In an avowedly, Christian country
of the advanced west, election of a Muslim and second generation immigrant
Sadiq Khan to the prestigious post of Mayor of London generated new fluster.
Till 2000, all the urban officials and mayoral candidates were appointed and
with the enactment of Greater London Authority Act of 1999 London Mayoral
elections ensued. This illustrious beginning viewed as a “symbolic victory” by
Muslim Imams in London comes at a time when Donald Trump with thumping win at
the Indiana State primaries has become presumptive Republican nominee. Ever
since the beginning of the Presidential Elections campaigning, Trump with his
characteristic sweeping and vicious statements like ban on Muslims in US has
reignited xenophobic mistrust, hate and fear. Mayoral elections of London has
steered the concourse away from mistrust and heralded a new beginning of
inclusion. Conservative parties in
London, cozied up and unleashed a ludicrous campaign against Labor party
nominee, Khan before elections, alleging him of dividing London’s communities
to win votes. Despite the bitterness spewed at the son of Pakistani driver and
the human rights lawyer, Sadiq Khan, he convincingly won the elections. Much to
the chagrin of the rightist parties, supported by the Jews, gays, lesbians and
ethnic minorities, Khan eventually pulled out a massive victory. It was
believed that the opposition has used every dirty trick in the book to brandish
Khan as an extremist. But the spuriously, venomous campaign against Khan had
miserably buckled under the strength of the inclusion doctrine evinced by
Khan. The barrage of allegations
included Khan’s association with the sympathizers of Islamic extremists. All
ghastly and bizarre tricks were played by the Zac Glodsmith, a billionarie of
Conservative Party to conflate extremism and terrorism before the elections to
swing the undecided electorate in his favor. Ironically, the campaign mauled in
negativity suffered a humiliating defeat with Sadiq Khan registering
biggest-ever political win in British Electoral history. This election has
indeed several lessons to offer to the Donald Trump’s campaign roiled in
religious bigotry and contemptuous aversion towards immigrants.
While this precedent is remarked
as a new beginning in Europe, historians opine that Islam has been a major
religion in Europe for the past 1300 years. Medieval Europe was dominated by
three religions- paganism, Christianity and Islam. Especially in Spain and
Southern France by 12th century there has been an intense
competition between Christianity and Islam. Interestingly, both Christianity
and Islam have their origins in Middle East and several rounds of migration
from Turkey and Syria continuously led to burgeoning presence of Islam in
Europe. Europe has been least inaccessible and unoccupied for several centuries
as it was covered in ice. No sooner the layers of ice began to melt, people
from Middle East, Eurasia and Africa began to migrate to the new continent. While
history offers a replete of fine examples of inclusiveness, divisive forces
looming large in the contemporary times are casting a dark shadow by alienating
communities and people of different ethnic origins. While fierce arguments
whether a Muslim dominated society would elect a Chrisitian and vice-versa,
here is a list of such treasured examples—Sitting elected Muslim mayors include
Erion Veliaj of Tirana, Albania; Ahmed Aboutaleb of Rotterdam, Netherlands and
Shpend Ahmeti of Pristina, Kosavo (1). Similarly Muslim majorities too elected
a Christian- Ivo Komsic in 2003 in Sarajevo; Mardin, a Turkish City elected a
female Christian Mayor Februniye Akyal; Indonesia has a Christian Governor
Basuki Tjahay;, Alees Salman, a Christian female in 2005 chaired Baharain’s
upper house of Parliament (2).
As frantic assaults, bomb and
suicidal attacks continue to threaten the continent, a new level of disguised
intolerance has been seeping into the continent. These conniving brutal attacks
by extremists all of them invariably rooted to a single religion has gradually
changed the perception of the people towards Islam. An aura of new
apprehensions grossly related to religion of a person is in vogue. Inevitably
people under the burden of the repeated violent attacks have developed a
deep-seated anguish towards the community. But a broader perspective about
attributing terrorism to one religion may not be right in all instances. Intellectuals
opine individuals allegiance to state be considered first than religion to make
smart decisions. Welcomingly, London electorate overriding the religion
practiced by Khan had sought to vote in favor of a person who displayed
incredible resolve to defy odds and work towards the goals (inclusivity)
cherished by him. Earlier he served as a Communities minister and then as
transport minister in Gordon Brown’s cabinet becoming first Muslim to occupy
such a position. He was Labour’s shadow justice secretary under Ed Miliband.
Burgeoning demographic dividend
across the globe has resulted in a tumultuous increase in migration of people
to new destinies in search of better living conditions. United States of
America, the acclaimed superpower is indeed land of immigrants. Multinational
communities have become the order of the day. In order to strengthen and
nourish harmony among the people of various ethnicities, democratic societies,
which are considered more inclusive must set a new precedent. A harmonious
society, barred of any kind of religious, ethnic and cultural discriminations
alone can survive the onslaught of divisive forces. Peaceful nation can alone
tread on the path of development and prosperity. Just now while I am writing
this article, I heard the news of another violent stabbing in Munich claiming
an innocent life. The World is besot by the inexplicable contagion of rising of
brutal attacks in the name of religion. More so, currently Europe is
experiencing a sudden surge in number of bomb attacks and violent stabbings.
Needless to say, the continent is steadily bearing the brunt of the religious
extremism. Indeed experts have pointed out that the vicious attacks in Brussels
has been a classic case of poor integration of immigrants. When immigrants get
alienated, they invariably turn into fertile ground for religious extremism and
become susceptible to radicalization. Successful assimilation and integration
of migrants and acclimatization to mainstream norms and culture can bring
contentment and prosperity into the lives of the immigrants.
Victory of Sadiq Khan truly
exemplifies evolution of a new precedent and an “antidote” to extremism as he
claims. Being a successful role model hailing from the Islamic faith and
Pakistani origin, in an interview to the Time Khan says, he can truly motivate
and inspire the Muslim youth who are lured into extremism. Further he
elaborates that electorate came out in record numbers to cast their vote
clearly indicating that they respect, embrace and celebrate the genesis of new
order. In reply to the Donald Trump’s ban on entry of Muslims into US, Khan
said he is planning to visit to US before January incase, Trump gets elected as
a President. He intends to engage and exchange ideas with American Mayors.
Truly, the conservative doctrine advocated by certain political parties and
ideologues is meaningless in the era of globalization. Countries can longer
afford to have impervious boundaries. In the modern times, with an advancement
of technologies no part of globe in inaccessible and impenetrable. With
constant influx of new ideas and people to new regions, countries are becoming
richer and prosperous. Labour optimists now started emphasizing that thanks to
Sadiq Khan, a black or Asian England Prime Minister is no longer inconceivable.
But beyond eloquent rhetoric and objectionable apprehensions, there are high
level of expectations from Khan who promised be a “mayor for all Londoners”.
Perhaps, Khan’s election is a
message to their peers in the US to admonish and subvert the doctrine of
conservatism advocated and welcomed by a section of society. Despite palpable optimism
of resurgence of inclusivity, there is an unprecedented increase in the
Islamophobic comments and racial slurs. While the disruptive and divisive
campaigns in India have politically divided the Hindus and Muslims in India,
all the British-Asians (irrespective of religion) voted in favor of Khan who
promised a more inclusive society.
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