Monday 13 April 2020

Anger as right-wing UK voices 'predict' Ramadan virus spread


Scapegoating narratives may pose additional dangers to public health, warn experts.
by
Mosques in the UK have been closed for weeks, and many of the front-line NHS staff fighting the pandemic are Muslims. Some mosques, such as the Central Jamia Mosque Ghamkol Sharif in Birmingham, have even built temporary morgues on their premises [Carl Recine/Reuters]
Mosques in the UK have been closed for weeks, and many of the front-line NHS staff fighting the pandemic are Muslims. Some mosques, such as the Central Jamia Mosque Ghamkol Sharif in Birmingham, have even built temporary morgues on their premises [Carl Recine/Reuters]
London, United Kingdom - Concerns have been raised that right-wing voices in the United Kingdomcould fuel Islamophobia, after a commentator predicted a "spike" in coronavirus cases during Ramadan.
Andrew Pierce, a journalist for the Daily Mail tabloid, tweeted on Sunday: "If families gather for holy month of Ramadan there will be a huge spike in Covid cases. Doctors are very worried."

More:

His tweet was met with anger by academics, journalists and activists alike who accused him of making unsubstantiated claims.
An article published by The Times on the same day evoked similar sentiments, after it, too, suggested an increase in coronavirus cases due to a predicted increase in gatherings during Ramadan - despite social distancing regulations - leading with the headline, "Experts fear a spike in UK coronavirus cases during Ramadan".
Among those critical of this rhetoric was Miqdaad Versi, a spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Britain. Speaking to Al Jazeera English, he said it was of paramount importance "to guard against far-right rhetoric" which scapegoated Muslims as a "threat to the rest of society".
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA NEWS

No comments:

Why cows may be hiding something but AI can spot it

  By Chris Baraniuk Technology of Business reporter Published 22 hours ago Share IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES Image caption, Herd animals like...