(BBC) Conservative MP Robert Jenrick has defended himself after being accused of Islamophobia for saying police should have “immediately arrested” any protesters shouting “Allahu Akbar” during last year’s Gaza ceasefire protests.
Speaking on Sky News, the Tory leadership candidate accused police of treating far-right marches and violence more harshly than the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that began after the Israel-Hamas war began in October last year.
Several Muslim MPs have argued Mr Jenrick’s claim linked all Muslims to extremism and fuelled violent groups.
But Mr Jenrick said the Arabic phrase — meaning God is great — had been “abused” by “extremists” to intimidate people.
He told Sky News he had been angered by the way pro-Palestinian demonstrations had been policed.
