'They're all murderers': Caller's shocking Islamophobia experience

24 January 2022, 17:00 | Updated: 25 January 2022, 13:58

Muslim caller shares experience of Islamophobia with LBC

By Seán Hickey

This caller's account of multiple instances of workplace Islamophobia left Shelagh Fogarty speechless.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Tory MP Nusrat Ghani alleged on Saturday that her faith was given as a reason for her losing a ministerial role in 2020, leading to accusations of Islamophobia within the Conservative party.

Annie in Manchester phoned Shelagh Fogarty to share her direct experience of Islamophobia in the workplace.

Read more: Fabricant: Nus Ghani Islamophobia claim 'lame' as 'it's not apparent' she is Muslim

Read more: 'I've not suffered Islamophobia in the Tory party': Minister hits back as PM orders probe

She described herself as someone who doesn't wear a hijab, and not presenting as "what people think a Muslim would look like", as Shelagh put.

The caller told LBC that she was having lunch with colleagues and discussing the upcoming marriage of one of their daughters.

The colleague told Annie: “I don’t care who she marries, so long as it’s not a Muslim.” When she asked why, her colleague told her it is because “they’re all murderers”.

Read more: Raab: Party can't act on Islamophobia claim 'in absence of formal complaint'

Anas Sarwar calls on Tories to bring Islamophobia claim to EHRC

Read more: Tory MP: 'I can't see how MPs can be bullied these days'

The caller's colleague even challenged her, insisting that she wasn't Muslim. She assured Shelagh that she didn't confront them, only calmly discussed the situation.

“It just reinforces the biases they have.”

Read more: No10 rejects Michael Fabricant's 'Muslimness' claims over Nus Ghani

She shared the anecdote of another colleague who had people checking his computer while he worked to ensure he wasn’t “checking any Jihadi websites” on shift.

Shelagh was shocked, asking the caller if there were appropriate channels set up to make a complaint. She insisted that “not everybody feels able to speak up”, even if there was a channel set up.

More Shelagh Fogarty News

See more More Shelagh Fogarty News

'People get what they vote for': Shelagh can’t help but agree with caller Colin

'People get what they vote for': Shelagh can’t help but agree with caller Colin

'We're blaming graduates for the migration crisis?'

Adam calls it 'absurd' to blame graduates for rising migration

Watch Again: Shelagh Fogarty is joined by Health Secretary Wes Streeting to take your calls

Call the Cabinet: Shelagh Fogarty is joined by Wes Streeting to take your calls

Caller Sue accuses Starmer of letting in illegal immigrants

Caller Sue accuses Starmer of rolling out the red carpet for 'illegal immigrants'

Caller Ayo's impassioned defence of trial by jury

Caller Ayo’s impassioned defence of trial by jury

LBC caller's blistering message to millionaires leaving the country to avoid tax

Caller Sabrina's blistering message to millionaires leaving the country to avoid tax

Kemi Badenoch owes Rachel Reeves a 'public apology', says LBC caller

Kemi Badenoch owes Rachel Reeves a 'public apology', says LBC caller

Caller Comp

LBC Callers react to Glastonbury IDF controversy

'Let us have a referendum on the death penalty,' demands LBC caller

'Let us have a referendum on the death penalty,' demands LBC caller

Natasha calls Shelagh Fogarty

Natasha ‘won’t vote Labour again’ over tax on private school fees

LBC callers react to Donald Trump’s sweary outburst

LBC callers react to Donald Trump’s sweary outburst

Caller Sarah says Trump’s F-word rant shows his ‘thuggish’ side

Caller Sarah says Trump’s F-word rant shows his ‘thuggish’ side

LBC caller accuses Shelagh Fogarty of 'whitewashing' grooming gang statistics

LBC caller accuses Shelagh Fogarty of 'whitewashing' grooming gang statistics

'It makes me angry, it's a bit rich from him'

Jay accuses Robert Jenrick of using youngsters' poverty to chase clicks from the far-right

'How do you get Hamas out? We didn't get the IRA out...'

LBC caller from Northern Ireland warns trauma will perpetuate conflict in Middle East

LBC Caller: 'At least we know where we stand with Reform'

LBC Caller: 'At least we know where we stand with Reform'