Muslim tory activist denies claims boris johnson is islamophobic

Shabnam Nasimi believes the former London Mayor is the man to take Britain out of the EU because of his “moderate and progressive” views and “pro-immigration” stance. Mr Johnson has in the

past been accused of holding anti-Muslim opinions after he compared burka-clad women to “bank robbers” and “letterboxes”, but Ms Nasimi said his comments do not equate to intolerance of her

faith. The 28-year-old arrived in the UK at the age of eight along with her family fleeing the Taliban, two years before the US invaded Afghanistan. Ms Nasimi said it was the “British dream”

that attracted her parents to the UK and she wants to see Mr Johnson in Number 10 to ensure that idea survives. She told Express.co.uk: “I personally wouldn’t be backing Boris if I thought

he was Islamophobic. “And when you look at the context of Boris’s comments on the burka, first of all an independent panel looked at it and they described it as in the realm being respectful

and tolerant. “Of course people are going to take particular comments out of context. “And secondly, he was making a very liberal argument about the right of women to choose what they would

like to wear at the time when other European countries were banning the burka. “When I first heard it, I felt that he had said something that can be seen as divisive. “But it’s trivial to

focus only on what he may have said.” The young campaigner is passionate about ‘One Nation’ Conservatism and founded the Conservative Friends of Afghanistan group, which she chairs. Ms

Nasimi, who serves as deputy political chairman of the Lewisham Deptford Conservative Association, said as a woman coming from a refugee background, Mr Johnson’s policies on FGM and

immigration appeal to her on a personal level. She admitted the outspoken MP is not to everyone’s taste, saying “he is like marmite”, but insisted he would be the best pick to unite the

divided country and deliver on the results of the 2016 referendum. She is fully supportive of Mr Johnson’s Brexit strategy and says he is right to keep no deal on the table. She said: “I

want a visionary prime minister who does not underestimate Britain.  “I think in order for the EU to understand we are serious about leaving at all we have to keep the no deal option. “One

of the main reasons why I’m backing Boris is his positive track record as Mayor of London, winning two terms in one of the most diverse cities in the world, a Labour stronghold and a Remain

city.  “He is the man to lead Britain.” “I have formed my opinion of him from what I have seen him do. I think people should focus more on what he does and less on what he may have said. 

“We have to focus much more on his personality than the way he does his hair and how he dresses.” Mr Johnson is battling it out against Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt to get the keys to No

10. The new prime minister will be announced on July 23 before Theresa May will hand over to her successor the following day.