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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jun/09/pro-tory-facebook-group-filled-with-islamophobic-abuse
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| Pro-Tory Facebook group filled with Islamophobic abuse | Pro-Tory Facebook group filled with Islamophobic abuse |
| (5 months later) | |
| A controversial pro-Conservative Facebook group has been exposed as containing Islamophobic, homophobic and racist comments about public figures including Sadiq Khan, Diane Abbott and anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller. | A controversial pro-Conservative Facebook group has been exposed as containing Islamophobic, homophobic and racist comments about public figures including Sadiq Khan, Diane Abbott and anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller. |
| Comments include demands to “expel the London mayor” and “send back” immigrants, while another post states that “Islam should be banned”. There are also homophobic remarks about Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, posted after she announced that she was pregnant. | Comments include demands to “expel the London mayor” and “send back” immigrants, while another post states that “Islam should be banned”. There are also homophobic remarks about Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, posted after she announced that she was pregnant. |
| A 42-page dossier of abusive material from the Conservative Debating Forum, a 2,700-strong Facebook group that can be joined by invitation or by permission of moderators, has been collected by the left-leaning Red Roar blog. It found that several sitting Tory MPs, as well as dozens of Tory councillors, were members of the closed group. | A 42-page dossier of abusive material from the Conservative Debating Forum, a 2,700-strong Facebook group that can be joined by invitation or by permission of moderators, has been collected by the left-leaning Red Roar blog. It found that several sitting Tory MPs, as well as dozens of Tory councillors, were members of the closed group. |
| Tories listed included the pro-Brexit MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, a popular figure with the party’s grassroots. However, he said he was furious to find he had been signed up without his knowledge and had now left. Former minister George Freeman and MPs Glyn Davies and Andrew Rosindell were also listed as members, but all said they had no knowledge of being signed up and left after being alerted to the group’s content. There is no suggestion that any of the MPs posted inappropriate material. | Tories listed included the pro-Brexit MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, a popular figure with the party’s grassroots. However, he said he was furious to find he had been signed up without his knowledge and had now left. Former minister George Freeman and MPs Glyn Davies and Andrew Rosindell were also listed as members, but all said they had no knowledge of being signed up and left after being alerted to the group’s content. There is no suggestion that any of the MPs posted inappropriate material. |
| Comments in the group include the suggestion that Islam represents an “existential threat” to Britain. Another said only “mental illness” could persuade someone to convert to Islam. Khan, the London mayor, is a regular target of abuse, with one commenter suggesting he should be “expelled” to prevent the growth of Islam in London. Several say they could not back a Muslim prime minister as it could lead to “a parallel legal system including heathen Sharia law”. | Comments in the group include the suggestion that Islam represents an “existential threat” to Britain. Another said only “mental illness” could persuade someone to convert to Islam. Khan, the London mayor, is a regular target of abuse, with one commenter suggesting he should be “expelled” to prevent the growth of Islam in London. Several say they could not back a Muslim prime minister as it could lead to “a parallel legal system including heathen Sharia law”. |
| The Tories have recently faced calls to tackle Islamophobia in the party. Former cabinet minister Sayeeda Warsi has backed an independent inquiry, a demand raised by the Muslim Council of Britain. Some Muslim Tory members have complained about being marginalised. | The Tories have recently faced calls to tackle Islamophobia in the party. Former cabinet minister Sayeeda Warsi has backed an independent inquiry, a demand raised by the Muslim Council of Britain. Some Muslim Tory members have complained about being marginalised. |
| Images of Abbott, the shadow home secretary, doctored to be explicit, were shared in the group, with suggestions that she wants to “change the racial profile of the country”. Other comments include comparisons between the MP and a gorilla. There are shocking instances of homophobia against Davidson. Members state that her pregnancy represents “degeneracy” and is “sick”. One says: “Homosexuals shouldn’t raise children.” Another adds: “You make your filthy bed and you lie in it.” Anti-Brexit campaigner Miller is described as “a damned foreigner”. Commenters call for her to “go home” and to “get what she deserves”. | Images of Abbott, the shadow home secretary, doctored to be explicit, were shared in the group, with suggestions that she wants to “change the racial profile of the country”. Other comments include comparisons between the MP and a gorilla. There are shocking instances of homophobia against Davidson. Members state that her pregnancy represents “degeneracy” and is “sick”. One says: “Homosexuals shouldn’t raise children.” Another adds: “You make your filthy bed and you lie in it.” Anti-Brexit campaigner Miller is described as “a damned foreigner”. Commenters call for her to “go home” and to “get what she deserves”. |
| After being contacted by the Observer, the group’s administrators relaunched it under the name the Conservative Politics Society. They told members that “in recent times our forerunner has sadly not lived up to what the group was originally founded for”. They also said they were drawing up a code of conduct. | After being contacted by the Observer, the group’s administrators relaunched it under the name the Conservative Politics Society. They told members that “in recent times our forerunner has sadly not lived up to what the group was originally founded for”. They also said they were drawing up a code of conduct. |
| A spokesman for the group apologised for the content and said it took its complaints procedure “incredibly seriously”. He said: “We have been particularly tougher on people who overstep the mark in recent months. | A spokesman for the group apologised for the content and said it took its complaints procedure “incredibly seriously”. He said: “We have been particularly tougher on people who overstep the mark in recent months. |
| “Whilst we try to be very stringent on these matters, we cannot control the words of individual members in a forum of this size beyond banning them if reported. We are deeply saddened that despite our best efforts to prevent situations like this from arising, some individuals cannot seemingly abide by group rules.” | “Whilst we try to be very stringent on these matters, we cannot control the words of individual members in a forum of this size beyond banning them if reported. We are deeply saddened that despite our best efforts to prevent situations like this from arising, some individuals cannot seemingly abide by group rules.” |
| A Conservative spokesman said: “This Facebook group is in no way affiliated to the Conservative party and we strongly condemn the abhorrent views shared by some members of this group.” | A Conservative spokesman said: “This Facebook group is in no way affiliated to the Conservative party and we strongly condemn the abhorrent views shared by some members of this group.” |
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