Rishi Sunak has not responded to an attraction from MPs to fight Islamophobia, amid a row over his proposals on extremism.
The former chancellor stated he wished to “refocus” the Prevent counter-terrorism scheme on Islamists, after years of anti-Muslim discrimination allegations, and “add vilification of the UK to the definition of extremism”.
Mr Sunak additionally vowed to “redouble efforts to tackle Islamist extremism” however made no point out of the rising far-right terror menace in his announcement.
It got here per week after he and Tory management rival Liz Truss had been despatched letters by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims.
Seen completely by The Independent, they name for motion after a sequence of delays and damaged guarantees below Boris Johnson’s authorities.
APPG vice-chair Afzal Khan referred to as for the potential prime ministers to decide to finishing and publishing the investigation into allegations that Conservative MP Nusrat Ghani had been sacked as a minister due to her “Muslimness”.
Mr Johnson admitted final week that the probe had not been accomplished by requirements adviser Lord Geidt earlier than he resigned in June, and stated that it must be completed by a not-yet-appointed successor.
“When a Muslim woman raises a direct experience of Islamophobic discrimination at the heart of government and her party, those allegations should be treated with the seriousness it deserves,” Mr Khan wrote to Mr Sunak and Ms Truss.
“It is a depressing reality that Islamophobia has permeated into mainstream politics.
“Islamophobia has real-life implications for the Muslim community here in the UK, and as political representatives it is our responsibility to safeguard all of our communities, no matter their race, religion or background.
“I hope, should you become prime minister, you will take tangible steps in rooting out this insidious hatred which threatens our British values.”
Mr Khan urged the candidates to decide to publishing the outcomes of the investigation in the event that they change into prime minister, and to kicking Mark Spencer out of the parliamentary get together if wrongdoing is discovered.
The former chief whip was made Leader of the House of Commons in February regardless of the continued investigation.
Boris Johnson apologises for ‘harm and offence’ brought on by Islamophobia in Tory Party
Mr Khan warned {that a} separate evaluate revealed by the Conservative Party was a “damning indictment of the prevalence of Islamophobia” and questioned what steps Ms Truss and Mr Sunak would take “to reassure British Muslims of your commitment to tackling hatred and racism”.
He referred to as for them to re-start work on an official definition of Islamophobia that was promised by the federal government in 2019, after it rejected a definition drawn up by the APPG on British Muslims.
Ministers pledged to nominate two advisers to give you a brand new one, however solely introduced one after which fired him in disputed circumstances in June after allegedly failing to present him assets, reply letters or have any “meaningful engagement” in three years.
The authorities additionally arrange a Commission for Countering Extremism 5 years in the past, however then ignored a flagship report that set out a definition of hateful extremism aiming to sort out all dangerous ideologies in October 2019.
Mr Sunak and Ms Truss haven’t but replied to the letters, and representatives of the previous chancelleor haven’t responded to repeated requests for remark by The Independent.
A Liz for Leader marketing campaign supply stated: “As prime minister, Liz Truss will take a zero tolerance approach to Islamophobia.”
The most up-to-date statistics on hate crime in England and Wales present that Muslims are essentially the most focused spiritual group.
In the 12 months ending March 2021, 45 per cent of all religiously-motivated offences recorded by police had been towards Muslims, adopted by 22 per cent concentrating on Jewish individuals.
A report into Islamophobia within the Conservative Party, revealed final 12 months, discovered that two thirds of discriminatory incidents reported to its headquarters over six years associated to anti-Muslim discrimination.
The evaluate thought of instances together with a 2018 newspaper column written by Mr Johnson evaluating Muslim girls who put on full-face veils to “letter boxes”, saying such incidents “give an impression to some of a party and leadership insensitive to Muslim communities”.
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk