Barnet’s Labour councillors have supported two motions to help tackle hate crime at this week’s Full Council meeting (20 October).
A motion to adopt a definition of Islamophobia developed with Barnet’s Muslim communities was agreed in the names of Labour Group Leader, Cllr Barry Rawlings and Conservative Leader, Cllr Dan Thomas. This followed Labour councillors raising the definition of Islamophobia proposed by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims last year.
Barnet’s Labour councillors also reaffirmed their support for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of anti-Semitism and its illustrative examples in another joint motion with Barnet’s Conservative Councillors at this week’s Full Council meeting (20 October).
Barnet Council first adopted the IHRA definition and its examples following a motion from Barnet Labour Group Leader, Cllr Barry Rawlings in January 2017.
Leader of the Barnet Labour Group, Cllr Barry Rawlings said:
“It is important that we show a united front as a Council and as a society against the rising tide of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
“The increasing incidence of these hate crimes must be defeated and these definitions will help in this fight but it needs all of us to remain vigilant and oppose hate wherever it raises its head.”
Ends.
Notes:
- A copy of the joint motions can be found here (Full Council, 20 October 2020):
- Cllr Rawlings’ motion on the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism plus examples (Full Council, January 2017):
For more information contact: cllr.b.rawlings@barnet.gov.uk