London has a Muslim running for mayor. Sadiq Khan is competing
against Boris Johnson, an extroverted conservative who has been London’s mayor
since 2008. Khan would be the first Muslim to lead the city. London faces a
shortage of affordable housing and an overcrowded mass transit network. The
fight between the two contenders has touched on the delicate issues of
ethnicity and religion. The two are examples of London’s diversity and
globalization, with one in eight residents identifying as Muslim. Besides their
upbringing and ethnic heritage, from a policy standpoint there is little
differentiation. They both have not “challenged London’s existing model of
openness to immigration and investment, allied to rapid economic growth.” “Khan’s
election would be a boost for the Labour Party at a time when Prime Minister
David Cameron’s Conservatives are deeply divided on Europe.” I think that a
Muslim mayor would spark speculation in London at a time when radical Islamists
are terrorizing Europe. However, Johnson’s defense strikes low blows that
disregard any real policy issues that matter in the election.
Rebecca Goeders
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/01/world/europe/muslims-labour-candidacy-shapes-london-mayoral-race.html?ref=world&_r=0
No comments:
Post a Comment