Robert Jenrick Allahu Akbar comments like 'oxygen to the far right'

In brief...

• Conservative leader hopeful Robert Jenrick has been called "Islamophobic' for comments about jailing people who chant Allahu Akbar on London streets.
• The phrase is the opening line in the Muslim call to prayer.
• London Mayor Sadiq Khan tells The News Agents he is "disappointed" in Jenrick's statement.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has called for Conservative MP Robert Jenrick to apologise for recent comments calling for people chanting the Muslim religious mantra Allahu Akbar on UK streets to be jailed.

On 7 August, Jenrick said he thought it was "quite wrong that somebody could shout Allahu Akbar on the streets of London and not be immediately arrested", referring to pro-Palestine marches that have taken place in the capital since the Hamas 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, and the subsequent Gaza invasion.

Speaking to The News Agents, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said Jenrick's words left him feeling "disappointed" in the Tory leadership candidate.

"I didn't believe that he'd said that until I saw the clip myself. I think he should reflect on what he said. This is somebody who wants to be the leader of the Conservative Party, and by extension, the Prime Minister," he tells Jon Sopel.

"I'm just disappointed."

He adds that, as a Muslim, he prays five times a day using the words Allahu Akbar himself, but also that when he visits temples, mosques and synagogues, all preachers will use variations of God is good or God is great.

"I just don't believe he actually means that," he says, referring to Jenrick's comments.

"And I hope that Robert will do the decent thing, reflect on this and apologise."

Lewis Goodall says politicians, such as Robert Jenrick, need to be "very careful about spreading half truths.

"Misinformation about 'two tear policing' – all of this sort of stuff, because that is the oxygen on which also the far right thrive," he says.

"I think we need to be mindful of all this."

Sadiq's sentiments were echoed by Labour MPs, including for Manchester Rusholme, Afzal Khan, who said it was "another day, another senior Tory being Islamohpobic".

Jenrick is currently one of the contenders for leadership of the Conservative Party, which will be decided later in 2024.

Jenrick also posted a video on X, showing a group of men marching in UK streets, claiming it demonstrated how Allahu Akbar could be used in an "intimidatory and threatening" manner.

What does Allahu Akbar mean?

Allahu akbar is an Arabic phrase that means, simply, 'God is great', or other slight variations.

It's the opening line of the Muslim call to prayer, and is used by countless people every day across the world as they express their faith.

Labour MP for Bradford West Naz Shah has called for Jenrick to apologise for his comments, and described them as "textbook Islamophobia".

The Muslim Council of Britain claims Jenrick has shown "institutional Islamophobia is alive and well in the Conservative Party."

Listen in full on The News Agents.