Hendon Town Hall
Tomorrow (15 March) is the UN International Day To Combat Islamophobia, and we want to take a moment to pause and think about how we continue in our commitment to combatting anti-Muslim hatred and discrimination, bigotry, and prejudice in all its forms.
Considering the recent increase in hate crimes following conflict in the Middle East, we must redouble our efforts. In Barnet more than one in 10 of us are Muslim. And, as with every resident of our borough, we should all be able to feel free to wear the symbols of and to practice our faith without the fear of persecution or abuse.
We have been and will continue to collaborate closely with our Muslim communities to address Islamophobia and hate crime. Recently we have conducted listening circles to better understand the challenges faced by community members, and this includes violence against women and girls.
We know, historically, there has been an underreporting of hate crimes related to Islamophobia and we are actively exploring options to establish hate crime reporting centres in local mosques.
We have committed to recognising Islamophobia Month in November and International Muslim History Month in May and we are supporting the Big Iftar event through our community events programme.
By engaging with the community, understanding their concerns, and working together to find solutions, we can create a safer and more inclusive environment for all residents of Barnet.
Cllr Barry Rawlings, Leader of Barnet Council
Cllr Zahra Beg, Cabinet Member for Equalities, Voluntary Sector and Communities
Cllr Sara Conway, Chair of the Safer Communities Partnership Board