Murdered UK MP was working on report about anti-Muslim violence

Cox was planning to address parliament to introduce report about an increase in anti-Muslim attacks


News Desk June 20, 2016
Jo Cox was planning to address parliament to introduce report about an increase in anti-Muslim attacks PHOTO: AFP

The murder of British MP, Jo Cox, the first of a sitting British member of parliament since 1990, sent shockwaves around the world, drawing tributes from leaders, including US President Barack Obama.

Her attacker has since been arrested but his motive for killing remains unclear. However, it has now emerged that Cox was planning to address parliament later this month to introduce a report she had been working on about an increase in anti-Muslim attacks, particularly against women.

'Death to traitors', UK MP murder suspect tells court

The study, conducted in collaboration with the Islamophobia watchdog 'Tell Mama' (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks), is expected to conclude that there were about 80% more attacks on Muslims in Britain in 2015 than the year before.

“She met us to talk about how people could report attacks; particularly women in her constituency,” said the founder and director of Tell Mama, Fiyaz Mughal, on Sunday.

The report is the latest in an annual series on the prevalence of Islamophobic attacks. “We were hoping she would highlight the impact on Muslim women; particularly given the targeting [that exists],” Mughal said. “The majority [of incidents] at street level were [on] women and she was going to raise that.”

The study is based on data from his organisation and three police forces. Tell Mama says it saw 1,100 Islamophobic attacks in 2015 – an 80% increase on the previous year. The three forces reported a further 1,200, from which the watchdog had extrapolated to give a national estimate. However, he added that many attacks are never reported.

According to the Times, Cox recorded a video to use at the launch, in which she referred to “exciting” discussions she had held with Tell Mama’s staff. She further said they talked about how she could help tackle Islamophobia and that the problem had become so bad in her constituency that “many of our young women don’t feel safe when they’re out on the street”.

Shock attack: British MP killed ahead of EU vote

Cox, a 41-year-old mother-of-two from the opposition Labour Party, was left bleeding on the pavement outside her constituency office after being shot and stabbed in the village of Birstall in northern England, according to witnesses quoted by local media.

A 52-year-old man has been arrested and charged with her murder. During a brief appearance in court on Saturday, he ranted against “traitors”.

“Death to traitors, freedom for Britain,” 52-year-old Thomas Mair said when asked to give his name at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London after being charged with murder, British media reported.

Leaders across Europe and the world have expressed shock at the killing of Cox, a former charity worker whose job took her to countries such as Afghanistan and Darfur.

This article originally appeared on Guardian.

COMMENTS (1)

Bilal | 7 years ago | Reply Well i am not surprised to see no comments on this. Where are all the so called liberals now
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