A row over institutionalized Islamophobia in Britain’s ruling Conservative party has deepened as supporters threaten to block a potential bid by interior minister Sajid Javid to become next British prime minister. RNA - The Buzzfeed News reported that an account on Twitter had released online discussions from some 20 self-professed Conservative party members on how they could prevent Javid becoming prime minister.
The information showed that Tory supporters have attacked Javid on Facebook for his Muslim background, as they vowed to do anything they can, including backing another candidate against their will, to prevent any potential leadership bid Javid might make.
“Britain is not ready for a Muslim PM, that would be taking the absolute piss out of the country,” read one of the posts on Facebook by a man who said he had joined the Conservatives to help install a leader who really believed in Britain’s split from the European Union.
A woman wrote that Javid “will protect his own” if he became prime minister, adding that the British Pakistani Muslim politician “was sworn in on the Koran.”
The posts come amid an ongoing debate about a surge in Islamophobic views in the Conservative party. Activists have repeatedly accused senior Tory politicians of trying to pander to the far-right and extremist groups by targeting Muslims in their rhetoric.
The Conservative Muslim Forum swiftly reacted to the report on online hate attacks against Javid, saying the comments published on Facebook were “outrageous”.
“ ... what is it about the Conservative party and the way that it’s projecting itself that leads people like these bigots to believe that they have a home within the Conservative party?” said chairman of the Forum Mohammed Amin.
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