UK PM Theresa May's Conservative Party urged by Muslim group to tackle Islamophobia
Theresa May
A spokesman for the Conservative Party said it took all incidents of Islamophobia seriously
Britain's largestMuslimgroupon ThursdayurgedPrime Minister Theresa May'sConservativePartyto launch an independent inquiry intoIslamophobiato make sure "racists and bigots have no place in theparty".
TheMuslimCouncil of Britain said there are now "more than weekly incidents" ofIslamophobiainvolving Tory candidates and representatives, ranging from offensive tweets to accusations of links to far-right figures.
"We want all political parties to ensure that they are firm in their commitment against all forms of bigotry and discrimination," Harun Khan,MuslimCouncil of Britain's general secretary, said in a letter to theConservativePartychairman.
"Our democracy should not be overshadowed by a divisive culture within political parties that scapegoats minorities and alienates some who share similar political positions."
A spokesman for theConservativePartysaid it took all incidents ofIslamophobiaseriously.
The letter lists a number of incidents that theMuslimgroupsaid took place during April and at the start of May including councillors in theConservativePartycalling Islam the "new Nazism" and sharing articles that calledMuslims "parasites".
The list included David Boston, aConservativecandidate who was suspended days before local elections for a posting a photo of bacon hanging from a door handle, with the caption: "Protect your house from terrorists."
TheMuslimCouncil of Britain also criticised thepartyfor failing to take action against those responsible for "shockingIslamophobia" during the campaign run by Zac Goldsmith in his unsuccessful bid to beat Labour's Sadiq Khan to become London mayor in 2016.
Sayeeda Warsi, a member of theConservativePartyin the upper house of parliament and Britain's firstMuslimto serve in cabinet, told Good Morning Britain thepartyneeds to "stop denying that it exists".
Britain's opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn has recently faced claims of turning a blind eye to anti-Semitic comments in thepartyand amonggroups, he supports - something theConservativePartyhas used to argue he is not fit to lead Britain.