Media bias and bigotry

UK - Leading figures in the UK's religious community and in a number of prominent organizations have condemned what is perceived as a rise in Islamophobia, seeing it as a viable threat to democracy.

Castigating negative coverage of Muslims in the media and the rise in groups like the English Defence League which marched through central London with placards calling for the closure of the East London Mosque, these voices are warning of history repeating itself - reminding the British people of the 1930's when Oswald Mosley's blackshirts attempted to intimidate the Jewish community.

Billy Hayes, General secretary, Communication Workers Union; Rev. Green, Chair, Tower Hamlets Interfaith forum; Dr. Friedman, Executive director, Jewish Council for Racial Equality; Dr. Bari, Secretary general, Muslim Council of Britain; Sabby Dhalu Joint secretary, Unite Against Fascism and Bell Ribeiro-Addy, NUS black students officer, are but of few of those speaking out against anti-Muslim sentiments.