Nigel Farage is vilifying young Muslims, and it can not be tolerated

Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

‘Such reckless and divisive rhetoric must not be tolerated, it merely sows discord and division’ (PA Wire)

As a young Muslim living in Britain, I was deeply disturbed and saddened by Nigel Farage’s comments about Muslim youth in the UK. Hearing such inflammatory and dangerously divisive remarks from a public figure is deeply hurtful.

Although Farage claimed he was referring to a minority of Muslim youth, his use of misleading statistics to vilify even a small segment of our community is not just irresponsible – it is a betrayal of the very values of fairness and respect that Britain stands for. Any attempt to equivocate these actions of a minority with the teachings of Islam or the wider Muslim community is wholly inaccurate.

Extremism in all its ugly forms, in any community, should be condemned. But such reckless and divisive rhetoric must not be tolerated. It merely sows discord and division, and risks tearing apart the fabric of our society, turning people against one another based on fear and prejudice.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, of which I am part, has consistently championed the principles of loyalty, peace, and integration, embodied by our motto: “Love for All, Hatred for None”.

Islam’s teachings emphasise the importance of contributing positively to society and upholding the law of the land. My own family sought asylum in the UK, seeking its safety and freedoms, and we have always endeavoured to give back to this country that welcomed us with open arms.

Thus, I implore public figures to hold themselves to a higher standard of discourse, one that promotes understanding rather than hatred, as it is only through mutual respect for people of diverse backgrounds and faiths that can we create a stronger, more inclusive Britain.

Malik Fraz Ahmad

Durham

Answer the question

Many reporters ought to be congratulated on their patient attempts to garner answers when grilling politicians during this election campaign. Many politicians are trying hard to play the game and a perfect example is James Cleverly. 

For the second time in a week, the home secretary responded to almost all the questions put to him by immediately and blatantly ignoring requests to explain Tory policy, instead attempting weak attacks on Labour. I can see that he doesn’t have much to work with, given the appalling 14-year record the Tories have, but this approach simply exposes the weakness of their position. 

It also undermines any attempt to promote positive politics and minimise the damaging, irresponsible, deliberate divisions that have undermined public confidence since the EU referendum. Cleverly is insulting our intelligence if he thinks we do not notice his feeble efforts to avoid the question. 

He, his colleagues and whoever is advising them need to show more respect to the electorate and get to the point. The country is sick of pathetic, deliberately constructed culture wars. That strategy won’t even work for Mr Farage – not this time.

David Lowndes

Southampton

A modern solution for the modern MP

If I were prime minister, I would make it a requirement that all MPs must have their main residence in the constituency they are representing. In my opinion, from their moment of nomination, and throughout their tenure, MPs should have to primarily live in the area that they stand for, and not simply bounce between safe seats just to keep their careers afloat.

Furthermore, I’d take away any expense option for “constituency residences” or “second homes”. Instead, I would provide specific residences a short hop from parliament for all MPs to stay in when they’re in London.

If they want an office and staff, they can use their own constituency office for that.

A simple, modern (and austere) solution for the modern MP and I commend it to the House.

Paul Finch

Highbridge

History could repeat itself

I take Graham Powell’s point, in his letter to The Independent, that the priority at the election is to oust the Tories. But if Labour achieves an overall majority, there will be no incentive for the party to change the system. They’ve had opportunities to do that during the last hundred years, but first-past-the-post has suited them, as it has the Tories, because it enables a party with a minority of electors’ votes to obtain a majority of parliamentary seats.

The Tories have been able to degrade our country because there was no real opposition to them – mere words are not a constraint, it’s parliamentary votes that matter.

I have no objection to Labour being the largest party, and it’s very likely that this will be the case. But unless smaller parties also have some influence, the system will not change and there’s a danger that the disaster of the last 14 years could be repeated at some time in the future.

Susan Alexander

South Gloucestershire

Vote tactically

I see clear evidence of matters significantly affecting women’s equality, including the cost and insufficiency of childcare, a massive backlog in rape cases awaiting trial so increasing the trauma of victims, and a failure to police restraining orders on abusers.

And yet, what is the focus of our useless (and hopefully outgoing) equalities minister, one Kemi Badenoch? None of the above issues, but, instead, trans issues, of course – culture war clickbait for the more right-wing members of our society.

And how exactly does she expect to exclude trans people with gender recognition certificates from single-sex spaces such as toilets and changing rooms? Despite some misconceptions, many such trans people are not obvious among us and all have birth certificates that look like any other person’s, so what’s her plan?

It is setting a disgusting precedent that isn’t a surprise from this candidate of whatever is left of the Conservative Party. My message to people is, wherever you are, vote tactically to get the Tories out of our lives for as long as possible.

Sarah Wood

Scotland

Democracy in action

I fully agree with Amanda Baker’s recent letter to The Independent. My mother always emphasised the importance of voting when she raised my sister and me, reminding us that women died so we could have the right to do so.

I quote this to anyone who tells me that they will not be voting.

For those of us who often feel that our votes don’t count, the answer would be to bring in proportional representation. In such a case, I would go even further and make voting compulsory and move the voting day to the weekend. It could take place over both Saturday and Sunday to respect people’s different sensibilities. But it would be a better approach to put our democracy into action.

Viv Pert

London