Muslim group demands Tories investigate ‘structural Islamophobia’

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The UK’s largest Muslim group has written to the Conservative Party demanding an investigation into claims of “structural Islamophobia” inside its ranks.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) mentioned it addressed a letter to Conservative chair, Richard Holden, on Sunday after what it alleged was “a week of inflammatory statements and Islamophobia from senior figures in the party”.

The physique pointed to feedback made by the previous Tory occasion deputy chair Lee Anderson, who had the whip suspended after drawing widespread criticism for claiming on Friday that “Islamists” have “got control” of London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

It additionally highlighted remarks made this week by the previous residence secretary Suella Braverman in addition to the previous prime minister Liz Truss.

Writing to Mr Holden, Zara Mohammed, secretary basic of the MCB, mentioned: “Our view is that the Islamophobia in the party is institutional, tolerated by the leadership and seen as acceptable by great swathes of the party membership.”

The letter criticised the Tories for eradicating the whip from Mr Anderson solely after he refused to apologise for the anti-Muslim rant on GB News, which Mr Khan mentioned was “Islamophobic, racist” and poured “fuel on the fire of anti-Muslim hatred”.

Mr Anderson, who was deputy Tory chairman till final month, mentioned on Saturday: “Following a call with the Chief Whip, I understand the difficult position that I have put both he and the Prime Minister in with regard to my comments. I fully accept that they had no option but to suspend the whip in these circumstances.”

However, talking to the BBC earlier on Sunday, deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden refused to rule out the opportunity of Mr Anderson coming back from his suspension.

The MCB additionally accused Ms Braverman of falling right into a “well-trodden Islamophobic path” in her assertion that “Islamists are in charge” of Britain in a Daily Telegraph article on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the MCB condemned Ms Truss for remaining silent as Steve Bannon described the far-right’s Tommy Robinson as a “hero”.

It comes as new figures present the variety of Islamophobic incidents has skyrocketed for the reason that 7 October assault on Israel by Hamas and the retaliatory Israeli bombardment of Palestine. London charity Islamophobia Response Unit (IRU) mentioned there was a 365 per cent enhance in experiences of Islamophobia in October.

A report earlier this week from Tell Mama – one other physique that data anti-Muslim hate incidents – discovered there have been 2,010 incidents between 7 October and seven February, greater than triple the 600 reported throughout the identical interval the 12 months earlier than.

Rishi Sunak has to date failed to deal with Mr Anderson’s feedback or surging Islamophobia throughout Britain, regardless of talking publicly a few rise in “prejudice and antisemitism”.

In an announcement on Saturday evening, the prime minister highlighted occasions “of recent weeks”, together with pro-Palestinian protests throughout the nation for the reason that 7 October assaults. “The events of recent weeks are but the latest in an emerging pattern which should not be tolerated,” Mr Sunak mentioned.

In an announcement after Mr Anderson’s suspension, the prime minister mentioned respectable protests have been “hijacked by extremists” and politicians have been “verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted”.

Sir Keir Starmer mentioned it was proper that Mr Anderson was suspended from the occasion over the “appalling racist and Islamophobic outburst”. The Labour chief additionally challenged Mr Sunak over wider Islamophobia within the Conservative Party.

“What does it say about the prime minister’s judgment that he made Lee Anderson deputy chairman of his party?” Sir Keir mentioned.

He added: “Whether it is Liz Truss staying silent on Tommy Robinson or Suella Braverman’s extreme rhetoric, Rishi Sunak’s weakness means Tory MPs can act with impunity.”