LONDON: The UK’s home secretary has been asked to clarify her comments about the name Jihad, after British Arabs with the name warned that they face hate attacks after Thursday’s attack in Manchester.
Shabana Mahmood said in the wake of the synagogue attack: “As a Muslim, I’ve never heard someone being called Jihad.”
She was referring to the 35-year-old attacker Jihad Al-Shamie, a British national of Syrian descent who was killed at the scene.
Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, called on Mahmood to issue an immediate clarification about her comments, which were widely reported in the media.
The name Jihad, which means to strive or to struggle, is a common Arabic name among both Christians and Muslims, Doyle said.
Mahmood’s comments have “escalated the risk to British Arabs called Jihad, who may suffer from hate attacks and abuse; several have reached out to CAABU about this,” a press release from the organization warned.
In his letter to her, Doyle highlighted prominent examples of the name: Jihad Azour, a Lebanese Christian former finance minister and current director of the International Monetary Fund’s Middle East and Central Asia Department; Hollywood actor Jihad Abdo; actor Jihad Saad; Syrian Christian economist Jihad Yazighi; businessman Jihad Salkini; and Syrian Christian former diplomat Jihad Makdisi.
“There are many, many others. The name of course, as you know, does not indicate any notion of war but the duty to strive to improve,” Doyle wrote, adding that some Arabs with the name, such as Abdo and Salkini, have adopted the anglicized nickname Jay due to hostility while living in the West.
British Arabs “working in all sectors of life” in the UK also have the name, Doyle said, warning that Mahmood’s comments have “very serious” implications on their lives.
“Several have reached out to me fearful of the impact of your words … What you said has inadvertently put them at risk from retaliatory attacks and abuse,” he added.
“These are names given to them at birth and have zero bearing as to what their political and religious beliefs may be.”
Doyle called on Mahmood to “put out an immediate clarification as soon as possible. I am sure you will agree the last thing we need is any further hate attacks or abuse.”
