I’m clearly sorry for any offence taken: UK PM Boris Johnson provides apology for Islam remarks

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a certified apology for offence brought on by his previous remarks about Islam. “…I am obviously sorry for any offence taken,” a report quoted Johnson as saying. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has provided certified apology for Islam remarks. (Photo: Reuters)British Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a certified apology for offence brought on by his previous remarks about Islam in a report that criticised his Conservative Party over the way it offers with complaints of Islamophobia.Johnson was interviewed for the report, commissioned by the Conservatives in response to criticism of the way it dealt with discrimination and complaints. The report was carried out independently by Professor Swaran Singh who has served as a commissioner for the Equality and Human Rights Commission.It cited a number of examples referring to Johnson, together with a 2018 newspaper column during which he referred to girls carrying burqas as “going around looking like letterboxes” and likened their look to financial institution robbers.Johnson mentioned the article was a liberal defence of a Muslim lady’s proper to decide on what she wore.”I do know that offence has been taken at things I’ve said, that people expect a person in my position to get things right, but in journalism you need to use language freely. I am obviously sorry for any offence taken,” the report quoted Johnson as saying.”Would I use some of the offending language from my past writings today? Now that I am prime minister, I would not.”Singh discovered that the social gathering had not been energetic sufficient in difficult discrimination, its complaints process wanted to be overhauled and its sanctions system for many who breached the principles was unclear.”Judging by the extent of complaints and findings of misconduct by the Party itself that relate to anti-Muslim words and conduct, anti-Muslim sentiment remains a problem within the Party,” the report mentioned.Anti-racism marketing campaign group HOPE not hate referred to as Johnson’s apology “mealy-mouthed”.”The words used by the Prime Minister today fall well short of that and bodes ill for the prospect of firm and decisive action,” mentioned the group’s Chief Executive Nick Lowles.The Conservative Party accepted the report’s suggestions.”The Conservative Party will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination of any kind and take immediate action to improve our handling of complaints,” Conservative co-chairman Amanda Milling mentioned in an announcement.Click right here for IndiaToday.in’s full protection of the coronavirus pandemic.