Three prominent Muslim organisations – the Muslim Council of Britain, MEND and MPACUK – have urged Muslims to vote in the upcoming general election on December 12.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said the election is an opportunity for British Muslims to make their voices heard by exercising the civil obligation to fully engage and participate in the political process.
It added that it is important for mosques and Islamic centres to work with their communities to play an active role in the elections by helping their congregations ensure they are registered to vote, and emphasising the importance of political participation.
In a statement the MCB said it was also “imperative that politicians and political parties across the spectrum use this upcoming General Election as an opportunity to change the tone of politics from one of divisiveness and disunity to one of cohesion and collaboration. This debate must be respectful and civilised, engaging all sections of British society and not resort to dog-whistle politics which seeks to scapegoat minorities.
“The Muslim Council of Britain does not endorse any political party or prospective parliamentary candidate, but will work with all political parties to engage British Muslim communities and ensure every voice is heard in this election…
“Voting is not a luxury – it is the responsibility of all citizens. The Muslim Council of Britain calls on Muslims across the UK to take the first step to exercising this essential right by ensuring they are registered to vote with their local authority.”
Muslim Vote
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Meanwhile, MEND said the “Muslim Vote” could influence up two 80 seats in the upcoming election.
Targeting the Tories
And MPACUK said that Muslims had the power to decide the next government in the General Election.
On its fundraising page it said: “The current Tory government has been exposed as being deeply Islamophobic, racist and xenophobic. They have systematically demonised and persecuted the British Muslim communities via Schedule 7, Trojan Horse, weaponising Prevent against Muslim students, families and beliefs.
“Many of their current Ministers, such as Boris Johnson, Theresa Villers and Alok Sharma have pro-actively defended the crimes against humanity committed by Israel and India against Palestinians and Kashmiris respectively.
“For nearly a decade, the Tories have ignored and actively side-lined all Muslim organisations that have criticised them. They have zero interest in addressing Muslim concerns. We need to kick them out. And we can, but only if we are organised.
“A General Election is our time to get them out of power and replace them with a Corbyn-led government, that has pledged to recognise a Palestinian state, stop the state surveillance policy of Prevent, stand up for Kashmir’s self-determination and much more.”
MPACUK said its campaign would target marginal seats where the Muslim vote is larger than the current MP’s majority vote. And it would focus entirely on MPs that have a record of advancing Islamophobia and/or working against the Palestinian struggle for freedom.
This year MPACUK will campaign in 14 seats.
- Southampton Itchen – Royston Smith
- Pudsey – Stuart Andrew
- Hastings & Rye – Amber Rudd (Minister of DWP)
- Chipping Barnet – Theresa Villers
- Stoke-on-Trent South – Jack Brereton
- Bolton West – Chris Green
- Pendle – Andrew Stephenson
- Harrow East – Bob Blackman
- Milton Keynes South – Iain Stewart
- Milton Keynes North – Mark Lancaster
- Woodford Green – Ian Duncan Smith
- Reading West – Alok Sharma (Minister for International Development)
- Uxbridge & Ruislip South – Boris Johnson (Prime Minister)
- Wycombe – Steve Baker
