3 out of 4 in UK forced to stay silent in fear of harassment: report
The UK has significantly witnessed a division amid the war on Gaza, especially since some Jews express being afraid to walk into cities holding pro-Palestinian protests and many fear being called anti-Semitic if they speak out against "Israel".
A newly released report shows that three-quarters of its respondents, including teachers, councilors, and academics, told a government adviser they were being forced to keep quiet through threats and intimidation, leaving a "chilling" effect on the freedom of speech.
The study into social cohesion by Dame Sara Khan revealed that many feared for the lives and safety of their families, while many had to move residences or jobs. In many cases, authorities were of no help and some politicians told them that abuse is part of the job.
According to the report, 47% claimed they witnessed other people being harassed.
The UK has significantly witnessed a division amid the war on Gaza, especially since some Jews express being afraid to walk into cities holding pro-Palestinian protests and many fear being called anti-Semitic if they speak out against "Israel".
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It even shows how much the far-right has created division in many towns by spreading fake news and conspiracy theories about refugee seekers.
Authors are being "canceled" for their perspectives, while librarians are being told to remove books from their shelves and one professor said they lost a publishing deal over a smear campaign that they called for the "murder of transgender people."
Dame Sara called on ministers to establish an Office for Social Cohesion and Democratic Resilience to also ban protests outside schools, adding that police need dedicated 'safety officers' to handle harassment, especially on social media.
She stated that her discoveries were a "damning indictment of the state of harassment and censorship in our country."
In an interview with Sky News, she said, "If we care about protecting those democratic rights and freedoms that are so central to us as a nation, my call to the Government is we have to do far more to tackle this threat which is undermining academic freedom, press freedom, the arts and cultural sector and civic society."
"It poses a serious threat to our democratic way of life."
"I make my daughter sleep next to a fire blanket in case someone fire-bombs my home, as a previous councilor has had her property fire-bombed," one council leader said, noting, "The response from the police has been dismal and I've had little support. It has made me seriously question whether I want or can stay in politics."
According to a survey back in February, the frequency of Islamophobic events in the UK increased dramatically in the wake of "Israel's" deadly war on the Gaza Strip, leaving Muslims in the country anxious.
The research published by the British daily The Independent revealed that the majority of Islamophobic events targeted people for expressing support for Palestine.
A Muslim woman recalled being the target of a stone hurled at her window because she had a Palestinian flag hung there, and that she "could have been killed" by it.
Another 17-year-old boy also stated that he was cornered by his professors after displaying a Palestinian insignia on his bag to school, which led him to a panic attack and forced him to fail an exam. His teachers interrogated him on his faith and his "understanding of Hamas."