, were mounted by the English Defence League, which only targets Muslims, smashing shop windows and assaulting passers-by whenever it manages to break through police lines in mainly Muslim areas.

As the Conservative party chairwoman Sayeeda Warsi said last month – and was roundly abused for doing so – Islamophobia has also "now crossed the threshold of middle-class respectability". It is the last socially acceptable form of bigotry, often dressed up in the clothes of liberalism.

So when the EDL organised a "homecoming" march last weekend in Luton, did the prime minister use the opportunity to condemn the racially inflamed provocation of a gang of Muslim-baiters and show solidarity with fellow British citizens under threat? Not a bit of it. He didn't even mention what was going on in Luton. Speaking the same day in Munich, of all places, he turned his fire instead on "Islamists", "state multiculturalism" and "non-violent extremists" in the Muslim community. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/feb/09/cameron-scapegoating-muslims-toxic-impact

[Ghost Dog]

1. "Most of these outrages weren't even reported in the national media"

UK following US model all the way.