Muslim Council of Britain calls for inquiry into Tory ‘Islamophobia’

The Muslim Council of Britain has called on the Conservatives to launch an independent inquiry into allegations of Islamophobia within the party.

The group said the last month has seen weekly incidents of Islamophobia from Conservative representatives and candidates and aired “serious concerns” that anti-Muslim bigotry had “poisoned elements of the party”.

Incidents include Conservatives allegedly tweeting that “the Prophet Mohammed was a f****** paedophile”, calling Islam the “new Nazism” and sharing articles that called Muslims “parasites”.

In a letter to party chair Brandon Lewis, the group criticises the party for failing to take action against MP Bob Blackman.

Last October, Mr Blackman hosted a Parliamentary event attended by Tapan Ghosh, a Hindu nationalist who describes himself as “determined to fight against Islamic aggression and expansion”.

Speaking to Sky News at the time, Mr Blackman said he was unaware of Mr Ghosh’s past comments prior to the event and would not have been able to prevent his appearance had he wished to.

In March, the MP for also expressed “regret” after being criticised for sharing a Facebook post from an anti-Muslim US website.

In a statement responding to the letter, a Conservative spokesperson said: “We take all such incidents seriously, which is why we have suspended all those who have behaved inappropriately and launched immediate investigations.”

Many of those named in the MCB letter have been noted as being suspended by the party, but Mr Blackman remains an MP.

Senior Conservatives have continued to raise concerns, including Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, who has said there was a “simmering underbelly” of Islamophobia in the party.

The former cabinet minister told the Independent: “The party has been aware of the issue at the highest level and has failed to take the issue seriously and at times even denied its very existence.

“A formal inquiry is now long overdue and I hope my party send a very clear message by establishing this inquiry that bigotry will not be tolerated in a modern Conservative party.”

Since being made party chairman in January, Mr Lewis has launched a code of conduct for MPs and local election candidates and encouraged members to email him if they hear of bigotry.

But while the MCB called the effort “admirable” the letter, written by secretary general Harun Khan, said much more needed to be done.

The letter recommends four steps for the party, including launching a “genuinely independent” inquiry and publishing a list of incidents of Islamophobia.

It also suggests the adoption of a programme of education and training on Islamophobia.

“Our democracy should not be overshadowed by a divisive culture within political parties that scapegoats minorities and alienates some who share similar political positions,” the letter said.

(c) Sky News 2018: Muslim Council of Britain calls for inquiry into Tory ‘Islamophobia’