London Mayor Sadiq Khan has reported experiencing racist and Islamophobic attacks, which he attributes to his Muslim and Pakistani heritage. He indicates that these attacks have support from the highest Conservative leadership, including backing from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Khan, in an exclusive interview with Geo News London’s representative, Murtaza Ali Shah, specifically named senior Conservative figures such as Suella Braverman and Lee Anderson, who have made unfounded and harmful allegations against him and the British Muslim community. In a detailed interview with Geo News, Khan expressed dismay at the propagation of conspiracy theories by the Conservative party, suggesting he is under Islamist influence. He firmly denies these allegations, attributing them to his ethnic and religious identity.
He highlighted the dangerous nature of claims suggesting an “Islamification” of London, emphasizing the integrated and contributory role of Muslims in British society. Khan criticized the lack of official condemnation for these Islamophobic remarks, particularly from Prime Minister Sunak, stressing the inconsistency in addressing racism and Islamophobia compared to other forms of bigotry.
Khan called for an unequivocal rejection of these Islamophobic comments from the government, lamenting the silence and fear that pervades the official response. He urged for an end to discrimination against Muslims and Pakistanis, recalling the Islamophobic undertones of the campaign against him in the 2016 mayoral election.
The Mayor warned of the recurrence of such tactics in the upcoming May Local Council Elections and next year’s general election, aiming to incite fear and hate for political gain. He pointed out that the individuals making these attacks are not marginal figures but occupy significant positions within the Conservative Party.
Khan criticized the mainstreaming of anti-Muslim hatred within the Conservative party and condemned the actions and statements of figures like Braverman, who has made repeated anti-Muslim claims. He called for Muslim engagement in politics as a counter to these attacks, emphasizing the importance of voting and political participation.
Despite leading in the polls against his Conservative rival, Khan remains focused on reducing crime in London and achieving more with a Labour Prime Minister and a Labour Mayor in office.
*The news feed was sourced from Geo News.
