ELECTION GUIDE
MAY 5th 2005
CONSTITUENCY:
Bethnal Green and Bow
MUSLIM DEMOGRAPHICS:
| Muslim Population* |
44,718 |
39.2% |
| Muslims of Voting Age |
28,620 |
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2001 ELECTION RESULT:
| Labour |
19,380 |
 |
50% |
| Tory |
9,323 |
 |
24% |
| Lib Dem |
5,946 |
 |
15% |
| Others |
3,821 |
 |
10% |
| Total Turnout |
38,470 |
49% |
| Majority |
10,057 |
|
CANDIDATES:
Oona King(Labour)
Summary
Oona King
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LABOUR
Bethnal Green and Bow |
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Voting History
War
 Voted for Invasion of Iraq ( Iraq - Declaration of War, 18 Mar 2003)
Voted for Air strikes on Afghanistan (Coalition Against International Terrorism, 1 Nov 2001)
Anti-Terror Laws
Voted for Indefinite detention without charge, without trial (Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill - Clauses 22 to 24 - Indefinite Detention - 21 Nov 2001)
Voted for Renewal of above law (Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 - Renewal of Part 4 sections 21-23 - 3 Mar 2004)
Absent for voted on Control orders – house arrests (Prevention of Terrorism Bill - Third Reading - 28 Feb 2005)
Muslim Schools
Absent for vote on Proposed amendment to Education Bill forcing all new state funded religious schools to reserve at least a quarter of places to children from other faiths thereby effectively destroying the religious ethos of the school. This disproportionately targeted the Muslim community as out of around 7000 existing state funded religious schools that would escape this law only 4 were Muslim - all new Muslim schools would be effected.(Education Bill - New Clause 1 6 Feb 2002)
Early Day Motions
Islamophobia
Did not sign EDM on Call for BBC to sack Kilroy-Silk for his racist comments. (EDM 383, 08.01.04)
Halal Meat
 Did not sign EDM on Call for the government to work actively to end religious slaughter in the UK (EDM 104, 26.11.03)
Hijab
Did not sign EDM on Call for UK & EU partners to protest France's ban on religious symbols in schools. (EDM 461, 21.01.04)
Israel
Did not sign EDM on Call for suspension of EU-Israel Association Agreement which gives Israel preferential trade terms with the EU. (EDM 1288, 26.05.04)
Did not sign EDM on Call for sanctions against Israel for not complying with the International Court of Justice decision on the illegality of the separation wall.(EDM 162, 24.11.04)
US
Did not sign EDM exposing double standards in US foreign policy regarding terrorism and democracy. (EDM 664, 04.02.05)
Election Survey:
Questionnaire not returned.
If you live in this constituency we request that you email our sample letter to this candidate asking them to respond - its your right to know what your candidate stands for. Failure to respond may be interpreted as a candidates unwilling to clarify his or her real position and a disregard for the concerns of Muslim constituents.
Other Information
She has been described as a Blairite which explains why she hardly ever votes against the government. Her support for imperialist wars, whilst representing what has been described as the most anti-war constituency in the country, and her support for anti-terror legislation which targets her Muslim constituents, has made her very unpopular. Yet she has been unrepentant, and in 2001 she challenged Muslim voters to unseat her if they disagreed with her.
In October 1999, Labour Friends of Israel - the shadowy lobby group doing Israel's bidding in Westminster - paid for Oona King to go on a propaganda visit to Israel.
Since then, her outlook on Israel seems to have changed. In 2003 Christian Aid arranged for Oana King to visited Gaza with Lib Dem MP Jenny Tong . As a Jew she was shocked at what she saw referring it to as "a hell similar in its nature - though not its extent - to the Warsaw ghetto" and urged people to boycott Israeli goods.[1]
Some have compared her to Gerald Kaufman in that he is vocally critical of current Israeli policies and Sharon in particular but at the same time considers himself a friend of Israel.
To a Muslim audience, in an article in Muslim Weekly[2], Oana King pledged support to the call for the suspension of the EU trade preferences given to Israel, yet in parliament that same month she did not put her name to the Early Day Motion calling for just that action![3] Even Gerald Kaufman signed that EDM!
She is a member of Jews for Justice for Palestinians.[4]
She has been publicly critical of US treatment of Muslim prisoners, held indefinitely, without charge, without trial, often tortured. And yet in 2001 she voted for the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill which allows the indefinite detention without charge, without trial of suspects - so far all Muslims - in this country. And in March 2004 she again voted for the renewal of that same unjust legislation!
[1] Israel can halt this now, by Oona King. The Guardian 12 June 2003. http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,975423,00.html
[2] Human Rights in Palestine and Iraq, by Oana King, Muslim Weekly May 2004. http://www.oonaking.com/international_06.htm
[3] Suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, EDM 1288 26 May 2004.
[4] Jews for Justice for Palestinians is a loose grouping of Jews who oppose the post 67 occupation by Israel of Palestinian lands. They work well within the Jewish community highlighting the injustice perpetrated by Israel. There policy document however, falls short of justice - it does not refer to the Palestinian right of return, nor is there any condemnation of zionism as a racist ideology. Its no surprise then that they categorically welcome zionists as members.
Syed Nurul Islam Dulu (Lib-Dem)
Summary
Syed Nurul Islam Dulu
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LIBERAL DEMOCRAT
Bethnal Green and Bow |
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Voting History
Not Applicable
Election Survey:
Questionnaire not returned.
If you live in this constituency we request that you email our sample letter to this candidate asking them to respond - its your right to know what your candidate stands for. Failure to respond may be interpreted as a candidates unwilling to clarify his or her real position and a disregard for the concerns of Muslim constituents.
Other Information
He is
the Chair of the Tower Hamlets Law Centre, Vice Chair of the federation of Tenants Associations and Chair of Royal Mint TA. He is anti-war.
Shahgir Bakth Faruk(Tory)
Summary
Shahgir Bakth Faruk
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CONSERVATIVE
Bethnal Green and Bow |
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Voting History
Not Applicable
Election Survey:
Questionnaire not returned.
If you live in this constituency we request that you email our sample letter to this candidate asking them to respond - its your right to know what your candidate stands for. Failure to respond may be interpreted as a candidates unwilling to clarify his or her real position and a disregard for the concerns of Muslim constituents.
Other Information
He is
the President of the London Region of the Bangladesh-British Chamber of Commerce. He is anti-war but also vocally anti-immigration.
John Foster(Green)
Summary
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GREEN
Bethnal Green and Bow |
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Voting History
Not Applicable
Election Survey:
Questionnaire not returned.
If you live in this constituency we request that you email our sample letter to this candidate asking them to respond - its your right to know what your candidate stands for. Failure to respond may be interpreted as a candidates unwilling to clarify his or her real position and a disregard for the concerns of Muslim constituents.
Other Information
No information available.
George Galloway(Respect)
Summary
George Galloway
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RESPECT
Bethnal Green and Bow |
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Voting History
War
Voted against Invasion of Iraq ( Iraq - Declaration of War, 18 Mar 2003)
Voted against Air strikes on Afghanistan (Coalition Against International Terrorism, 1 Nov 2001)
Anti-Terror Laws
Voted against Indefinite detention without charge, without trial (Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill - Clauses 22 to 24 - Indefinite Detention - 21 Nov 2001)
Absent for vote on Renewal of above law (Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 - Renewal of Part 4 sections 21-23 - 3 Mar 2004)
Absent for voted on Control orders – house arrests (Prevention of Terrorism Bill - Third Reading - 28 Feb 2005)
Muslim Schools
Voted against Proposed amendment to Education Bill forcing all new state funded religious schools to reserve at least a quarter of places to children from other faiths thereby effectively destroying the religious ethos of the school. This disproportionately targeted the Muslim community as out of around 7000 existing state funded religious schools that would escape this law only 4 were Muslim - all new Muslim schools would be effected.(Education Bill - New Clause 1 6 Feb 2002)
Early Day Motions
Islamophobia
Did not sign EDM on Call for BBC to sack Kilroy-Silk for his racist comments. (EDM 383, 08.01.04)
Halal Meat
Did not sign EDM on Call for the government to work actively to end religious slaughter in the UK (EDM 104, 26.11.03)
Hijab
Supported Call for UK & EU partners to protest France's ban on religious symbols in schools. (EDM 461, 21.01.04)
Israel
Did not sign EDM on Call for suspension of EU-Israel Association Agreement which gives Israel preferential trade terms with the EU. (Oana King has)
Supported Call for sanctions against Israel for not complying with the International Court of Justice decision on the illegality of the separation wall.(EDM 162, 24.11.04)
US
Did not sign EDM exposing double standards in US foreign policy regarding terrorism and democracy. (EDM 664, 04.02.05)
Election Survey:
Questionnaire not returned.
If you live in this constituency we request that you email our sample letter to this candidate asking them to respond - its your right to know what your candidate stands for. Failure to respond may be interpreted as a candidates unwilling to clarify his or her real position and a disregard for the concerns of Muslim constituents.
Other Information
Muslims will know him as someone who has for many years championed anti-imperialist causes in the Muslim world, from the struggle for self-determination in both Palestine and Kashmir, to the campaign against sanctions and war against the Iraqi people.[1] And for his trouble, George Galloway has paid heavily. He has been thrown out of the Labour party and he has been the target of a vile smear campaign.
With the recent banning of the hijab in France, George Galloway has once again shown willingness to champion a cause dear to Muslims, and on Hijab protest day he addressed crowds outside the French Embassy "to stand by the Muslim people of France against this wicked proposal of Chirac to tear the hijab from the heads of young and old Muslim women in France".[2]
[1] http://www.inminds.co.uk/stopbush-3-20nov03.html#galloway
http://www.inminds.co.uk/end-the-occupation-3-27sep03.html#galloway
http://www.inminds.co.uk/palestine-rally-28sep02.html#galloway
[2] http://www.inminds.co.uk/hijab-protest.html#galloway (17-Jan 2004)
Conclusions
With Muslms forming nearly half the constituency, there is a great opportunity for Muslims to have their choice of candidate succeed in representing them in Parliament. For Muslims there can be very little doubt who to vote for in Bethnal Green and Bow. George Galloway has consistently shown himself to be a friend of Muslims, he is someone who deserves the votes of Muslims.
For more on the Bethnal Green election listen to the debate on BBC radio.[1]
[1] BBC London - Bethnal Green election debate (streaming audio)
Election Guide Home
* Our figures are conservative reflecting the minimal strength of the Muslim vote:
1. The Muslim population figures are taken from the 2001 census. The religion question was optional and many Muslims did not feel comfortable giving out this information if wasn't a requirement. (This writer knows of two members of his own family who did not answer this question out of fear that one day this data will be used to discriminate against them).
2. Our statistics assume only 64% of the Muslim population is of voting age (18+). This figure is much lower than the national average because the Muslim population is the youngest in the country with 34% under the age of 16 (the national average is 20% under 16). Please note that our estimates are slightly less than those given on the MCB website.
(source http://www.statistics.gov.uk)
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