It has become commonplace for some politicians, Islamic organisations and civil liberties groups to accuse the police and others of targeting Britain’s Muslim communities in the wake of recent terrorist attacks. Lord Ahmed has accused the authorities of acting unfairly. Liberty, the human rights group, has made similar criticisms.
However, the claims aren’t backed up by the facts. Muslims are no more likely than the rest of the population to be stopped on suspicion of committing a crime, according to a study published today by Cambridge’s Woolf Institute, an organisation founded to “encourage tolerance and foster understanding between people of all beliefs”.
.... the fact that Muslims are not more likely to be stopped by police is a kick in the teeth for those who push a culture of victimhood and accuse forces of having an anti-Muslim agenda. Such claims are commonly made as a way of scoring cheap political points and getting easy headlines. But such tactics do real harm at a time when Muslim communities and the authorities need to work together to tackle the growing threat of extremism and radicalisation. [The Times (£)] Read more
