The spokesman for a mosque in Salford has called for more education about Islam and other religions during Islamophobia Awareness Month.
Mr Mahboob Rasool, a spokesperson for the Irlam and Cadishead Islamic Centre mosque says more needs to be actioned in Salford to help combat Islamophobia.
Islamophobia is the unfounded fear of, or hatred, or prejudice towards Muslims. The aim of Islamophobia Awareness Month is to build stronger relationships and educate the wider community, to amplify Muslim voices and to provide a counter-narrative that challenges typical views of Muslims and to encourage open discussion.
Mr Rasool said: “We need to explain the similarities in religion…when you know your religion and others religion there is less chance of hate crime.”
He recalled when a group of high school students visited the Irlam and Cadishead Islamic Centre. He said: “They were shocked when we told them the similarities between the two communities. For example, the way Muslim women wear the hijab, in the bible Christian women are also asked to wear a veil.
“The way our men dress in thobes (a long prayer gown) is similar to what priests wear, yet we are treated differently for it,” he added.
He continued by explaining how the students did not know how similar Islam and other religions are.
“We tell them so there is less confusion and hate between us,” he said.
The call to educate all generations about Islam and challenge anti-Muslim stereotypes comes after a recent increase in Islamophobic riots during October 2024, with Statista recording nearly 4000 Islamophobic attacks this past year, a 15% increase than the previous year.
For more information on how to combat islamophobia click here.
There are many reasons why people might be fearful of a group of religious people. For example, is the fear felt by gay, Jewish or victims of misogyny ‘unfounded fear’ too, when is comes to certain religious fundamentalists? We have plenty of religious fundamentalists in the U.K. across different religions, which threaten our free way of life.
I think all religions should look at themselves in the mirror and question how their judgemental attitude impacts the lives of others, who just want to live their life and be the best person they can be. Not everyone needs the creed or label that most religions enforce.