A Home Office Islamic Network aims to recruit Muslim staff and “influence policymakers” to support “Muslim needs”, a GB News investigation can reveal.
Leaked documents show the group of over 700 civil servants say they aim to “promote the recruitment, retention and progression of Muslim staff in the Home Office” and “influence policymakers so that policy is more inclusive of Muslim needs”.
GB News has seen a list of their aims, published on an internal Government website, which also include to “promote a clear understanding of generic Islam”, “Provide advice and guidance to senior civil service management on religious issues that affect Muslim staff” and “Facilitate and support Home Office engagement with external stakeholders from Muslim communities”.
According to the leaked documents, the Home Office network, set up in 2005, does not allow non-Muslim staff to become full members; they can sign up to be “associate members” only.
Home Secretary James Cleverly arriving at CabinetPA
A Home Office whistleblower told GB News: “Having an Islamic lobby group inside the Home Office represents a serious threat to the Government’s aims in combating Islamic extremism and granting asylum to those fleeing Islamic countries over religious persecution.”
“The network has already produced pro-Hijab propaganda which it sent to asylum seeker decision makers in the Home Office, and explicitly states it aims to influence policy to support their religious goals.”
They continued: “Far from shutting down the group or banning it from attempting to influence Government policy, ministers and senior civil servants have endorsed it as a part of their commitment to diversity.”
“It is anti-democratic and very worrying that this group exists.”
Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the Conservative MP, said: “The Home Office should not be beholden to internal Islamic lobby groups attempting to influence policy.
“It is highly concerning that this group, with a history of publishing biassed pro-Hijab materials, is allowed to exist in its current form.
“It is also concerning that non-Muslim staff cannot become full members of the group, and makes one wonder how truly ‘inclusive’ it is.”
“This network is at best a distraction for staff who should be focussed on ending illegal migration and cutting legal migration, and at worst, represents an undemocratic lobby group pushing Islamic needs where there could be serious conflicts of interests, particularly when dealing with asylum cases from those fleeing Islamic countries,” Dame Andrea said.
Migrants aboard a small boatPA
The network’s intranet website says they are looking to recruit regional representatives or “champions” to be volunteers who support “the Home Office Islamic Network in delivering its activities”.
The leaked documents show that in Peterborough, Sheffield, Birmingham and Liverpool the network already has representation.
In February the network faced criticism over material it distributed to Home Office staff celebrating World Hijab Day which claimed that Muslim men do not force women to wear the hijab, and instead they “choose to wear the hijab for various reasons, and mainly to grow closer to their faith and Allah.”
A Home Office source who received the network’s material told The Telegraph: “I deal with cases of women claiming they cannot go back to Iran otherwise they will be forced into wearing the hijab.”
“The Home Office’s promotion of the hijab is tone deaf and completely ignores the many women who face violence if they refuse to wear the item.”
Several women’s rights supporters and advocates for women in Iran who face severe punishment for not wearing the hijab also criticised the network over its bias in promoting the muslim item of clothing.
In March, senior Home Office figures, including Home Secretary James Cleverly, Permanent Secretary Matthew Rycroft and the Director General of the Migration and Borders Group Daniel Hobbs attended an Islamic Network event celebrating Ramadan.
In a leaked Home Office blog post, seen by GB News, Rycroft said: “As the Civil Service Faith and Belief Champion, I was grateful for the opportunity to be involved in this fantastic event”.
Rycroft, who is the most senior civil servant in the Home Office, continued: “I shared some thoughts with colleagues about the importance of Compassion, and of our four Home Office values, alongside Respect, Collaboration, and Courage.”
“Our staff networks showcase the diversity of our workforce, ensuring that we better reflect the public we serve.”
The Islamic Network produces literature for Home Office staff, including a “Ramadan awareness guide” and a document entitled “Facts about Hajj”, describing the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.
Its website also discusses muslim prayers, and features a section called “Separation of the sexes” which says “Men and women pray separately”.
The network continued: “Where there is a dedicated facility used by both genders, an agreement can be reached between them as to when they can use the room or if the room is large enough, a temporary curtain, partition or slide can be provided for this purpose.”
Islam is described as “The voluntary submission of one’s will to the will of God” and “A complete code covering every aspect of life” on the network’s website for Home Office staff.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Our staff work tirelessly to deliver the Home Office’s priorities to stop the boats, cut migration, keep the country safe and tackle violence against women and girls.
“We keep our diversity and inclusion policies and programmes under constant review to ensure they meet the needs and priorities of the department and our people.”
