It was the most high profile murder in decades on British soil which equally shook and horrified the nation if not the world. It wasn’t just any MP, it was a young, talented, principled, adored and respected representative of the people. Far more than you could say about many other politicians today.
Her funeral held today, overshadowed by the Nice attack in France, the terror of which is exactly what she stood against, was while a private affair, followed by thousands of those who appreciate what she stood for. But not a month has passed since the gruesome and unjust way she was taken and it’s evident nothing has really changed. Immediately after her murder, shock and disbelief was expressed, Parliamentary tributes were made, EU referendum campaigning was put on hold, her family issued a defiant and dignified response and even Canadian MPs held a minute’s silence in respect. It really felt like one of the worst cases of murder in British history - the murder of a passionate stateswomen in her prime. You’d have thought things would change, the country would unite and politicians would follow her example. How saddeningly wrong you would have been. Just days later, as if nothing had happened, the country albeit marginally, voted to leave the EU. No sooner had we left than racist xenophobes felt they suddenly had the license to expel ever ‘foreigner’ out the country. Jo Cox was murdered because she strove with all aspects of society to unite everyone and build a better Britain. In her maiden Parliamentary speech she expressed how her constituency had been ‘deeply enhanced’ by immigrants, whether they be Pakistani Muslims or Irish Catholics. Yet no sooner had we left the EU than the divides in Britain which she sought to curb began to widen. After the dreadful attacks in Nice deemed to be terrorism (one still wonders why her murder wasn't labelled as such), the swathes of anti-Muslim sentiment not least from Katie Hopkins, the ill-informed and rudely brash personality, pervaded the online sphere. This was even before any facts of the perpetrator had been confirmed. If those like her, continue to blame Islam then they’re of the same mindset which killed Jo Cox. Muslims are just as much victims of such attacks as anyone else. The Nice attacker was a French Tunisian and a petty criminal. Being involved in crime is as un-Islamic as it gets. Jo Cox’s husband right from the outset called for all to ‘fight against the hatred that killed her’, because hate has no religion, nationality, ethnicity or colour. Whether black hatred in America, Polish hate-crime post-brexit or anti-Muslim sentiment whenever a terror attack happens, it’s not for one section of society to condemn it. It’s the duty of every peaceful and progressive citizen to do so, not just by words but by actions, like Jo Cox did all through her life not only as an MP but as an impressive, avid charity and humanitarian worker. More than ever today, after her funeral, amidst all the anguish, hate, division and confusion, we must remember what she died for. We must condemn every act of violence and hatred because that’s what led to her death. And if it wasn’t a wake up call then, it has to be now. Hate-speech is toxic and leads to violence. Our biggest threats aren’t across our borders thousands of miles away, they are right here in our homeland, amongst our own people. If we’re really to honour her memory and prevent anything like that ever happening again, then in her own words we must remember, ‘We are far more united than the things that divide us.’
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AuthorAtif Rashid writes about faith, extremism & mental health. Categories
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August 2021
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