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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Muslim Council demands Tory Islamophobia inquiry | Muslim Council demands Tory Islamophobia inquiry |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The Muslim Council of Britain has formally asked the UK's human rights watchdog to investigate accusations of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party. | |
| In a letter to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, the MCB said a problem "runs deep into the party". | In a letter to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, the MCB said a problem "runs deep into the party". |
| The EHRC said in response that it was considering complaints about the party in line with its "usual processes". | The EHRC said in response that it was considering complaints about the party in line with its "usual processes". |
| In March, party deputy chairman James Cleverly insisted "immediate action" was taken after any racism claims. | In March, party deputy chairman James Cleverly insisted "immediate action" was taken after any racism claims. |
| The MCB is an umbrella organisation of various UK Muslim bodies, including mosques, schools, and charitable associations. | The MCB is an umbrella organisation of various UK Muslim bodies, including mosques, schools, and charitable associations. |
| 'Callous' | 'Callous' |
| It accused the Conservatives of not taking action against Islamophobia shown by Tory MPs, and tolerating discrimination towards party members. | It accused the Conservatives of not taking action against Islamophobia shown by Tory MPs, and tolerating discrimination towards party members. |
| In its letter, the MCB said there was "sufficient evidence" to suggest the party may have breached anti-discrimination law, and accused it of showing a "callous attitude to complaints". | |
| The MCB has previously said the level of prejudice within the party was "astonishing" and called repeatedly for an independent investigation into discrimination claims. | |
| The request comes on the same day that the EHRC announced a formal investigation into the Labour Party over allegations of anti-Semitism. | The request comes on the same day that the EHRC announced a formal investigation into the Labour Party over allegations of anti-Semitism. |
| Conservative peer Baroness Warsi, who was the first female Muslim cabinet minister, has long criticised her party over the issue. | Conservative peer Baroness Warsi, who was the first female Muslim cabinet minister, has long criticised her party over the issue. |
| In April, Tory chairman Brandon Lewis insisted the party's approach to Islamophobia was "transparent" but would not say how many complaints it had received. | In April, Tory chairman Brandon Lewis insisted the party's approach to Islamophobia was "transparent" but would not say how many complaints it had received. |
| An EHRC spokesperson said the body had written to the Conservative Party "to ask for information in order to help assess the complaints". | An EHRC spokesperson said the body had written to the Conservative Party "to ask for information in order to help assess the complaints". |
| Earlier this month, the MCB criticised the government for rejecting a definition of Islamophobia created by a cross-party group of MPs. | |
| The All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims wanted to define it to tackle what it called a "social evil". | |
| Its wording has the support of various political parties - including Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Conservatives - and several Muslim groups. | |
| But a government spokesman said it needed "further careful consideration" and had "not been broadly accepted". |