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| Muslim women 'stopped from becoming Labour councillors' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Muslim women's group has written to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn claiming women have been stopped from becoming councillors by Muslim men in the party. | A Muslim women's group has written to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn claiming women have been stopped from becoming councillors by Muslim men in the party. |
| Muslim Women's Network UK demanded an inquiry into "systematic misogyny displayed by significant numbers of Muslim male local councillors". | Muslim Women's Network UK demanded an inquiry into "systematic misogyny displayed by significant numbers of Muslim male local councillors". |
| "They don't like women to be heard, to be empowered," it told BBC Newsnight. | "They don't like women to be heard, to be empowered," it told BBC Newsnight. |
| Labour said it had the best record of any of the parties in selecting female and ethnic minority candidates. | Labour said it had the best record of any of the parties in selecting female and ethnic minority candidates. |
| 'Smear campaign' | |
| As Mr Corbyn prepared to speak to the Association of Labour Councillors on Saturday, BBC Newsnight spoke to about a dozen Muslim women up and down the country. | As Mr Corbyn prepared to speak to the Association of Labour Councillors on Saturday, BBC Newsnight spoke to about a dozen Muslim women up and down the country. |
| They appeared to point to a pattern of obstruction from within Labour Muslim ranks and back up Muslim Women's Network UK complaints of sabotage. | They appeared to point to a pattern of obstruction from within Labour Muslim ranks and back up Muslim Women's Network UK complaints of sabotage. |
| Optician Fozia Parveen claims her efforts to become a Labour councillor in Birmingham in 2008 were scuppered by men within the party. | Optician Fozia Parveen claims her efforts to become a Labour councillor in Birmingham in 2008 were scuppered by men within the party. |
| She said: "At the time, I was aware of a smear campaign against me, they said that I was having an affair with one of the existing councillors. | |
| "I was quite taken aback. People were turning up at my family home trying to intimidate my mum." | |
| Ms Parveen said Muslim men told her mother to stop her from pursuing becoming a councillor. | Ms Parveen said Muslim men told her mother to stop her from pursuing becoming a councillor. |
| She added: "It would be members of the local Labour Party. I didn't see them myself but my mum did say it was them." | She added: "It would be members of the local Labour Party. I didn't see them myself but my mum did say it was them." |
| Shazia Bashir was the first choice for Labour in a seat in Peterborough in 2007. | Shazia Bashir was the first choice for Labour in a seat in Peterborough in 2007. |
| She claims that when her father said he would not support her, Muslim men from within the local Labour Party made her step aside. They deny the claim. | She claims that when her father said he would not support her, Muslim men from within the local Labour Party made her step aside. They deny the claim. |
| "Because I didn't have my father's consent and support, I had to step down. I was pressured into stepping down," said Ms Bashir, who was 31 and married with two children at the time. | "Because I didn't have my father's consent and support, I had to step down. I was pressured into stepping down," said Ms Bashir, who was 31 and married with two children at the time. |
| 'Brilliant' candidates | 'Brilliant' candidates |
| Jean Khote, a sitting Labour councillor in Leicester, said good women candidates were barred by the membership in some areas with high Muslim populations - and that was kept from people higher up the party. | Jean Khote, a sitting Labour councillor in Leicester, said good women candidates were barred by the membership in some areas with high Muslim populations - and that was kept from people higher up the party. |
| She said they would say there were not adequate candidates among the women, which she said was not true. | She said they would say there were not adequate candidates among the women, which she said was not true. |
| "There were brilliant women on the panel. I've met them and had discussions with them, they were brilliant," she added. | "There were brilliant women on the panel. I've met them and had discussions with them, they were brilliant," she added. |
| Newsnight was told similar stories by other women who wished to remain anonymous. | Newsnight was told similar stories by other women who wished to remain anonymous. |
| One said: "They spread this slander about me... It's the way they get to you." | One said: "They spread this slander about me... It's the way they get to you." |
| Another said she was told by Labour members "Islam and feminism aren't compatible". | Another said she was told by Labour members "Islam and feminism aren't compatible". |
| An advocate for gay rights was told: "This is un-Islamic. Leave that for white people." | An advocate for gay rights was told: "This is un-Islamic. Leave that for white people." |
| And many spoke of being criticized for being too Westernized. | And many spoke of being criticized for being too Westernized. |
| 'Robust procedure' | 'Robust procedure' |
| Shaista Gohir, from Muslim Women's Network UK, told Newsnight the tight-knit patriarchal communities operate a system of clan politics known as "braderi", in which votes are delivered in blocks. | Shaista Gohir, from Muslim Women's Network UK, told Newsnight the tight-knit patriarchal communities operate a system of clan politics known as "braderi", in which votes are delivered in blocks. |
| "These men have a cultural mindset, which they've brought from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh," she said. | "These men have a cultural mindset, which they've brought from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh," she said. |
| "They operate a braderi male kinship system and they've brought the system here, what I call an old boys network. | "They operate a braderi male kinship system and they've brought the system here, what I call an old boys network. |
| "They don't like women to be heard, to be empowered, because we will then challenge the status quo, challenge misogyny." | "They don't like women to be heard, to be empowered, because we will then challenge the status quo, challenge misogyny." |
| 'Positive action' | |
| Labour said its selection procedures included strong, positive action such as all-women shortlists and rules to ensure women were selected in winnable council seats. | Labour said its selection procedures included strong, positive action such as all-women shortlists and rules to ensure women were selected in winnable council seats. |
| "We have the best record of any party in selecting women and BAME [Black, Asian and minority ethnic] candidates and we will continue to do all that we can to make sure candidates are representative of the communities they seek to represent," it said. | "We have the best record of any party in selecting women and BAME [Black, Asian and minority ethnic] candidates and we will continue to do all that we can to make sure candidates are representative of the communities they seek to represent," it said. |
| "The Labour Party has a fair, democratic and robust procedure for selecting council candidates. Local Labour Party members select their local candidates within the party's rules and guidelines. | "The Labour Party has a fair, democratic and robust procedure for selecting council candidates. Local Labour Party members select their local candidates within the party's rules and guidelines. |
| "Those wishing to become Labour councillors are interviewed by an independent assessment team and unsuccessful candidates have a right of appeal to the regional party board." | "Those wishing to become Labour councillors are interviewed by an independent assessment team and unsuccessful candidates have a right of appeal to the regional party board." |
| You can see more on this story on Newsnight on BBC Two at 22:30 GMT on Friday. | You can see more on this story on Newsnight on BBC Two at 22:30 GMT on Friday. |