WHEN racist tropes are amplified by the expansive reach of social media, the affected communities face real-world danger. That is why it is important to address the narrative — being pushed principally by X owner Elon Musk — seeking to vilify British-Pakistanis over the UK’s past child grooming scandal. The crimes of those involved are indefensible and they must face justice; however, this does not mean that dark forces should be allowed to exploit this tragedy, and malign whole communities. In this respect, the Foreign Office has condemned the “racist and Islamophobic” narratives in the UK, while calling out efforts to demonise the “large and diverse” British-Pakistani community. Though the crimes in question date back to 2008, Mr Musk has of recent chosen to dredge up the Rochdale case and go after ‘Pakistani grooming gangs’, while accusing Labour — including the current British prime minister — of covering up the matter as British-Pakistanis form a major voting bloc for the party. The Conservatives and the British far right, have jumped onto the Musk bandwagon, bringing the grooming issue back into the spotlight.

Of course, in the face of spin doctoring, facts are of little value. While most of the perpetrators of the Rochdale atrocity were indeed British-Pakistanis, a 2020 UK Home Office study said that “group-based child sexual exploitation offenders are most commonly white”. Yet those looking to target Muslims or Pakistanis cherry-pick information, or manufacture alternative ‘facts’ to suit their dangerous agendas. For example, after three little girls were brutally murdered in the British town of Southport, disinformation was spread that the perpetrator was a Muslim migrant. Though patently false, this rumour led to intense anti-Muslim rioting. According to one researcher, posts suggesting that the crime was carried out by a Muslim or a migrant received 27m impressions. It is particularly dangerous when a man with obscene wealth — and running one of the world’s largest social media firms — chooses to amplify hateful and divisive rhetoric. It should be remembered that similar propaganda was used by the Nazis to justify the extermination of Europe’s Jews. Therefore, progressive forces must counter this hateful campaign of the far right and big tech with solidarity and the truth. Those involved in wrongdoing should face the law regardless of their ethnic origin or religious background. But whole communities cannot be vilified.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2025