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Muslim Labour MP says no solidarity from Keir Starmer after Islamophobic abuse

Zarah Sultana MP for Coventry South, has revealed in a frank interview the extent of racism and Islamophobia that she has experienced since her election. She says the effect on her mental health has been worrying.
2 min read
03 December, 2021
Sultana was just 26 when elected to British parliament for the first time [Getty]

British MP Zarah Sultana has slammed Labour Party leader Keir Starmer for his handling of Islamophobia in an emotional interview.

Sultana who isĢżLabour MP for Coventry South, wasĢżelected to parliament for the first time in 2019, aged just 26.

Reflecting on the barrage of anti-Muslim bigotry she and other Muslim MPs have been subjected to in recent years, Sultana told Novara Media earlier this week: ā€œI find it quite hurtful that the leader of my party [Starmer] has found it difficult to express solidarity publicly with me and . I think in any job you expect that as a bare minimum.ā€

ā€œSince getting elected in 2019, I have received correspondence thatā€™s hateful and racist, in the post, in my email inbox, and on social media. I found that it increases when Iā€™m in parliament, going to protests around migrantsā€™ rights, when Iā€™m speaking out for Palestinian people, or when Iā€™m supporting causes like Black Lives Matterā€ she continued.

Recounting her experience of racial hatred in a parliamentary debate on Islamophobia in September, a teary Sultana said she had been called ā€œa terrorist sympathiserā€ and told ā€œEurope will vomit you outā€.

ā€œIā€™ve had other members of the front bench get in touch. People like Nick Thomas Symonds, Louise Haigh, various others. But nothing both publicly and privately from Keir himself.ā€

While Labour has recently adopted a new code of conduct on Islamophobia, Sultana cautioned that ā€œThe Labour Party doesnā€™t take wellbeing as seriously as it shouldā€ adding that ā€œthe abuse you have to deal with continuously and the effect that it has on your [is] worrying.ā€

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ā€œLetā€™s do something about itā€¦ I donā€™t want to be here in 10, 15 , 20 years in the same situation, still getting abuse, still being treated like s**t.ā€

Sultanaā€™s emotional interview comes at a painful time for Muslims, as Islamophobia Awareness Month has brought to light the extent of anti-Muslim bigotry in British society and politics.

Days ago, aĢżlandmark report by theĢżCentre for Media Monitoring that analysed thousands ofĢżonline articles and 5,500 broadcast clips revealed almost 60% of online media articles and 47% of television clips associate Muslims and/or Islam with negative aspects or behaviour.

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