Today Jean Lambert MEP hosted an invent, in partnership with the Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup (ARDI), to launch a Commission-funded project: the ‘Counter-Islamophobia Kit’. [1]

The project seeks to identify the dominant anti-Muslim narratives employed in Europe, and compares the use and efficacy of prevailing counter-narratives to Islamophobia across eight EU Member States (the UK, France, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Portugal and Greece).

This is the largest project of its kind ever conducted, aiming to outline the most effective ways of countering anti-Muslim hate across Europe.

Jean chaired a conference at the European Parliament to launch the ‘toolkit’, and recorded a video discussing the findings and purpose of the report with two of the lead researchers – Professor Sayyid of the University of Leeds, and Arzu Merali of the Islamic Human Rights Commission.

Watch the video of Jean in conversation with the report’s researchers here.

Notes:

[1] https://cik.leeds.ac.uk/

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Yesterday up to 250,000 people took to the streets of London to protest against the arrival of President Trump.

Today, we’re seeing a very different sort of political rally, as the far-right congregate in London in support of the President’s racist agenda.

Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP, will today be speaking at a unity protest against Tommy Robinson, Trump and the far-right organised by Stand Up To Racism.

Watch Jean’s video in support of the march here, and read her full speech below:

“Across the EU we are seeing the rise of hardline right-wing parties who hate diversity – particularly people of colour or of a different faith. These hardliners are filled with a narrow view of nationalism which rejects anyone who does not look like them or think like them.

They have ramped up the rhetoric of hatred and suspicion to feed a toxic politics which is challenging our values and our future. Where the vote to leave the EU has been used by many as permission to tell neighbours to ‘go home’ when they are home, deny people the right to speak their mother-tongue and even attack complete strangers for being ‘different’.

These extremists build their movements on lies and fear.

They tell us we should fear refugees as an attack on our way of life but the refugees who have fled the bombs and gas attacks of Syria’s regime to save their families and themselves are fleeing totalitarianism to find peace and security.

We are told those coming do not share our values, but those who have escaped the horrendous atrocities inflicted by Da’esh reject that brutal perversion of belief and want freedom.

We are told this is an invasion – but those who risk their lives to seek a future in Europe come with the clothes on their backs, not bombs and tanks: they want to contribute.

People who want peace, freedom and the possibility to build a better life sound to me like people who share our values: they don’t threaten them.

This movement of hate is organised. They work together to spread their view of white supremacy, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. They amplify each other’s lies and conspiracies

A few weeks ago, in the European Parliament, UK MEP Janice Atkinson, along with Front National and others from the ENF Group which she helped set up, held a press conference to defend Tommy Robinson, as a political prisoner. This is the man who knowingly broke the law and put at risk the possible conviction of men accused of serial child abuse. He chose to put his politics ahead of the chance of justice for the victims of child sex-abuse. Do not let his supporters tell you that he cares about the rights of children and the rights of victims: he does not.

Cross-border cooperation and support on pushing this case run beyond the EU, in to the United States – even in to the family of the President. It is being used to spread messages of hate, fear and division.

We need to join forces with those in other countries standing up for universal human rights, for the right of children to be their parents and the right to flee persecution and oppression and be protected. For the right of people of different backgrounds, sexuality, faith or no faith, to be able to live peacefully together in an inclusive, more equal society.

We need to stand up here to stop the spread of hatred and division in our communities. This is not just about opposing hate crime and hate speech but building strong and inclusive communities, where we stand together to build a better future for all.”

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As part of Jean’s work on the European Parliament Intergroup on Anti-Racism and Diversity, today she hosted the presentation of a new report at the Parliament in Brussels, which looks at the way Islamophobia across Europe has evolved into new, accepted forms of discrimination.

The report, entitled ‘Environment of Hate: The New Normal for Muslims in the UK’  was authored by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, and the event looked at the report, its findings and what could and should be done to stop the growth in hate speech and crime against Muslims in Europe.

Jean’s Opening and Closing comments can be found below

“My name is Jean Lambert, I am a member of the Parliament from the Greens/EFA Group of the European Parliament elected for the region of London in the UK. I am very pleased to host this event today on the ‘Environment of Hate: the New Normal for Muslims in the UK’, which is the title of the very substantive research work that was published a few months ago, with a lot of strong academic approval and great interest, certainly within the UK and elsewhere.

It’s been the role of the Islamic Human Rights Commission based in the UK that have put together the research and we have two of the authors here today to describe what they found and who have being taking the research to a number of different parliaments and the UN to talk about their findings.

We’re also doing this under the banner of the European Parliament’s Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup as I think it’s absolutely clear that we’re facing very considerable problems in the EU and outside it. We know what we are hearing in the Parliament in terms of the hate speech, the really appalling things actually being said about one of the worlds’ great faiths and its followers and we felt it was really important to look at that today.”

Jean’s Closing words

“I’d like to thank all of our panel for their contributions. My understanding of multiculturalism was always about understanding not about separation, that was a key part of it. When I was a teacher, as part of the anti-racism movement, it was understood that what you were trying to do was create an understanding which allowed you to move forward together and to make sure that people were treated with respect, and not set aside or undervalued simply because of the colour of their skin, the faith they had or didn’t have, gender or any other particular specificity. It was about people trying to treat people on the basis of universal values.

I think some of the questions you’ve been raising about diversity training and diversity awareness, are things which really are very important in so much of what we do at the moment and we could do with a fair bit of it in this institution. When I listen to some of the speeches that we have at the moment and I hear the way in which parliament conducts itself, the rules and values we should be promulgating, we need to be looking at that very closely.

In closing I’d like to thank my members of staff working on this, thank you very much indeed to all our speakers, you’ve given us some real food for thought and hopefully we can move forward on this with some policy recommendations.”

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Yesterday, on 26th January, the European Parliament’s Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup (ARDI) was launched with an event on the theme “Together against racism.” The event was hosted by the members of ARDI, of which Jean is a Co-President, and guest speakers included Mr Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President of the European Commission, Mr Michael O’Flaherty, Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights as well as Ms Sarah Isal, Chair of the European Network Against Racism (ENAR).

At the launch, ARDI Co-President Cécile Kashetu Kyenge introduced ARDI’s political priorities and working groups for the 2014-2019 European Semester. Ms Kyenge also explained that the European Parliament showed its commitment to fighting racism by selecting ARDI as one of its 28 Intergroups and that this has been reinforced by ARDI having MEPs from almost all political groups who have come together to promote racial equality, counter racism, and educate about non-discrimination in the work of the European Parliament.

Jean spoke on the second discussion panel alongside Michael O’Flaherty and Clelia Bartoli, an Italian Human Rights University professor. Jean stressed that there is legislation which protects against racism and discrimination including on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. The problem is that this legislation is not being implemented in practice.

Documenting and monitoring racism and discrimination is crucial to highlighting and working towards eliminating this behaviour. However in the UK context, half of the money formerly assigned to the Equality and Human Rights Commission was cut back by the government. There are many positive examples in the EU of good practices, for example the work done in the UK education system against racism. Jean stressed that we need to acknowledge the inequality and discrimination that continues, but work together inside and outside of the European Parliament to end this continuing struggle.

During the different panels, other speakers stressed that racism and xenophobia are direct violations of the principles of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, principles upon which the European Union is founded and which are common to the Member States.

A significant part of the discussion focused on the particular gravity of the current situation in light of the terrorist attacks in 2015 and the so called “refugee crisis.” Many of the speakers alluded to the fact that these events have created new opportunities for xenophobic and racist groups (including some political parties) to push their own agenda.

A key theme throughout the event was the need for a strong political leadership and a holistic approach including Member States, EU institutions, agencies and civil society organisations to fighting racism and xenophobia.

First Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, said: “I really welcome ARDI. To truly tackle racism, we all need to speak out and confront uncomfortable truths. The group has an important role to play in promoting diversity and fighting dehumanisation.”

EU Fundamental Rights Agency Director, Michael O’Flaherty, said: “Racism remains persistent in our societies. This is particularly worrying as Europe grapples with the issues related to its growing diversity and migrants. The response by politicians can play a key role in combatting racism. That is why the launch of the Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup in the European Parliament is so important.”

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Ms Lambert, a member of the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee, said:
“Holocaust Memorial Day is the international day of the remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust and other genocides. In commemoration of victims and in honouring survivors we must commit to tackling prejudice, discrimination, anti-Semitism and racism in the present day wherever we can.

“Ethnic division and intolerance have continued to fuel violence and genocide in countries like Rwanda, Armenia, Kosovo and Cambodia. Far from being free from such abhorrent bigotry, across Europe, millions of Roma, people from LGBT communities, and others are still facing pervasive discrimination and prejudice and hate crimes are all too frequent.

“It falls to every single one of us to help develop a community which is tolerant and inclusive, and in doing so, it’s vital we take this time to remember the survivors of all such tragedies and those who go on suffering around the world. The lesson we must remember from the Holocaust is that we must never stand by and let hatred take root.”

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The event, hosted by Amnesty International Waltham Forest [1], will be held to observe Holocaust Memorial Day, the date marking the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau.  The aim of the day is to ensure that these horrendous crimes are neither forgotten nor repeated.

Jean, a member of the European Parliament Civil Liberties Committee, said:

“Holocaust Memorial Day is the international day of the remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust and other genocides.  In commemoration of victims and in honouring survivors we must commit to tackling prejudice, discrimination, anti-semitism and racism in the present day wherever we can.

“Ethnic division and intolerance have continued to fuel violence and genocide in countries like Cambodia, Darfur and Rwanda.  Far from being free from such abhorrent bigotry, across Europe, millions of Roma are still facing pervasive discrimination and prejudice and hate crimes are all too frequent.

“It falls to every single one of us to help develop a community which is tolerant and inclusive, and in doing so, it’s vital we take this time to remember the survivors of all such tragedies and those who go on suffering around the world. The lesson we must remember from the Holocaust is that we must never stand by and let hatred take root.”

Notes to Editor

1. The event will take place at Harmony Hall, 10 Truro Road, Walthamstow, E178QP from 3pm.  The event will also be attended by Sandor Szoke, Hungarian Civil Movement, Ladislav Balaz, Roma Representative from Czech Republic, and Weyman Bennett, Unite Against Fascism.

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UK Green MEP Jean Lambert, who is Vice-President of the cross party Parliamentary Intergroups on Ageing and Anti-racism and Diversity, and is a member of the Intergroups on Disability and Gay and Lesbian Rights, has welcomed 2007 as a chance to highlight equal opportunities for all.

Speaking after the intergroups meeting in Strasbourg today Jean said:
“It is essential that we make this year as effective as possible from the grassroots all the way through to the European Parliament.  EU research shows that too many people either don’t know equality legislation exists or what their rights are.  It is vital that we use this year to make people aware of the rights that they do have.

“Across the EU some minority groups are more protected than others.  In general there are more rights of protection on gender, race and ethnicity than over disability, sexual orientation, faith and belief.  We now need to establish an ‘equality of equalities’ – a legislation to protect everyone equally.”

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