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Lord Ahmad, thank you for your strong statement on #Islamophobia in the Conservative Party.
Are you aware the problem extends far beyond the 14 suspensions? There are many MPs, councillors, mayors and members whose Islamophobic actions have not been acted upon.
Are you aware the problem extends far beyond the 14 suspensions? There are many MPs, councillors, mayors and members whose Islamophobic actions have not been acted upon.
In addition, evidence suggests that suspensions may be occurring to give the pretence of "swift action" when instead the driver appears to be what works best for the PR of the Party.
Let's start with MPs & broader issues that have been ignored despite being raised for years - whether from @MuslimCouncil, Baroness @SayeedaWarsi or others
e.g. Zac Goldsmith, Bob Blackman, Nadine Dorries, Boris Johnson etc. - no lack of evidence
e.g. Zac Goldsmith, Bob Blackman, Nadine Dorries, Boris Johnson etc. - no lack of evidence
Or the institutional lack of introspection after running a Mayoral campaign that is widely accepted to be dog-whistle Islamophobia (even within the Party), after which Zac Goldsmith was allowed to re-enter the Party despite leaving!
huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/zac-gold…
huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/zac-gold…
Let's not forget the person the Party has chosen to be the next Mayor of London Shaun Bailey has said accommodating Muslim and Hindu cultures "robs Britain of its community", shared a tweet referring to Sadiq Khan as “mad mullah Khan of Londonistan” and...
...and Shaun Bailey apparently told a council candidate who was complaining about racism in the Party, to "suck it up" - demonstrating a callous attitude to issues of racism. Perhaps why he responds to accusations of Islamophobia as he does
theguardian.com/politics/2019/…
theguardian.com/politics/2019/…
What is worrying is that this seems to give the impression that the Party is not learning from its experiences in the last Mayoral Campaign, which is deeply concerning for London's Muslim population
The key argument that is made by your Party, Lord Ahmad, is that you are acting swiftly on complaints.
What is being done with people like Bob Blackman?
What is being done with people like Bob Blackman?
What about Nadine Dorries?
Councillors have been suspended for sharing Tommy Robinson quotes etc., but these two MPs RTed Tommy Robinson (amongst a host of other awful actions) and nothing happened to them. Is this zero tolerance?
An example this week, is Andrew Bowles (Channel 4 News were told about his suspension before he was)
independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…
independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…
But the issue is far deeper. Let's take Portsmouth South - Conservative members repeatedly requested investigations into a dozen alleged racist and Islamophobic incidents with no action from Brandon Lewis (registered letters etc. from 2 yrs ago+)
theguardian.com/politics/2019/…
theguardian.com/politics/2019/…
Even after a suspension, the impression is this is for PR (why Bowles found out after Channel 4 News)
Example 2: Mick Murphy who was suspended but then let back into the party (without any training) - he had to be suspended after media found out more....
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/to…
Example 2: Mick Murphy who was suspended but then let back into the party (without any training) - he had to be suspended after media found out more....
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/to…
Is it not worth asking why the party is attracting Islamophobes. HnH study shows amongst Tory voters:
- 47% falsely believe there are no-go areas where sharia law dominates & non-Muslims can't enter
- 49% see Islam as a threat to the British way of life
- 47% falsely believe there are no-go areas where sharia law dominates & non-Muslims can't enter
- 49% see Islam as a threat to the British way of life
You're aware of the integrity of your colleagues Baroness @SayeedaWarsi and Lord Sheikh, and the Conservative Muslim Forum who have all called for an inquiry into Islamophobia in the party. Should they not be listened to?
Instead so many of your colleagues are coming out with the audacity to deny there is an issue in the first place, make excuses, or claim that there cannot be Islamophobia given the fact there is a Muslim Home Secretary. This is clearly not right.
Is it too much to ask, for the Party to genuinely acknowledge the issue (unlike Brandon Lewis' letter), and launch an independent inquiry to restore trust in the Party?
independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…
independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…
If an independent inquiry cannot be launched for moral reasons, then consider the political benefits where research shows Muslim voters played a larger role than initially thought
newstatesman.com/politics/elect…
newstatesman.com/politics/elect…
Your support for an inquiry, would be so very much appreciated and I hope that you recognise the sincerity in which we are raising these concerns that go far beyond mere suspensions, but go to the heart of the Party.
Our goal is for Muslims to feel comfortable to vote for any Party based on the policies & not hold back from voting Conservative solely because they see the Party as Islamophobic.
I hope you can support this goal - and will (internally) join the calls for an independent inquiry
I hope you can support this goal - and will (internally) join the calls for an independent inquiry
