Jenrick reported to police and Prevent over Islam remarks

Robert Jenrick, Reform UK’s Shadow Chancellor, has been reported to the police and to Prevent, the Government’s counter-extremism programme, over comments he made about Islam on television. The Free Speech Union set out the facts in a post on X after the Islamic website 5Pillars reported the complaints that followed his appearance on Dan Wootton’s Outspoken programme.

Complainants asked officers to assess whether Jenrick’s remarks could fall under legislation on stirring up religious hatred. They also asked Prevent to consider whether the framing of his comments fell within its definition of extreme right-wing ideology. On the programme Jenrick said radical Islam is a threat to everything held dear in this country, that it has to be fought and destroyed, eradicated from Britain, and that creeping Islamification cannot be allowed. He added that the burka, Shari’ah courts and hate preachers should be ended as quickly as possible so the country has a fighting chance of avoiding the path France has taken.

The Free Speech Union has warned that the Government’s Islamophobia definition would chill the ability of elected politicians and private citizens to criticise Islam. Ministers repeatedly assured the public that an “anti-Muslim hostility” definition would not silence legitimate criticism of Islam, its history or its practices. Yet here we are, the union says, and it has been proved repeatedly right.

People need to wake up to what is happening. John Cleese has been reported to Prevent over comments criticising Islam, while Rupert Lowe has been reported to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over his comments. It is not extremist to criticise Islam. Blasphemy laws were abolished in this country in 2008. Yet the Government, police, activists and courts appear determined to impose one for Islam alone through the back door.

The Free Speech Union stands with Robert Jenrick and his right to speak freely, both as a private citizen and as an elected politician. A de facto Islamic blasphemy law must not take root. Activists must not be allowed to weaponise Prevent to shut down criticism of Islam. Doing so would undermine the integrity of Britain’s counter-terrorism efforts and leave ordinary debate at the mercy of those who prefer silence to scrutiny.