Q and A: The Muslim vote

By Dominic Casciani
BBC News Online community affairs reporter

British Muslims are being urged to vote to stop the BNP - how significant is their vote - and what role does apathy play? What does the letter say?

The Muslim Council of Britain, the umbrella body for hundreds of separate organisations, has written to 1,500 mosques asking them to encourage their congregations to get out on vote at the local, London and European elections on 10 June.

The organisation's secretary-general Iqbal Sacranie says that every Muslim of voting age should vote, for parties of their choice, to neutralise the advance of the far-right British National Party.

It is worried that a low turn-out in key areas will increase the likelihood of the BNP gaining seats.

What evidence does it have for these concerns?

The BNP's growth since 2001 has been largely within northern towns with large minority communities. It currently holds less than 20 of 20,000 council seats nationwide, six of which are in Burnley.

But, perhaps more significantly, it has gained seats where the expected turn-out for mainstream parties has been very low.

Anti-BNP campaigners say that where turn-outs can be raised, the party will fall back again.

With many Muslims living in poor areas with low turn-outs, campaigners say it's essential they go to the ballot box.

But Muslims are a minority - does their vote actually matter in the whole scheme of things?

That's a difficult question to answer - not least because it wrongly assumes minority groups only ever vote en masse.

High Muslim vote areas 49%: Birmingham Sparkbrook 39%: Bethnal Green and Bow 38%: Bradford West 30%: East Ham 30%: Birmingham Ladybrook 26%: Blackburn 25%: Poplar/Canning Town 23%: West Ham 21%: Bradford North 20%: Ilford South Figures rounded; Source: BBC Research/Census 2001

Muslims, particularly of Pakistani or Bangladeshi heritage, largely remain closely knit communities within single constituencies or wards.

If they turn out to vote, they have tended to vote for Labour.

Many local candidates have long shown themselves keen to get the key hand-shake photo outside of the local mosque.

In terms of figures, there are 10 Westminster constituencies where Muslims comprise a fifth or more of the population.

In Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath, Muslims comprise almost half of the constituency.

But what about turn-out?

Muslims are known to have fairly low turn-outs - though it's something seen among many minority communities. But campaigners say they need to be more sophisticated with their vote.

Let's take London as an example. The Muslim Council of Britain says the BNP, with 11 candidates standing, may need only a small percentage to win a seat in London. Yet in 15 Westminster constituencies of the capital, Muslims comprise more than 10% of the population.

So why don't people turn out?

There is a combination of factors. Firstly, disenchantment with the process. Many Muslims who used to vote, no longer vote because they feel they have not been properly served by the politicians they have elected.

Secondly, while the overwhelming majority of Islamic scholars in the west say it is a Muslim's duty to vote, there are fringe groups who say don't. While the groups may not have support, it may be an added element to the apathy and disaffection felt among an increasingly politically aware young.

Finally, and perhaps more importantly, there may be an "international effect" at work because of concern over events since the 11 September attacks and opposition to the war in Iraq. This, again, has left many saying there is no point in voting.

So how do activists respond?

No vote is a wasted vote they say. The Muslim Association of Britain, a smaller but well-organised group, campaigned in key areas of the country last year for Muslims to support candidates most opposed to war in Iraq.

They have claimed some credit for the success of the Liberal Democrat's Sarah Teather in Brent East - though it's impossible to say for sure what effect they had.

One of the organisation's key figures is now standing as a European Parliament candidate for "Respect", the left-wing campaign group which emerged from the anti-war movement. It has also giving out tactical voting advice to supporters, something it tried in Scotland last year.

So Muslims are politicised?

Undoubtedly they are more politicised than ever thanks to the continuing fall-out of the 11 September attacks and increased fears about security.

There has been an enormous growth in Muslim campaign groups nationwide, many of which are as professional as any other lobby group, despite having very little funding.

The most significant boost for politically active Muslims was the enormous turn-out from their communities at the February 2003 anti-war march, especially among the young.

But the problem is whether or not, and to what extent, these campaigners can translate that increased political activity to the ballot box.