UK : Former London mayor Boris Johnson accused of Islamophobia

Former London mayor Boris Johnson has been accused of Islamophobia after saying that Muslim women wearing burkas «look like letter boxes», says the BBC.

Although he spoke in a Telegraph column against the full-face veil ban, implemented in Denmark, he described the dress as «absolutely ridiculous». Responding to Johnson’s remarks, the Muslim Council of Britain accused the former foreign minister of «pandering to the far right». The council added that the comments were «particularly regrettable in the current climate, where Islamophobia and hatred against Muslims are a growing concern».

The group also said that the government had done «little» to combat anti-Muslim hatred and repeated its call for an inquiry into Islamophobia within Boris Johnson’s party.

For the chairman of the Conservative Muslim Forum, the article was «anti-Muslim» and would «stir the hatred of women who wear niqab and burqa». «Boris Johnson is a master of the English language- he must understand exactly what effect his words will have. I find it deplorable that he chose to write such an article» insisted the council.

The Imam of the Finsbury Park mosque, Mohammed Mahmoud, accused, on the other hand, the government of failing to show a «meaningful engagement» with the Muslim community.

Boris Johnson, who quit the government last July in protest against Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit policy.