(Web Desk Monitoring) — Conservative MP Robert Jenrick has come under fire for suggesting that police should arrest protesters who chant “Allahu Akbar” (God is great), amid ongoing nationwide riots involving far-right groups and counter-protests from the Muslim community.
Jenrick, a key figure in the Conservative leadership race, made these comments during a Sky News discussion on policing. He criticized what he described as “two-tier” policing, stating, “I find it unacceptable that someone can shout Allahu Akbar on the streets of London and not be immediately arrested, or project genocidal chants onto Big Ben without facing immediate consequences. This attitude is wrong, and I will always call out the police for it.”
The remarks have sparked significant backlash, with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner accusing Jenrick of inciting further unrest. Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, former Conservative party chair, condemned Jenrick’s comments as “nasty, divisive rhetoric,” while Labour MPs Naz Shah and Afzal Khan labeled his statements as “textbook Islamophobia.”
Baroness Warsi, in a social media post, highlighted the irony, noting, “Every day before we start parliamentary business, we say a prayer and praise God—our parliamentary version of Allahu Akbar. This language from Jenrick is more of his usual nasty, divisive rhetoric—he is such a tool.”
In response to the criticism, Jenrick defended his position, asserting that his concerns are focused on controlling extremist elements on the streets.
