Lisa Nandy has come under fire after she was accused of prioritising Islam and “excluding other faith groups” from the new committee for social cohesion.
The Culture Secretary appointed the boss of a Muslim charity as an adviser to a new civil society project.
However, no one from Christian, Hindu or other specific faiths was appointed for the role.
Chief executive of the Muslim Charities Forum (MCF) Fadi Itani has been appointed as a member of the steering committee of her Civil Society Covenant.
The group aims to promote “social cohesion” by bringing together “volunteers, charities, faith organisations” and others.
Nandy had described such organisations as “the eyes, ears and voice of the people”.
However, Itani is the only member of a faith-specific group to be represented on its advisory group, while the only other religious organisation is Faith Action, which represents all faiths.
PA
| Lisa Nandy speaking at the Labour Conference
A spokesman for Insight UK, the Hindu and Indian advocacy group, said the Government needed to clarify its position on the matter.
They told The Telegraph: “The Government’s decision to invite only a Muslim charity to participate in its civic society covenant while excluding other faith groups is discriminatory and shows preferential treatment for one faith group.
“While the inclusion of Muslim voices in civic dialogue is valuable, the exclusion of other faith groups such as Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and other faith-based organisations suggests an inconsistent approach to interfaith representation.
“To ensure legitimacy and effectiveness, the Government should clarify its selection criteria and broaden participation to include all major faith communities in this civic initiative.”
News
The Bread Road
# For three days, in the blue-black heart of the polar night, the puppy carried bread into the tundra. He was no bigger than a fox, red-furred under the dirt, with ears too large for his head and legs…
Where the Mountain Took Them Back
The night Ava Hayes found the Black Ridge clubhouse, Silver Creek was trying hard to disappear. Snow had not fallen, not really, but the cold had sharpened the world until every fence line, every pine branch, every turn in the…
The Quiet Dog in the Last Cage
At the far end of the shelter corridor, where the lights went dim and the concrete smelled of bleach, wet fur, and old rain, there was one cage nobody lingered near. People slowed when they reached it, then moved on….
Smoke Under the Badge
The first thing people noticed about Gabriel Ash was the leather. Black jacket, old but cared for. Zip cuffs polished by years of use. Weathered seams. A faint silver scratch on the right shoulder that looked like a knife had…
Where Bishop Stood
By the time Officer Owen Hart realized the chase had split into two directions, the rain had already turned the freight yard into black glass. The city’s riverfront lay beyond the chain-link fences and stacked cargo containers, all of it…
The Dog at Saint Gabriel’s
By the time the first hard rain of November reached Saint Gabriel’s Memorial Hospital, the dog had already learned the rhythm of its gates. He knew when the ambulance bay doors rolled open with a metallic groan and a breath…
End of content
No more pages to load
