Bnp 'Exploited Religious Tensions'

[Azaad]

The British National Party has been accused of attempting to exploit tensions between Muslims and Sikhs in a Government-funded report into relations between the two communities.

Academics have warned of a "real danger" of "serious communal disorder" in the future in some towns and cities as the BNP attempts to build on differences between the two groups.

The study, carried out for the inter-faith group Faith Matters, said tensions included "serious acts of violence" between Muslim and Sikh youths over the past nine years in some areas and allegations of "forced conversions" of Sikh girls by Muslim boys.

The BNP was attempting to "fish" in these "troubled waters", the report said, by forming anti-Muslim alliances with Sikhs and Hindus.

Although the far-right party had "singularly failed" to attract significant support from either group, the report added that fostering anti-Muslim feeling amongst religious minorities had the potential to breed "political extremism", whether or not this was reflected in votes for the party.

The document highlighted the case of Rajinder Singh, a Sikh who received widespread publicity after it was revealed he was set to become the first non-white member of the BNP.

His "hatred" of Islam was said to stem from the fact that his father was killed during the violence experienced during the partition of the Punjab in 1947, the report noted.

There are estimated to be between 500,000 and 550,000 Sikhs and around 2.4 million Muslims in the UK. Historically, Muslims and Sikhs have lived in different areas with the Muslim population concentrated in east London, the West Midlands and the North West, the report said.

Faith Matters founder and director Fiyaz Mughal said: "Although the report illustrates how the BNP have exploited existing tensions, it also highlights that - by realising both groups have a shared common heritage, culture and political experience - these tensions may be overcome."

A British National Party spokesman said: "I do not think I want to comment. You only need to look at history to see that there is animosity between Sikhs and Hindus and Muslims and nothing a small political party can do will change or capitalise on that."

http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=153283915

[Guest fordcapri]

Theres no need for the bnp to brew anything up, there will always be tension between Sikhs and Muslims.

At least the BNP have the back bone to speak out against islamifcation of the UK while everybody else sits back and watches.

[KhalistaniGunMan]

LONG LIVE THE BNP...my vote went to them..finnaly a group of ppl who have the balls to stand up to radical muslims...im with you all the way !

[Wutgwan]

Waheguru ji ka khalsa, waheguru ji ki fateh

I would take anything written by Faith Matters with a pinch of salt.

This research they produced was on the back of 'a conflict resolution weekend' they did 2 yrs ago by taking members of the Sikh and Muslims Communties to Ireland.

Not surprised that they haven't released any of the real issues raised by the Sikh community at this weekend!!!!!

Speak to any of the Sikhs who went and they will all agree that it was a bit of a flop, another exercise/project by a governemnt funded agency that doesn't actually look at the root fo the problem but tries to appease other communities.

The director of Faith Matters is a Muslim, thus it was never gonna be 1-sided

[Guptkaur1]

BNP are going to chuck us out of this country. You're right,They DO have guts for even THINKING about chucking us out. So according to you,being racist means having guts? right. I get it.

(To the two posts who supported BNP)

[KhalistaniGunMan]

and how are they racist?...have you heard any of there candidates or present MEPs say any racist remarks or insults to a non white person?...im occasionaly on the BNP chat room on there website...and i would say 1 out of 20 ppl you find coming on there are racist..and ignorant..but they are quickly outcast and excommuniacted by the other 19 on there...Guptkaur stop spreading lies when you yourself have not even spoke to a BNP member or candidate...talk about hypocrisy...go find your local BNP candidate and ask him questions..im sure you will be shocked at how wrong you was!!