British Muslims voices opposition to UK gov't appointment for Leicester riots inquiry
Austin's fairness and impartiality have been questioned due to his "divisive record and the serious allegations of Islamophobia" against him.
Last month, Communities Secretary Michael Gove announced that he had appointed Austin to lead the review. A panel of experts appointed by the government will examine the causes of the violence and vandalism that erupted across the east of Leicester after a cricket match between Pakistan and India. The Mail on Sunday reported days before Austin's appointment that British intelligence had found that groups linked to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had provoked British Hindus to clash with Muslim youths in the riots last summer.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), an umbrella group of 500 affiliates, said it was "deeply concerned" by the appointment of Austin. It said that "it is crucial to have an independent reviewer who is impartial, fair, and capable of gaining the trust and confidence of all stakeholders." It urged Gove to reconsider, saying: "The appointment of Lord Austin, given his divisive record and the serious allegations of Islamophobia against him, has created deep apprehension among Muslims and other communities in Leicester. This casts doubts on his suitability to oversee a review aimed at building trust and harmony within our communities. Any such review led by Lord Austin will face questions about its credibility and legitimacy."
The Federation of Muslim Organisations (FMO), which has 150 affiliates, also wrote an open letter to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressing "grave concern" at Austin's appointment. FMO cited a list of Austin's polarising comments.
Labour councillors in Leicester have also rejected Austin's appointment and said they will not take part in the review. Councillors Hanif Aqbany, Misbah Batool, Mohammed Dawood, Kulwinder Singh Johal, Mustafa Malik, Rafik Mohammed, Yasmin Surti and Manjit Kaur Saini have all signed the letter, which urges the government to reconsider Lord Austin's appointment.
It reads: "Failure to do so would severely hamper the integrity of the review, and in turn, its recommendations will have no value. Regrettably, as elected members answerable to our constituents and in the best interest of our city and communities, we will not participate in the inquiry if the appointment of Lord Austin remains."
Austin has been accused of racism for controversial remarks he made in 2021. He tweeted a mocked up image of Ben and Jerry's ice cream after the confectionary brand decided to stop selling its products in the occupied West Bank. The tweet read: "Ben and Jerry's have stopped selling ice cream in the West Bank, but they've introduced new flavours for Gaza." The accompanying image showed an ice cream tub labelled 'Hamas Terror Misu'. Austin defended the tweet, stating it made no mention of race.
Austin also had to apologise publicly and pay £40,000 ($50,000) in damages to Laura Murray, ex-aide of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, after making false allegations of anti-Semitism. In an article, Austin – who quit the party alleging sections of it had become anti-Semitic – described Murray as an "anti-Jewish racist" and part of the "vile anti-Semitism of Corbyn's Labour".
Austin's connection with the right-wing group Henry Jackson Society (HJS) is also a source of concern. A report by HJS into the Leicester unrest said that it had found no evidence of a role played by Hindu ultra-nationalist groups. The report accused some members of the Muslim community of spreading a "false narrative" about the involvement of supporters of the Hindu nationalist movement.
Austin has hosted and spoken at several Henry Jackson Society events in parliament and has praised the neoconservative think tank's "important and valuable work".
Nearly 200 Hindu youths marched through Leicester's Highfield area, leading to confrontations with the city's Muslim community, chanting "Jai-Shri-Ram", a chant appropriated by Hindu nationalists in India and frequently used to intimidate the country's minority Muslim population.
Source: Agencies
