Muslim group calls for Tory inquiry into party’s ‘structural Islamophobia’

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has requested a thorough investigation into what it perceives as widespread Islamophobia within the Conservative party.

Addressing Conservative chair Richard Holden, the MCB cited recent inflammatory remarks by Suella Braverman, Lee Anderson, and Liz Truss, which it believes demonstrate a pattern of anti-Muslim sentiment tolerated by party leadership and members.

Specifically, the MCB criticized Braverman's commentary suggesting "Islamists" have too much control, Anderson's assertion that "Islamists" dominate London, and Truss's silence in an interview with Steve Bannon, during which Bannon called Tommy Robinson a "hero."

Following Anderson's refusal to apologize for his remarks, the Conservative whip was suspended, an action he acknowledged as necessary. London Mayor Sadiq Khan denounced Anderson's statements as racist and harmful to Muslims.

The MCB's letter also noted that reports of Islamophobia in the UK have spiked, with the charity Tell Mama documenting a significant increase in anti-Muslim incidents.

Labour leader Keir Starmer has accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of failing to address extremism within the Conservative party. Meanwhile, a 2021 inquiry into Islamophobia in the party concluded there was no institutional racism, though concerns about Muslim exclusion were raised.

The MCB has informed the Equalities and Human Rights Commission of these issues, urging Holden to take the matter seriously and act upon their complaint.