London, British-Muslims have started the process of leaving the UK over fears for their “personal safety” now that Boris Johnson, who’s been accused of Islamophobia, will remain Prime Minister for the next five years, a media report said on Monday.
Among them is Manzoor Ali, the head of the Muslim Barakah Food Aid charity, which provides food parcels for poor people in Manchester, after saying he was scared for the “future of his children”, metro.co.uk said in its report.
Ali told Metro.co.uk: “My charity has been going on for 10 years, we’ve helped people from all walks of life, including former soldiers and white working class English people. But I’m scared for my personal safety, I worry about my children’s future.”
He added that Britain was his home and he didn’t know where else to go, but his family have agreed that they should move to ensure their safety.
Johnson has been accused of Islamophobia and racism following a number of controversial comments he made in the past, including his remarks in a 2005 Spectator article in which he claimed it was only “natural” for the public to be scared of Islam.
Johnson also received a considerable degree of criticism for comparing Muslim women to “letterboxes and bank robbers” in a column for the Telegraph last year.
The Prime Minister has insisted his comments were taken out of context and also defended the right of Muslim women to wear what they like.
During the election campaign this year, he also apologised for Islamophobia in his ruling Conservative Party, after a number of candidates shared posts referring to Muslims as “scum”.
Ali’s sentiments were echoed by Eidan, an IT consultant from North London who said she was “very scared” following Johnson’s landslide win in the December 12 general election, especially after being assaulted previously, with her headscarf ripped off and people calling her a “terrorist” in public.
She fears the result will embolden “racists and islamophobes”.
Eidan told Metro.co.uk: “I’ve actively started looking for jobs elsewhere, maybe Turkey, maybe Pakistan. I’m very very scared.”
