Islamophobia on the rise: Muslim woman’s car set alight in UK

15 July, 2021: The western world is experiencing a rise in incidents of Islamophobia, with the latest reported in Britain Manchester where miscreants set fire to the car of a Muslim female councilor.

According to a BBC report, a council leader’s car has been deliberately set on fire in a “frightening” arson attack. The car belonged to Urooj Shah, a Muslim woman who was elected leader of Manchester’s Old Hum Council for the first time, was set on fire outside her house. At that time, the council leader was present in her house.

According to the report, miscreants dropped incendiary substance on the vehicle and set it on fire. The fire was so intense that its flames reached the house located in the neighborhood of Urooj Shah. Oldham Council leader Urooj Shah’s car was parked just before 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, damaging the car and a neighbor’s property.

However, British police have arrested a 23-year-old suspect and launched an investigation. The deputy chief inspector of Wesley Knights police called the attack a “blind, despicable act” and said “fortunately no one was harmed.”

He added, “We will not rest until the circumstances around this incident are fully understood, and those responsible brought to justice,” he added.

Politicians around the region have condemned the attack. Jim McMahon, a Labor MP from Oldham West and Wrighton, called for those responsible to be punished according to the law for targeting the council woman Shah in such a cowardly way.

Barbara Keeley, Labour MP for Worsley and Eccles South, said it was a “shocking attack on a Labour woman leader” and added: “I’m sending solidarity and I hope she and her family are OK.”

Oldham Liberal Democrats described the incident as “appalling”. “It is a frightening attack on an individual, but it also demonstrates the threat to people in public life and stops decent people from being involved in it,” a spokesman for the party said.

Firefighters put out the blaze and there were no injuries. A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “It was established that the vehicle was deliberately ignited, also causing slight damage to a neighbouring property.”

Ms Shah was elected as leader of the borough’s majority Labour group after the previous leader Sean Fielding lost his seat in the recent elections.

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