Baroness Sayeeda Warsi has said many other communities had come through similar issues of paranoia faced by Muslims in the UK and she was hopeful that these times will pass.
She also shared her thoughts on how sixty years after her grandad came to the UK her hopes for her own grandchild.
Baroness Warsi was speaking at the ‘Celebrate Diversity in Lancashire’ event organised by the Lancashire BME Network held at Accrington Town Hall.
As well as words from Ms Warsi the dinner saw an enlightening poetry performance from the group ‘Beyond Labels’ of Hollins Technology College.
The dinner opened with a video filmed by Pishdaad Modaressi at Anarchy Cinema and produced by Qainaat Aftab.
Baroness Warsi said, “There is no doubt that Muslim communities are the bogeymen of the moment but I also want to remind people that this is not something new and unusual. We have been here before.
“There was a time when we didn’t like the Catholics very much. There was a time when we didn’t like the Jews very much. There was a time when we didn’t think that men and women were equal. Most of us in this very hall would not have been allowed to vote.
“There was a time when we haunted and hunted the LGBT community and quite rightly now politicians are coming out and apologising for much of the discrimination that took place.
“The reason why I say this is when we talk about diversity today I think it is important to note that we have been here before. We have managed to work through these moments before.
“I want to say especially to young people who sometimes certainly from within British Muslim communities feel like the spotlight is on them – we will get through this. Other communities have managed to do so and we will too.
“And so despite some of the concerns that we now face and there is no doubt British Muslim communities are seen as, like I said the bogeymen of the moment.
“There is cause for optimism because as we heard the most wonderful poems from the young people - there is a generation in this country that wants to meet other people as equals as who they are rather than where they came from and what they believe.”
When asked on why she decided to write her book ‘,The Enemy Within’ she told an audience member, “Sixty years after grandad came here would my grand kids call Britain their home and what kind of a home would they call it. And it is that what got me thinking and I felt that I needed to write and account, not my account but the tale of Muslim Britain.
“The history of that longevity of that relationship between Islam and Britain. The mistakes that have been made on all sides so this book is of critical of the community as it is of Government policy.”
Chief Officer Naz Zaman said, “The event aimed to bring communities together, showcasing how cohesive and diverse Lancashire is.
"To that end we produced a short film which highlighted the positives in terms of diversity and integration.
“At the same it also reinforced the message that there is still a lot of work to do to ensure that communities can live and work together in harmony.”
Awards honour Lancashire Diversity champs
Awards for diversity, inclusion and cohesion within Lancashire were presented to: Ali Amla, Ali Ishtiaq, Andrew Pratt, Attia Quadri, Chris Seddon, Joshi Jariwala, Jyoti Karri, Rauf Bashir, Sadiq Patel, Safa Marwa, Sana Khan, Sean Clark, Shakil Salam, Steven Wilcock, Stuart Rutlidge, Tarlika Navekar, Vishal Karri and Nagina Ali.
Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Rafique Malik and Charu Ainscough.
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