The Muslim Council of Britain strongly condemns Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch’s cynical attempt to conflate a popular definition of Islamophobia with the investigation of serious crimes during Prime Minister’s Questions. The Opposition Leader’s insinuation that the definition somehow prevents discussion of serious crimes is completely false and appears designed to stoke division.
The APPG on British Muslim’s definition is crystal clear: Islamophobia is “rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” The definition explicitly addresses the racist trope of characterising Muslims collectively as “sex groomers” – precisely to distinguish between legitimate criminal investigations and the racist stigmatisation of an entire faith community.
The Home Office’s own research in 2020 confirmed that group-based child sexual exploitation offenders are most commonly white. The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse’s data for 2022/23 reaffirms this finding. These facts completely undermine Ms. Badenoch’s inflammatory insinuations.
Zara Mohammed, Secretary-General of the MCB said:
“Let me be absolutely clear – British Muslims unequivocally support the thorough investigation and prosecution of all child abusers, regardless of background. The MCB will support yet another investigation if proponents can explain why previous inquiries costing millions have not given them the answers they are looking for.
Those who seek to weaponise this issue against Muslims have already received answers they didn’t want from previous inquiries. Yet they persist in pursuing a divisive agenda rather than focusing on protecting children through evidence-based approaches.
What we will not accept is the cynical exploitation of child protection issues to demonise British Muslims. Ms. Badenoch’s comments represent a new low in the Conservative Party’s persistent refusal to tackle anti-Muslim prejudice within its ranks.
The Opposition Leader should retract her misleading claims and focus instead on supporting evidence-based approaches to protecting all children in our society.”
The MCB reiterates its call for implementation of existing inquiry recommendations and proper support for local authorities in conducting thorough investigations. We stand ready to support any evidence-based initiatives that prioritise child protection over political point-scoring.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Home Office Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation – Characteristics of Offending, 2020: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/944206/Group-based_CSE_Paper.pdf
2. The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse Data, 2022/23:
https://www.csacentre.org.uk/app/uploads/2024/02/Trends-in-Offical-Data-2022-23-FINAL.pdf
3. For media enquiries, contact: media@mcb.org.uk