Indian-origin academic to chair Islamophobia review

London, December 18

Britain’s ruling Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has appointed an Indian-origin academic to conduct an independent review into dealing with allegations of anti-Muslim prejudice as well as other issues of discrimination within the Tory party ranks.

Swaran Singh, professor, Social and Community Psychiatry at the University of Warwick, will lead the inquiry aimed at improving the Conservative Party’s handling of complaints of all forms of discrimination and prejudice, including Islamophobia. The issue had played out heavily in the run-up to the general elections earlier this month, with British Muslims accusing the Conservatives of anti-Muslim bias and calling for an independent inquiry.

“I am privileged to have been appointed to chair the independent review into improving handling of complaints of prejudice and discrimination in the Conservative Party,” said Singh, who has been a Commissioner of the UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission, until recently.

This independent review will look at how the party can improve its processes — to make sure that any instances are isolated, and that there are robust processes in place to stamp them out when they occur, a statement said. — PTI