Thinktanks Warn Health Institutions of Rising Threat from Scientific Racism
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Health institutions and policymakers must urgently address the growing influence of scientific racism, which threatens minority communities, several thinktanks have warned.
The Institute of Race Relations, the Race Equality Foundation, and Race on the Agenda cautioned that the revival of race science beliefs has re-entered public discourse, yet national institutions have responded inadequately.
Scientific racism promotes the idea that biological differences, rather than social factors, drive inequality. It attempts to legitimize claims of genetic superiority and has been employed to counter diversity initiatives and resist dismantling systemic racism. In recent years, rightwing politicians have also invoked these ideas to advocate for hard borders and expel migrants from Western nations.
An investigation by The Guardian, in collaboration with the anti-racism group Hope Not Hate, uncovered a covert network of activists and academics working to mainstream scientific racism. The investigation revealed secret funding from a wealthy US tech entrepreneur, who allegedly accessed genetic data from the UK Biobank, which holds the DNA of 500,000 volunteers.
Thinktanks involved in the report stressed the urgency of the situation, warning that fringe ideas could soon become mainstream. They called for swift accountability and proactive measures to counter the spread of these ideologies.
Liz Fekete, Director of the Institute for Race Relations, emphasized the need for health institutions to recognize the threat. “Black health campaigners, committed researchers, and civil liberties organizations have been sounding alarms about the return of race science for years, with little indication that those in positions of power are paying attention," she said.
“The recent Guardian and Hope Not Hate exposé has elevated the stakes. It serves as a critical wake-up call for health institutions about the risks posed to NHS users from minority backgrounds.”
Fekete expressed concern that fringe ideas are edging toward mainstream acceptance. “The cultural battles that dismiss attempts to combat racism have paved the way for this, with Powell-esque rhetoric against Muslims and migrants gaining ground. If cultural racism—placing Western culture at the top—has become mainstream, scientific racism may soon follow.”
Jabeer Butt, CEO of the Race Equality Foundation, highlighted the harmful impact of racism on public health. “While race may lack a biological foundation, racism produces severe biological effects, including worse health outcomes,” he said.
Kulvinder Nagre, Research and Policy Coordinator at Race on the Agenda, criticized the misuse of sensitive health data. “It’s alarming that proponents of scientific racism might have accessed information intended for health research,” Nagre said.
He noted the rising prevalence of eugenics and scientific racism in fringe communities, paralleling the rise of anti-woke and rightwing populist ideologies. The exposure of secret eugenics conferences at University College London in 2018, he added, illustrated how these ideas have begun seeping into mainstream debates.
Nagre warned of the long-term dangers, stating, “Though eugenics will never regain scientific legitimacy, we must remain vigilant. Scientific racism has historically been the pretext—and often the driving force—behind genocides and mass atrocities since the 15th century.”
