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UK Election: Group Urges Tories to Reassure British Muslims

Muslim News Staff
13 December, 2019

As the election results showed a Conservatives landslide win, the Muslim Council of Britain urged Prime Minister Friday, December 13, to reassure British Muslims of their place in the country.

“Mr. Johnson commands a majority, but there is a palpable sense of fear amongst Muslim communities around the country,” Harun Khan, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain said in a statement released Friday.

“We entered the election campaign period with long-standing concerns about bigotry in our politics and our governing party. Now we worry that Islamophobia is “oven-ready” for government. Mr Johnson has been entrusted with huge power, and we pray it is exercised responsibly for all Britons.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservatives have won 364 seats — 47 more than they won in the last election, in 2017.

The victory is the party’s biggest since Margaret Thatcher captured a third term in 1987.

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Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party had to reach even farther back to find a more extreme result. It won 203 seats, down 59 from the previous vote, in its worst showing since 1935. It had not suffered a similar drubbing since 1983 when it took 209 seats.

Khan called on the Prime Minister and all political leaders to work towards national unity. “We must all redouble our efforts to heal the country and bring communities together.”

UK Election: Group Urges Tories to Reassure British Muslims - About Islam

Dark Day

On the other hand, Mehdi Hasan, a British political journalist, broadcaster, and author, described the election results as a “dark day” in Britain.

“Dark day for minorities in the UK. Especially for British Muslims who watched as a man who said “Islam was the problem,” mocked veiled Muslim women, & also turned a blind eye to massive anti-Muslim hatred in his party, was just given a landslide majority by their fellow Britons,” he tweeted.

Others were more hopeful, calling for a new relationship for Conservatives and Muslims.

“Today’s #election marks a pivotal moment for Muslims in the UK. Our communities have finally taken their democratic participation seriously and voted. As a result – regardless of outcome – elected officials will now try to find out our needs and represent us accordingly,” Adam Kelwick, a Muslim Chaplain in Liverpool tweeted.

Sayeda Warsi, former co-Chair of the Conservatives, echoed a similar message.

“My Party must start healing its relationship with British Muslims. Endorsements from #TommyRobinson & #KatieHopkins & colleagues retweeting both is deeply disturbing. Independent Inquiry into #Islamophobia is a must first step. The battle to root out racism must now intensify,” she tweeted.