Equalities watchdog is urged to probe Tory Party Islamophobia

THE UK’S human rights watchdog is under increasing pressure to investigate Islamophobia in the Conservative Party after being handed a fresh dossier detailing allegations against more than 300 people.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) added claims about MPs, party members, councillors and advisers to Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the document submitted yesterday.

The dossier sent to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) also reiterates allegations of Islamophobia against the Prime Minister.

MCB secretary general Harun Khan, inset, said the Tories have a “systemic and widespread” Islamophobia crisis and accused the party of “denial, dismissal and deceit”.

He criticised the EHRC for having “failed to give any response” to its first formal call for the watchdog to investigate in May and urged it to now take “swift action”.

The Conservatives have committed to an inquiry into all forms of discrimination within the party but have resisted calls to set up an independent inquiry into Islamophobia specifically. The MCB, which represents mosques, schools and charitable associations, handed its first document to the EHRC in May detailing about 150 individuals it believes have displayed Islamophobia or made anti-Islam or anti-Muslim comments. But in renewing its calls for the

EHRC to investigate it has submitted a document which has swelled to include double the number of claims.

Mr Khan said it was “extraordinary” that the watchdog has not announced whether it will take action in the 10 months since the first document was submitted.

He said: “There is no doubt that the Conservative Party has an Islamophobia crisis: it is institutional, systemic and widespread.

“The party’s response has been one of denial, dismissal and deceit. This results in clear discrimination against Muslims because of their religion.”

The submission contains allegations against 16 MPs, one MEP, nine election candidates and 183 party members, among others, according to the MCB.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted the party has a “zerotolerance approach” to Islamophobia.