by Robert Jenrick sparked outrage after he said people who shouted “Allahu Akbar” on the streets of London should be “immediately arrested”.
“Allahu Akbar” is an Arabic phrase meaning “God is greater” or “God is [the] most” is commonly used in prayer and as a declaration of faith.
Asked if he believed the UK had a “two-tier policing” system, Mr Jenrick said Sky News: “I have been very critical of the police in the past, especially regarding the attitude of some police forces towards the protests we have seen since October 7.
“I thought it was quite wrong that someone could shout ‘Allahu Akbar’ in the streets of London and not be immediately arrested. Or put genocidal chants on Big Ben and that person will not be arrested immediately. That attitude is wrong and I will always call the police.”
In February, pro-Palestinian protesters projected the phrase “From the river to the sea” onto Parliament during a demonstration, drawing the ire of some pro-Israel supporters who argue that the controversial phrase seeks to the state of Israel would be annihilated.
Sharing a video of X men in balaclavas chanting “Allahu Akbar”, Mr Jenrick later said: “Millions of British Muslims say ‘Allahu Akbar’ peacefully and spiritually in their daily lives.
“But the aggressive singing below is intimidating and threatening. And it is an offense under Section 4 and 5 of the Public Order Act.
“Extremists regularly misuse common expressions for their own nefarious ends. All violence must end. All violence must be called out.”
The British Muslim Association strongly condemned Mr Jenrick’s comments.
“This is pure unadulterated Islamophobia from Robert Jenrick and it is precisely what has been driving the extremists in the far south Islamophobic,” said a statement on X. released on the streets of Britain.”
The Muslim Council said the comments showed that “institutionalized Islamophobia is alive and well in the Conservative Party.
“As a potential leader, Mr Jenrick should be showing leadership, giving courage to our communities when fear is visible,” a spokesman said. “He should apologize, retract his comments completely, and talk to ordinary Muslims to understand why his comments are so shocking. Rather than igniting tensions, it should focus on ways to bring communities together.”
Labour’s Naz Shah was among the MPs who called on the former minister to apologise.
Posting on social media, she said: “This is complete ignorance and textbook Islamophobia from Robert Jenrick. Literally every Muslim in the world is synonymous with extremism.
“’Allah Hu Akbar’ means ‘God is Great’. It is a fundamental Islamic word that every Muslim in the world says in prayer. It is significant as the opening line of the call to prayer and the opening phrase of every prayer.
“Millions of us Muslims use it every day as part of our faith within our prayers. It is a common phrase as Christians would say ‘Jesus Christ as your lord and savior’.
“Imagine in this climate, either being so ignorant or deliberately trying to stigmatize all Muslims. He should apologize and talk to the Muslim communities and learn more about our faith.”
Afzal Khan, Labor MP for Manchester Rusholme, said: “Another day, another senior Tory being an Islamophobe. Allahu Akbar means God is great – the Muslim equivalent of Hallelujah.
“Jenrick’s confidence in going on national television saying people should be arrested for saying Allahu Akbar reveals his deep prejudice against Muslims.”
Conservative peer Baroness Sayeeda Warsi accused the Tory leadership challenger of “badly divisive rhetoric”.
“Every day before we start parliamentary business in the Houses and Lords, we say a prayer and praise God – we say our Parliamentary version of Allah hu Akbars at the heart of democracy – a process that Robert Jenrick is part of,” she said.
Sir Keir Starmer has hit out at allegations of “two-tier policing” in the UK, a far-right claim that has been used to justify the disorder that has swept the country over the past week. The charges suggest that the police have taken a softer approach to left-wing and Islamist protesters than they have to white working-class protesters.
The prime minister has flatly denied the claims as a “non-issue” and insisted that policing was carried out “without fear or favour”.
Asked about Mr Jenrick’s previous claim that “we allow our streets to be controlled by Islamic extremists”, a statement he made in February about a government vote on a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, the MP for Newark said: I think I was okay.”
“There were cases then when Islamic extremists were on our streets. I have given you one example, where you had someone chanting, or chanting, ‘Allahu Akbar’ on Oxford Street. We saw people praising the Houthis for firing missiles at British-flagged vessels in the seas.
“That is completely wrong. That’s anti-British, we should be calling it.”
