Philip Hollobone, Conservative MP for Kettering, was reported to the police by Northamptonshire Race Equality Council (NREC) after he criticised the wearing of the burka during a debate in Parliament. However, after questioning, he was told that no action would be taken.
During the debate Mr Hollobone said:
“How ridiculous would the House of Commons be if we were all to wear burkas? How would Mr Speaker be able to identify which member to call next? The voters might well prefer it, but it is the religious equivalent of going around with a paper bag over your head with two holes for the eyes. In my view, it is offensive to want to cut yourself off from face-to-face contact with, or recognition by, other members of the human race. We should certainly look at ways to tackle that issue.”
Although debates in Parliament are protected by Parliamentary Privilege, the NREC reported him to the police for inciting racial hatred, he was questioned and a file was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service before he was told no action would be taken.
Mr Hollobone said he had no complaint against the police which had to follow up such allegations, but that it was “outrageous” that a taxpayer-funded body should be trying to prosecute Members of Parliament who speak out on contentious issues. They had also done so without trying to engage in any debate.
The NREC’s chief executive, Ms Anjona Roy, said she took offence at Mr Hollobone’s likening of the head-to-toe Muslim covering to a paper bag. “I think the majority of people would find that quite offensive. If you disagree with people wearing burkas, there are other ways of putting it.”
“There will be those who agree and those who disagree and that is fine,” Mr Hollobone commented. “What we cannot have in this country are MPs being threatened when they speak out on contentious issues,”
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