British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a backlash after a promised inquiry into Islamophobia within the ruling Conservative Party ranks was replaced by a general investigation into prejudice of all kinds.
"If you're going to look into prejudice, it is right at the same time that you look at all other types of prejudice," said Johnson.
But he was accused of back-tracking on a pledge made during the Conservative Party leadership campaign a few months ago that if he took charge as Prime Minister, he would launch an investigation into anti-Muslim hatred within the party.
"We singularly fail to deal with the Islamophobia and racism within our own backyard. The climate for British Muslims within the Conservative Party is hostile," said Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, the former Tory party chairperson who has been campaigning for an independent inquiry specifically into anti-Muslim incidents.
The Opposition Labour Party’s shadow Home Office minister, Afzal Khan, termed the decision a “spectacular betrayal of Muslim people” across the UK.
But Sajid Javid, UK Chancellor and Johnson’s senior-most Muslim Cabinet minister, defended the decision.
“I don’t accept it’s very different: if you’re going to look into prejudice it is right… at the same time that you look at all other types of prejudice,” he said.
There have been repeated calls for the Conservative Party to hold an independent inquiry into allegations of Islamophobia among members, due to several incidents of anti-Muslim messages on social media. Earlier this year, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) formally asked the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to hold an independent inquiry into the issue.
“Rowing back on the promise only demonstrates further unwillingness to deal with bigotry seriously. We expect nothing less than a full and independent inquiry into Islamophobia,” an MCB spokesperson said.