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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/29/british-muslims-europe-remain-brexit
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| For British Muslims, there’s only one choice on Europe: vote remain | For British Muslims, there’s only one choice on Europe: vote remain |
| (5 months later) | |
| Among British Muslims, I hear a range of views on the European referendum: many seem to be apathetic, some want Britain to remain in the EU and a small number, such as the newly formed “Muslims for Britain”, support Brexit. Such a range of views seems comparable to the wider public. | Among British Muslims, I hear a range of views on the European referendum: many seem to be apathetic, some want Britain to remain in the EU and a small number, such as the newly formed “Muslims for Britain”, support Brexit. Such a range of views seems comparable to the wider public. |
| However, as we face one of the most significant political decisions of our lifetime, I cannot sit idly by and watch friends voting with organisations such as Ukip and Britain First on this issue. If we choose to leave the EU, generations to come will not forgive us for staying silent on issues that matter both to Muslims and wider society: on the economy, on human rights and on our place in the world. | However, as we face one of the most significant political decisions of our lifetime, I cannot sit idly by and watch friends voting with organisations such as Ukip and Britain First on this issue. If we choose to leave the EU, generations to come will not forgive us for staying silent on issues that matter both to Muslims and wider society: on the economy, on human rights and on our place in the world. |
| The economy always plays a central role in decision-making – across all communities – at election time. This is no different for the European question. Our net contribution to the EU is less than 0.5% of our GDP – about £340 per household. Yet for this meagre stipend, average households receive benefits worth more than £3,000 through the 3 million UK jobs dependent on trade with the EU, lower prices for everyday goods, and increased investment in the UK from the largest trading bloc in the world. | The economy always plays a central role in decision-making – across all communities – at election time. This is no different for the European question. Our net contribution to the EU is less than 0.5% of our GDP – about £340 per household. Yet for this meagre stipend, average households receive benefits worth more than £3,000 through the 3 million UK jobs dependent on trade with the EU, lower prices for everyday goods, and increased investment in the UK from the largest trading bloc in the world. |
| It’s not all about the economy, though. The rise of Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric and the divisive language of Zac Goldsmith’s mayoral campaign in London make it hard for many communities not to worry for the future. The UK doesn’t have a written constitution that protects our inalienable and universal human rights. All it takes is a simple majority in a sovereign parliament outside the EU to withdraw from the European court of human rights and create laws that erode the protections that minority communities currently enjoy. If it’s a vote-winner to pander to the far right and the growing Islamophobia in the UK, is such a scenario really impossible? | It’s not all about the economy, though. The rise of Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric and the divisive language of Zac Goldsmith’s mayoral campaign in London make it hard for many communities not to worry for the future. The UK doesn’t have a written constitution that protects our inalienable and universal human rights. All it takes is a simple majority in a sovereign parliament outside the EU to withdraw from the European court of human rights and create laws that erode the protections that minority communities currently enjoy. If it’s a vote-winner to pander to the far right and the growing Islamophobia in the UK, is such a scenario really impossible? |
| For many Muslims, the ability to impact foreign policy for the better is a core concern | For many Muslims, the ability to impact foreign policy for the better is a core concern |
| Being part of the ECHR has already helped workers such as Nadia Eweida, who was sent home from work by British Airways for wearing a visible cross because the company’s ruling was interpreted as breaching her human rights. Indeed much of the protection for employees comes from Europe. And by remaining in the EU, the ECHR protects these rights, which the UK played a pivotal role in creating. | Being part of the ECHR has already helped workers such as Nadia Eweida, who was sent home from work by British Airways for wearing a visible cross because the company’s ruling was interpreted as breaching her human rights. Indeed much of the protection for employees comes from Europe. And by remaining in the EU, the ECHR protects these rights, which the UK played a pivotal role in creating. |
| Finally, and perhaps most crucially, our place in the world is at stake in this referendum. As with the UN and Nato, the EU allows Britain to amplify its voice into a more powerful decision-making sphere. In the past year we have influenced decisions on how to deal with the eurozone crisis, how to best support refugees streaming into Europe and how to ensure a more secure Europe through, for example, the European arrest warrant. For many Muslims, the ability to change foreign policy for the better is a core concern. For them, being in is better than being out. | Finally, and perhaps most crucially, our place in the world is at stake in this referendum. As with the UN and Nato, the EU allows Britain to amplify its voice into a more powerful decision-making sphere. In the past year we have influenced decisions on how to deal with the eurozone crisis, how to best support refugees streaming into Europe and how to ensure a more secure Europe through, for example, the European arrest warrant. For many Muslims, the ability to change foreign policy for the better is a core concern. For them, being in is better than being out. |
| Let us also not forget that the European Union was formed in order to prevent further war in Europe, an aim in which it has succeeded for over half a century. With the eurozone crisis and the rise of the far right across the continent, Brexit risks fragmenting that hard-won peace. | Let us also not forget that the European Union was formed in order to prevent further war in Europe, an aim in which it has succeeded for over half a century. With the eurozone crisis and the rise of the far right across the continent, Brexit risks fragmenting that hard-won peace. |
| The Arabic term “ummah” refers to a multi-belief and multi-ethnic community united by shared values, where the whole collective is greater than the sum of its parts. The Prophet Muhammad referred to the Jewish tribes of Medina as part of the ummah, alongside Muslims. For many European countries, it seems that the EU is that “ummah”. It is not surprising that many Muslims relate to that concept. | The Arabic term “ummah” refers to a multi-belief and multi-ethnic community united by shared values, where the whole collective is greater than the sum of its parts. The Prophet Muhammad referred to the Jewish tribes of Medina as part of the ummah, alongside Muslims. For many European countries, it seems that the EU is that “ummah”. It is not surprising that many Muslims relate to that concept. |
| And there are many other benefits such as the standard of higher education, the ability to attract talent and conduct the highest quality of research, environmental protections, the ease of travel, the ability to live and work across the EU and forging joint initiatives, for example, on Islamophobia and hate crime. | And there are many other benefits such as the standard of higher education, the ability to attract talent and conduct the highest quality of research, environmental protections, the ease of travel, the ability to live and work across the EU and forging joint initiatives, for example, on Islamophobia and hate crime. |
| That is not to say the EU is perfect. There remains serious challenges to be addressed. For example, there are concerns that migration from the EU acts as a barrier preventing talented Muslims outside the EU from coming to work – although many would argue an artificial net migration cap is the real barrier, not the EU. The question of Turkey’s admission is of obvious concern to Muslim voters – and then there are the issues that will affect all of us, the financial choices made by the European Central Bank especially with regards to Greece, the excessive bureaucracy and regulation and parts of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. | That is not to say the EU is perfect. There remains serious challenges to be addressed. For example, there are concerns that migration from the EU acts as a barrier preventing talented Muslims outside the EU from coming to work – although many would argue an artificial net migration cap is the real barrier, not the EU. The question of Turkey’s admission is of obvious concern to Muslim voters – and then there are the issues that will affect all of us, the financial choices made by the European Central Bank especially with regards to Greece, the excessive bureaucracy and regulation and parts of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. |
| But, in the end, for me, and for many Muslims across the UK, there is no question that the benefits of the EU significantly outweigh the risks of leaving on the core issues of our economy, our rights and our place in the world. The stakes in this referendum are high: if we can get the EU right, the potential is enormous, and we can help make it right if we are in. That’s why I will be a public supporter of the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign. I urge you to join, too. | But, in the end, for me, and for many Muslims across the UK, there is no question that the benefits of the EU significantly outweigh the risks of leaving on the core issues of our economy, our rights and our place in the world. The stakes in this referendum are high: if we can get the EU right, the potential is enormous, and we can help make it right if we are in. That’s why I will be a public supporter of the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign. I urge you to join, too. |
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