Patrick Sookhdeo speaks on Islam Channel against racism and neo-Nazism

Barnabas Fund’s International Director Dr Patrick Sookhdeo spoke on the Islam Channel against racism and neo-Nazism in a discussion about a new study that highlights growing online support for far right groups in Europe.

He was one of the guests on the Politics and Media Show, which explored the findings of “The New Face of Digital Populism” by leading think-tank Demos, on Monday 14 November, 2011.

Based on a study of 10,000 online supporters, the report outlines how social media are being harnessed by far right groups to further their agendas.

The Islam Channel’s Politics and Media Show explained how Muslims are concerned about the rise of the far right and support for such groups on the internet; they fear the provocation of a racist, even violent response against them.

Dr Sookhdeo spoke of his personal experience as a victim of racism first in the 1960s when his family moved to the UK and more recently in the 1990s when he was beaten up by members of the National Front.

He strongly condemned the rise of racist and neo-Nazi movements, and argued that attacks on Muslims are totally unacceptable.

Dr Sookhdeo said that Britain and Europe, owing to the rise of secular humanism, were without a moral and spiritual rudder, and this is leading to the rise of extremism.

Watch the show here:

Part 1

Part 2