Leading British Indian community organisation Platform for Indian Democracy – which represents mainly second and third generation British Indians – has called for strong measures to be put in place to address disinformation on social media which triggered far-right violence against UK minorities across the country.
The disturbances, which began after the Southport knife attack on children during a dance class, were triggered by misinformation falsely identifying the suspect as an immigrant and Muslim.
This led far-right extremists to target mosques, asylum-seeker accommodations, migration lawyers, and other minority communities.
Warning against the speed with which disinformation spreads in social media and translates into violent far-right behaviour in the streets of the UK, Suresh Grover, Co-Director of The Monitoring Group, one of the oldest anti-racist grassroots organisations in Britain and advisor, Platform for Indian Democracy said: “Governments must urgently act on the misinformation that is radicalising our politics, threatening minority rights, and destabilising democracy itself in Europe, the US, and India.
“In our global village, disinformation and toxic views about different ethnic groups and religions can spread like wildfire and threaten the safety of communities everywhere.
“The rhetoric and actions we are witnessing during these riots do not reflect the true spirit of the UK. We must now stand together in solidarity to defend our shared values and support those affected by these attacks.”
Raul Lai, leader of the Platform for Indian Democracy, said: “The horrific and frightening violence we have seen across the UK has no place in our democracy. We had heard about such violence from our parents who faced similar hatred in the 80s. Today’s Britain should not have any place for such viciousness.
“The democratic values of inclusivity and diversity strengthen communities, not destroy them. These values must be protected and championed in the face of racism and misinformation. British Indians have contributed significantly to the UK – whether through local businesses, the NHS, academia or public service.
The global majority communities in the UK have shown the vital role that immigration plays in enriching our society. We see the far-right across the globe whipping up hatred against minorities that is then amplified by social media.
The Platform for Indian Democracy calls for urgent and decisive action to combat misinformation, protect vulnerable communities, and reaffirm the democratic principles that unite us. “We must collectively address the root causes of this unrest and work towards a more inclusive and harmonious society,” added Lai.
