Faith leaders warn that authorities putting non-Muslim women at risk

Tuesday 19th January 2016 03:20 EST
 

The sexual grooming scandals of non Muslim women by Muslim men (often incorrectly mentioned as plain Asians) have ripped through Britain. It has been an example of gross injustice towards the minorities, especially by authorities, who feared the risk of being labelled as 'Islamophobic'. But Hindu and Sikh leaders across the country have now warned that Britain faces high possibilities of mass sexual assaults against women similar to the Cologne attacks, because of the failing authorities and their obsession to be 'politically correct'.

In a joint statement the Network of Sikh Organisations, The Hindu Council, The Sikh Awareness Society and The Sikh Media Monitoring Group have also called for the Government to recognise “the targeting of non-Muslim women” as a “hate crime” in an explosive intervention on the current debate surrounding refugee sex crimes.

They have warned lessons "must be learnt" from previous exploitation scandals. Linking the Rotherham abuse scandal to "mass, planned rape and sexual assault" by as many as 1,000 men of "Arab and North African origin" in Cologne on New Year's Eve, the leaders continue to express their deep concerns and worries.

They said: “Recent disturbing news from Cologne where a mass, planned, rape and sexual assault on New Year's Eve by a mob of at least 1000 'Arab / North African - looking' males on local women is just the latest in a series of reported cases of the targeting of women by small elements within the Muslim community.”

German police were accused of covering up of the crimes committed largely by refugees on New Year’s Eve - including robbery, sexual assault and rape.

More than 1,400 children were sexually groomed in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013. A damning report into the widespread sexual grooming in the South Yorkshire town accused Rotherham council of deliberately trying to cover up the scandal and silence whistleblowers. Prof Jay, who carried out an enquiry, published her findings in August 2014, yet to this date no one has been arrested or charged for the cover-up.

Speaking about the issue, faith groups said: “Lessons can be learnt from Britain, where we saw a cowardly reaction from the political elite following several high profile sexual grooming cases of gangs of mainly young, Pakistani males involved in the rape, abuse and trafficking of young white girls in various cities up and down the country.

“These gangs have also targeted Sikh and Hindu girls.

“There seems to be a pattern emerging where young non-Muslim girls and women in the UK are being targeted by gangs from small elements within the Muslim community - whose attitudes towards their victims seem to show no remorse or guilt.”

The statement further added: “The UK has legislation against various types of hate crimes - but the acknowledgment that this is another form of hate crime seems to have either gone unnoticed by the authorities or been conveniently ignored for fear of being labelled 'Islamophobic' by certain quarters.

“Ignoring that a particular problem exists just encourages the perpetrators of these crimes to think that their prejudice towards women from outside their community is all the more justified.

“It does no justice to the young girls and women who expect protection from the very authorities who don't seem to investigate why these particular women were targeted in the first place.”

“The problem in Germany and Europe in general needs to be addressed and we hope the authorities have the courage to tackle these issues.

“We request the Government to recognise that the targeting of non-Muslim women is a specific problem that exists in the UK and to treat it just as seriously as any other hate crime.”

This joint statement from Sikh and Hindu faith groups was signed by Lord Indarjit Singh of Wimbledon, of the Network of Sikh Organisations, Anil Bhanot, of The Hindu Council UK, Mohan Singh Khalsa, of The Sikh Awareness Society, and Ashish Joshi, of The Sikh Media Monitoring Group UK.

31 suspects, including 18 asylum seekers, are under investigation over offences including sexual assault and theft in Cologne on New Year's Eve. Far right protestors in Lepzig have rallied against refugees and German chancellor Angela Merkel.

Navtaji Singh Sangha has launched a campaign calling for police officers, councillors and other public officials who knowingly ignored or covered-up grooming to be prosecuted.

It was launched on 1st Jan 2016, specifically calling for:

* Neglect & Misconduct in Public Office to become a statutory offence

* For there to be transparent and open investigations in the role of public officials in covering-up grooming

* For there to be immediate arrests and prosecutions of those public officials in Rotherham who we already know hid the truth

Sarna told Asian Voice, “I have started this petition because I am angry grooming was covered-up by the very public servants who are meant to protect the most vulnerable in our society. I am disappointed that since evidence of this cover-up and neglect was uncovered, we have not held any public official to account for their actions and failings.

“Following Rotherham and Prof Jay’s report, I hoped and waited for action from our politicians and the authorities. It is now clear to me justice will not be forthcoming unless we the public start demanding it.

“I have no personal connection to towns like Rotherham or to any grooming victims."

The details of the petition can be viewed at: https://www.change.org/p/david-cameron-mp-rt-hon-theresa-may-mp-prosecute-police-officers-councillors-and-public-officials-who-covered-up-child-grooming?recruiter=76083535&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink.


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