A few weeks ago, the media was in uproar about the supposed ‘terror invasion’ in Birmingham schools. The alleged claims are that ‘Islamists’ are trying to ‘take over’ schools by changing the curriculum, pushing out non-Muslim staff, segregating male and female students and generally being …well… too Muslim…

Of course, most Muslims and non Muslims alike know the claims are ridiculous and the anonymous letter sent out to Birmingham City Council outlining the potential ‘terror threat’ sounds pretty fishy.

The story was MASSIVE; published in every paper, every news channel, made every headline. But recently the media has gone a little quiet about the story, wonder why? No, it’s not because the investigation has ended- more so because it is slowly becoming clear that the supposed letter was a big fake- just as most Muslims already suspected.

A hoax

Now, despite the BBC having reported that the story is probably a bunch of rubbish, Birmingham City Council announcing that they have found no evidence of a extremist plot and even the assistant head at one of the schools insisting that the claims are ‘just plain Islamophobic’, and of course OFSTED reports having not found any links to extremism at all…do you think Muslims may receive an apology from ‘the authorities’ for once again demonising the Muslim community?

Probably not.

And do you think Muslims will even demand an apology? Again, probably not.

We as a society have become so conditioned by the Western media and propaganda to believe that Muslims and Islam are inherently bad that we are perfectly happy to sweep this one under the rug, just like so many other allegations about Muslims.

But why is it that so many Muslims, themselves listen to the negative things said about them and their religion, even after knowing they are false?

This entire spectacle has been just another example of how society has become so used to the attacks on Islam and it’s followers, that it is now a norm to make ridiculous accusations and for no one to bat an eyelid. Muslims are once again seen here as ‘the other’- ‘the outsiders’ who have no place in British society. If you let them in too much, they will take over, teach British kids whatever they want (which is probably to hate the West and everything it stands for), and will eventually drive you- the kuffar- out.

Why should we demand an apology?

This feeds directly in to the narrative painted about Muslims. Muslims are told day in, day out how they are evil and that their religion is one of hate. They have been conditioned to not feel proud of their religion and feel instantaneously that they are less superior. Instead of demanding an apology about the misrepresentation of their religion, like ANY other faith group would do, Muslims have just been licking their wounds, buried their head in the sand and waiting for the next Islamophobic attack.

But these comments aren’t going anywhere. They are becoming more and more common, filtering down to the average Joe and leading to physical attacks on our brothers and sisters. Innocent men and women being attacked for being Muslim. And guess what? Because these allegations made are tolerated, physical attacks on individuals will also eventually be tolerated- justified even.

The time has come for the Muslim community to grow a pair and teach our younger generations that we do have some self worth, some self respect and are won’t tolerate being treated unequally in the UK. And most importantly the right to defend ourselves.

If Muslims don’t start demanding to be treated equally in the UK, to not be demonised, then the truth is that the hate won’t go away —the attacks will just get worse. We can no longer bury our heads and wish our problems away. We have to confront them, and we have to confront them now.