Commission on Human Rights in Europe threatens to intervene over Tory allegations of Islamophobia | conservatives

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The UK’s equality watchdog said it could use its legal powers to act on allegations of Islamophobia made by former Conservative Party minister Nusrat Ghani.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is under pressure to launch an investigation into alleged anti-Muslim hatred in the Conservative Party following Ghani’s allegations.

In an interview published in the Sunday Times, she claimed that her “Islam” arose when she was sacked from a cabinet position in 2020 and was told it “makes her colleagues uncomfortable”.

The agency said that while it welcomed the announcement that the Cabinet Office had launched an investigation into Ghani’s allegations, “if we are not satisfied with the progress, we will not rule out using our legal powers.”

An investigation by the Conservative Party published in May 2021 has been condemned as an acquittal by the Conservative Party and anti-racism groups. While many welcomed the conclusion of the review, which was chaired by Professor Swaran Singh, that anti-Muslim sentiment “remains a problem” in the party, they disagreed with the finding that there was no evidence of institutional racism.

An EHRC spokesperson said: “We have been monitoring the progress of the Action Plan through Professor Swaran Singh’s independent investigation into alleged discrimination within the Conservative and Unionist Party, which was published in May 2021. We have received regular updates from the party and have been in contact with them on their progress.”

The Muslim Council of Britain said a “really independent” investigation was needed into the “institutional state of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party”. A spokesperson for the group called for the Commission on Human Rights in Europe to release one, saying it should “stand up to meet [its] Obligations” was the “real test” of oversight.

Muhammad Amin, former chair of the Muslim Conservative Forum, said: “I think the HRC’s HRC needs to investigate the Conservative Party in its handling of discrimination against Muslim members, most Muslim officials, elected parliamentarians etc. The Labor Party over its handling of anti-Semitism.”

He said failure to intervene could result in the body losing the trust of British Muslims. “It is the duty of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission to investigate the health of our political parties,” he said.

“With the Conservative Party still unable to address Islamophobia within its ranks, including at the highest levels, it is time for the European Commission on Human Rights to respond to the calls,” said Amina Sharif, advisory committee member of the Organization for Islamic Engagement and Development (Mend). From the Muslim community to finally start their own investigation.

“The failure of the European Commission on Human Rights to do so leads to questions about its impartiality among many within the Muslim community.”

Despite Ghani’s demand to publish specific terms of reference for the Cabinet Office investigation which included “whatever was said in Downing Street and the whip” he allegedly made, the Guardian has been told the government is unlikely to do so. So.

Cabinet Office sources have indicated that the matter will be investigated through the standard process used by the fitness and ethics team, although it has kept out the possibility that the Prime Minister’s ethics advisor, Christopher Giddat, will be involved if there is a suggestion that ministerial law was on the table. broken.

Meanwhile, Qari Asim, Vice Chair of the Government’s Anti-Muslim Hate Working Group and an independent advisor appointed in 2019 to lead government action to define Islamophobia, criticized the government for failing to engage meaningfully.

He said there had been “no government involvement” in arriving at a definition of Islamophobia for several years.

“It is critical that we have a working definition of Islamophobia as quickly as possible,” he said. “It’s important for a number of reasons, but first it will determine what behavior is acceptable or not.”

He added, “I feel relieved when the senior ministers and prime ministers say that there is zero tolerance for Islamophobia and hatred against Muslims, and this is a very great thing.

“At the same time, I think we need to move forward with the conversation, and we need to take urgent and concrete steps to define the boundaries of the red line, which are acceptable to different sectors of society, including the government.”

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “The Cabinet Office will investigate the facts of this case. An independent advisor will be available to provide advice as and when required.”

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