Politics Theory Other The UK's pogroms and resurgent Islamophobia w/ Nesrine Malik
Aug 18, 2024
Nesrine Malik, a Guardian columnist and author of *We Need New Stories*, delves into the recent wave of Islamophobia and racist violence in the UK following the tragic Southport stabbings. She discusses how the language used to describe these events can obscure the racial and religious dimensions involved. Malik also highlights the role of right-wing media in fueling divisive narratives, the importance of solidarity with Palestine in anti-fascist movements, and critiques the political climate's complicity in enabling such violence.
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Name The Violence Accurately
- The events should be named to reflect far-right racism and violent intent rather than neutral terms like 'protest' or 'riot'.
- Precise language matters because words like 'protest' confer legitimacy and obscure the political motive.
Anti‑Migrant Erases The Real Targets
- Calling attackers merely 'anti-migrant' erases race, class and religion elements, especially Islamophobia.
- The violence targets established British Muslim communities, not generic migrants or European workers.
Islamophobia Is Institutionalized
- Islamophobia is deeply embedded in UK institutions and media, making honest conversation difficult.
- It functions as a gateway for broader racism and anti-immigration policies under plausible justifications.
