NSS calls on Home Secretary to take charge of Leicester inquiry

The National Secular Society has written to Suella Braverman asking that a formal inquiry into the civil unrest in Leicester be overseen by the Home Office.

An inquiry into the recent clashes between groups of Hindus and Muslims had been commissioned by the Mayor of Leicester, Sir Peter Soulsby (pictured, right).

Soulsby's appointment of academic Dr Chris Allen to head the review drew widespread criticism due to comments made by Allen which seemed to prejudge the inquiry's findings.

Concerns were also raised in relation to Allen's comments regarding September 11 terrorist attacks in the US. In one video, Allen said he was a "big fan" of antisemitic conspiracy theorist David Icke. In another, he appeared to support the view that 9-11 "was a set up".

Allen has since withdrawn from the inquiry process.

In a letter to the Home Secretary, NSS chief executive Stephen Evans argued that Soulsby exhibited a concerning failure of judgement in appointing Allen and should consequently be relieved of responsibility for overseeing any inquiry into the disorder.

Soulsby's credibility on the issue has also been tarnished by his association with Islamists Muhammed Adil Shahzad and Majid Freeman (pictured, left).

Shahzad is a cleric who was involved in the protests at Batley Grammar School in March, publicly naming the teacher who was the subject of death threats. He has also used the derogatory term 'coconut' to describe Muslim MPs who backed the teacher. Soulsby joined Shahzad as a speaker at an event last month which prohibited women from attending.

Freeman has been active in spreading conspiracy theories concerning 9/11 and the London 7/7 terrorist attacks as well as disinformation regarding the events in Leicester. Soulsby described a meeting between Freeman and himself where they discussed the events in Leicester as "very productive".

Thirteen Hindu temples in Leicester have vowed to boycott the inquiry due to concerns about Allen "explicitly ruling out Islamist extremism" and Soulsby suggesting Hindutva (Hindu nationalism) is "the cause of the unrest". Their letter to Soulsby described the review process as "muddied before it's even started."

The NSS said it was vital for any report to be seen as genuinely independent by the communities affected and that, due to Soulsby's past comments and associations, it was "no longer appropriate" that he retains oversight of an inquiry process.

The NSS called on the Home Office to take over responsibility for the investigation.

NSS: "Home Office lead would send positive signal on community relations"

NSS spokesperson Jack Rivington said: "Given the seriousness of the events and the likely national significance of findings made by the inquiry, it is absolutely crucial for any report on the disorder in Leicester to be unimpeachable in its impartiality.

"The confidence in this review process has been fatally undermined, primarily by the appointment of Dr Allen for which Sir Peter Soulsby bears responsibility. Rebuilding trust in the inquiry is vital to its success.

"A genuinely independent inquiry, initiated and overseen by the Home Office, would send a message that this government takes community relations seriously and help to establish the facts regarding the events that took place in the city."