Lib Dem MP condemns Maajid Nawaz for 'insult to people from all religions'

Liberal Democrat MP for Burnley, Gordon Birtwistle, has set out his views on the cartoons posted by Maajid Nawaz, prompting calls for his deselection as prospective parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn, in a letter to a constituent.

Birtwistle, in his response to a constituent, wrote: “I can confirm I find the actions of Maajid Nawaz completely unacceptable and an insult to people from all religions. The Liberal Democrats should condemn his actions, deselect him and cancel his membership.”

Nawaz’s actions were derided by Nawaz Hanif in an article on Comment is Free last month in which he argued the cartoons were a desperate move. Hanif wrote, “The reality is that the “anti-extremist” Quilliam Foundation, which Nawaz co-founded and runs, is increasingly discredited – by the government, by British Muslim communities, and by human rights groups. This Twitter storm is, in my view, an attempt by Nawaz to make people think Quilliam is still relevant.”

Further evidence of Nawaz’s clawing for relevance was unearthed by Islamophobia Watch via a freedom of information request which disclosed emails to the Communities and Local Government department seeking more public funds.