BY RYAN FLETCHER


Before the EU referendum and the recent terror attacks, Islamophobia was already a fact of life for many British Muslims.


But a year on from the Brexit vote and just a few months after the atrocities in London and Manchester, hate crimes against Muslims, and other minority groups, have increased – including in the workplace.


“Muslims are frightened, especially after the acid attack,” was the blunt verdict of Unite equalities rep Tan Rashid.


Rashid was talking about two cousins, Jameel Muhktar and Resham Khan, who suffered life changing injuries after being sprayed with acid on June 21 in East London, in what police have described as a hate crime.


Unfortunately the acid attack was one of a number of incidents that have seen Muslims across the country assaulted and abused.


Manchester saw a 500 per cent increase in Islamophobic hate crime in the days after the attack on an Ariana Grande concert on May 22, including the firebombing of a mosque in Oldham.


After the London Bridge attack on June 3 anti-Muslim hate crime in the capital increased fivefold in a spike that saw a woman have her car torched, while on June 19 a terrorist attack on worshippers at Finsbury Park Mosque killed one and injured eight.


Nor has the rise in racist attacks been limited to the UK’s major cities or Muslim communities.


In the year since the Brexit vote, hate crimes focused on race or religion have rocketed. In the 11 months since the EU referendum hate crimes increased by 23 per cent – from 40,741 to 49,921 – across England and Wales, according to figures from 33 police forces.


“People don’t want to live in fear, but you can see it is affecting them. I can see that from my [female Muslim] friends who used to go into town on their own. They only go as a group now,” said Tan Rashid, who lives in Middlesborough and has


himself been racially abused while working as a bus driver.


“It’s not just our Muslim drivers that have been attacked and abused, it’s our Polish and eastern European drivers as well. They’ve been getting a lot of stick since the Brexit vote.”


Tan said that the shift to the right in public discourse during the EU referendum campaign had become normalised for some people and that had contributed to the rise in racism.


He emphasised the proliferation of racist and xenophobic Facebook posts that many people seem to share without thinking, including from hate preachers such as Tommy Robinson and right-wing groups like Britain First.


‘Talk it through’ “I believe in discussion and I’ve changed a few people’s minds when I’ve seen things like that online. I called them up and went for a coffee and a natter, but it’s also possible to talk it through online if you know the person and are comfortable engaging them,” Tan said.


“A lot of it comes down to the idea of being British. Well what do they actually mean by being British? Judging people by the way they speak or look or by their background? That isn’t being British – it’s just being an idiot.”


Tan was also clear that people in authority need holding to account, especially politicians such as Newton Abbot MP Anne Marie Morris.


The Tory MP was recorded at a political event in July openly using the phrase “N- word in the woodpile”.


“People hear that and think it’s acceptable,” said Tan.


He urged anyone experiencing racism to speak out and said Unite was always ready to support those who suffer racism or any form discrimination at work.


Unite’s national officer for equalities, Harish Patel, said reports indicate that rates of abuse against migrant and black,


23 uniteWORKS Summer 2017


Asian and minority ethic workers are increasing, including cases of people being assaulted, spat on or being threatened with violence.


Harish also said there were reports of patients who refuse to be attended to by NHS workers from other parts of Europe, shop workers being told by customers they now had to “go home” and bus and taxi drivers facing similar abuse.


“After the Brexit vote, hate crime against east Europeans and visible ethnic minorities increased, while after the atrocities in Manchester and London the attacks were directed against those perceived by bigots to be Muslims,” Harish said.


“Unions, employers and the government must re-double efforts to tackle the increase in racism following the vote to leave the EU.” The TUC has published a guide with information and practical advice for union reps on combatting racism in the workplace.


“We need to stand up for modern British and trade union values – respect for difference, dignity at work, and a deep opposition to racism and extremism.”


Despite the sombre message, Harish was clear that there is still much to be hopeful about. Although hate crime and intolerance remains a major issue, he said there are “communities around the country that have come together as we refuse to be divided by fear.”


Tan was similarly optimistic, describing those who truly hold repulsive and odious views as being “the odd idiot”.


“It’s important to remember that the majority of people aren’t like that. Most people are open and friendly when you get to know them,” he explained.


“[In Middlesborough] we’ve had mosque open days where people have come to have a look around and learn about what goes on. They’ve been really positive. A few weeks ago we held a big end of Eid [an Islamic holiday] party. People from all walks of life came. It was a good turn out and we had a great time.”


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