18 June 2019
At a speech delivered at the 10th Muslim Leadership Dinner tonight, the leader of the Muslim Council of Britain will urge politicians across the spectrum to prevent Islamophobia from flourishing.
The dinner will host Muslim community leaders from around the UK and will also a keynote address from London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
In his speech, Harun Khan will say:
“In our politics too we have urged our leaders to be far less tolerant of Islamophobia.”
“Muslims are subject to a toxic environment.”
“Islamophobia is normalised in our societies.”
Harun Khan will also repeat the Muslim Council of Britain’s call for action against Islamophobia in the Conservative Party:
“There are now almost weekly occurrences of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party.
“For the good of our country, I hope the leaders of the Conservative Party realise the immense hurt felt by Muslims.
They feel that our governing party is not only soft on Islamophobia, but actually promotes those who engage in bigotry against Muslims.”
“It was demonstrated in recent days when there was a tepid response to the fresh expression of bigotry against our capital’s first Muslim mayor by the US President.”
It was demonstrated too by the apparent snub to this country’s first Muslim Home Secretary who was allegedly barred from attending a State Banquet because of the US President’s apparent prejudice against Muslims.”
On Brexit, Harun Khan will say:
“We live in an uncertain moment in our country, where none of us, not least our leaders know where we are heading.
As I speak to you tonight, Conservative Party candidates contesting to be the next Prime Minister of our country are outlining how they will lead our country.
I for one will want to hear how they will bring our country together.
We are all fed-up by the Brexit deadlock affecting our country, and we are concerned about the deepening divisions this issue is fostering.
We Muslims are particularly concerned as our communities, along with other minorities are the scapegoats of this ongoing division.
Whatever one’s views on Brexit, there should be no room for demonising individual communities.”
[ENDS]
Notes to Editors:
1.The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK’s largest Muslim umbrella body with over
500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques,
charities and schools.
2. For further information please contact:
The Muslim Council of Britain
PO Box 57330
London
E1 2WJ
Tel: 0845 26 26 786
Fax: 0207 247 7079
media@mcb.org.uk