London, Sep 19:: The UK government has appointed three expert panellists, including a British Indian, to sit on an independent review into a communal unrest that occurred in Leicester city between Hindus and Muslims, following an India-Pakistan cricket match in Dubai last year.
UK Communities Secretary Michael Gove on Monday named Dr Samir Shah CBE, Professor Hilary Pilkington, Dr Shaaz Mahboob to work on review to establish the facts and identify the underlying causes of last year’s unrest and make recommendations. In September, 2022, community tensions led to a spate of vandalism, assaults, and attacks on places of worship and other properties in Leicester, in some cases highlighting divisions between different groups across the city and beyond. Following the developments, Gove commissioned an independent review in May this year under the chairmanship of Lord Ian Austin, a former minister for housing and planning as well former minister for the West Midlands.
Stating that Leicester has a proud history of diversity, tolerance and community cohesion, Lord Austin said: “We want to listen to people in Leicester to understand last year’s events, what can be learned from them and how communities in the city can work together to prevent problems in future”.
“It is therefore vital that the review is comprehensive and even-handed and that this aim is reflected in the panellists we appoint,” Lord Austin added.
Aurangabad-born Dr Shah is a former Commissioner for the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities and was a member of the Holocaust Commission.
He was also the former chair of the independent race equality think tank, The Runnymede Trust, for 10 years.
Pilkington is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester and Fellow of the UK Academy of Social Sciences.
She coordinated the H2020 DARE (Dialogue about Radicalisation and Equality) project, and her research includes focus to the study of youth participation, activism, stigmatisation and extremism in the UK.
Dr Mahboob is the head of Digital Development NHS England and trustee of British Muslims for Secular Democracy for 10 years until 2018, including its Vice Chair for a number of years.
“The diverse panel brings together a wealth of experience and knowledge, which should result in an honest, frank and productive review,” Lord Austin said in a statement. (IANS)
