Responding to the report by the Institute of Race Relations “Citizenship: From Right to Privilege”, which finds that British Muslims have had their citizenship reduced to “second-class” status, Foysol Choudhury MSP said: “I want to ensure all minority communities that I will continue my lifelong fight for freedom, justice and equality for all.
“As the report suggests, some groups are targeted more than others due to a mixture of unconscious biases and racist stereotypes and views within our institutions.
“We have seen through the Windrush scandal and the increasing use of the power to revoke citizenship from Muslims that minorities now cannot rely on British citizenship to guarantee their rights, and that the value of British citizenship is not equal for everyone.
“No one should be made to feel any less welcome in our society because of the colour of their skin, their culture or their religion, and every British citizen should be treated the same way. Unfortunately, this does not always happen and will always be a work in progress until every aspect of our society and institutions decolonise their mindsets and their practices.
“When the Home Office says they “make no apology for doing whatever is necessary to protect the UK from those who pose a threat to our security”, this is fine to the extent that it applies equally to every culture, race and religion living in the UK.
“Any security measures must also apply to, for example, the forces of the far-right, who have in recent years conspired to plot the murder of a sitting Member of Parliament and are responsible for almost two fifths of plots foiled by the security services. We do not, however, see their citizenship being in any way threatened, no matter how dangerous they may be.
“I am not asking for any special treatment for any particular ethnic or religious group, simply for justice and fairness for all.”
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