However, the city’s Federation of Muslim Organizations (FMO), while urging calm, also called for caution in the language used and the dangers of attributing the problem to one group or another. The FMO strongly warned against the use of terms “such as Hindutva”, which were “strictly associated with this fascist extreme minority”, because “such terms can unfairly demonize an entire community”. Ms Webbe said constituents had been told her problem had been simmering for months. He tweeted a letter he sent to Leicestershire’s interim chief constable Rob Nixon on September 1, well before last weekend’s violence. Urging police to remain vigilant, he explained the “serious concerns” of residents who are afraid to leave their homes at night after reports of violence in the city’s Belgrave area following India’s victory over Pakistan in the Asia cricket match Cup, on August 28.
“Underlying Islamophobia in parts of Leicester’s communities, rather than an isolated incident”
Ms Webbe said some constituents had expressed fears to her that the violence was partly due to “underlying Islamophobia in parts of Leicester’s communities, rather than an isolated incident”. Days later, on September 14, Ms Webbe, writing again to the chief constable, about “continued disturbances” and “incitement to hatred” listed incidents on September 5 and September 9, after which two arrests were made. She said constituents had told her that “communal tensions may be longer-standing and not closely related to the India-Pakistan race”, before that flashpoint by “a few months”. Writing before the weekend’s latest incidents, Ms Webbe again warned of “the risk of escalation if community tensions rise” and claimed people were using the social media platform to cause trouble. He said: “There are reports of hate speech targeting Muslims and Hindus, which are being shared on social media to create fear. “Places like Facebook and via WhatsApp are designed to ‘trap’ members of the local community into attending a protest, fueled by hate.” He spoke of such a “protest”, adding: “I have no doubt that this fake event was designed to cause additional conflict and cause disharmony and mistrust.” Ms Webbe blamed those “spreading misinformation on social media and elsewhere” for “getting this concern”. Jonathan Ashworth, Labor MP for Leicester South, called the recent problems a “dark episode” in a city where he and residents “rightly pride ourselves on celebrating our diversity”. He said: “Attempts to sow division, including those with extremist views, will fail and are roundly condemned across Leicester. “We absolutely condemn violent incidents on our streets, marches with provocative slogans that incite hatred, attacks on places of worship, symbols or religion,” he added. “It has always been the case – reaffirmed by my conversations between the communities – that the vast majority of Leicester’s Hindu and Muslim communities are law-abiding and continue to enjoy long-standing good relations. “These forces will help us overcome this dark episode.”
