Alibhai – Brown is neither assertive, nor strong, just a bully!

Michael Fabricant was wrong to tweet “he might end up punching Yasmin Alibhai -Brown “in the throat” if he appeared on a discussion show with her.”

But he was right to apologise and do it as swiftly as he did.

There is no denying Ms Alibhai- Brown can be very argumentative in discussions, to the extent of getting on peoples nerves. But gentlemen don’t punch (or even publicly say they might want to, or feel like) punching someone, especially not a woman!

In addition to that, if he already knew her style of debating, he should have known that as a Tory, male and white she would capitalise on anything he said against her – and she did.

She made his comment all about her person – gender, race and religion. When it was only about her personality – argumentative, shouty and quick to manipulate every word and situation to suit her end game.

Yasmin Alibhai – Brown is extremely irritating in any colour and race, and she knows it. She knows it and uses it very well to shut people up.

Those who debate against her in any panel are mostly white and male, and are very conscious of her mouth. They shut up not because they are convinced by her argument or because (as she told Sky News) she is an assertive strong woman. They do it because she is a bully, who will use the race card and her religion against them and they don’t want to be her pawn. They rather let her have the last word than stand accused [in a public medium in front of millions] of being racist and anti-Islamic.

Michael Fabricant didn’t see that and gave her the opportunity to tout her fantasy about who she thinks she is.

Speaking as a Black Muslim woman, visible figures like Yasmin Alibhai -Brown don’t help us – and defiantly don’t represent me – they do the exact opposite.

Women like me, don’t want to be ‘judged by the colour of our skin but by the content of our character’ and estimated by our deeds and achievements. We are happy to be involved in robust debates without intimidating our opponents into submission in fear of crossing any line other than the line of basic civility and mutual respect. Religion, race and gender should never come into it, unless they are the subject of discussion.

We are pleased to go where the topic takes us openly, honestly and robustly, and are happy for other points of view to win the day. We are even willing to change ours and admit it when persuaded. We are not bullies and unlike bullies understand that we can be wrong at times and that is okay too.

But not Ms Alibhai- Brown, she wants to be always right, have the last word and when that doesn’t happen, she pulls out the race card. That’s not being strong and assertive that’s called being a bully.