Lee Anderson refuses to apologise after PM calls ‘Islamist’ comments ‘wrong’

Earlier this morning, we heard from people in the UK who experienced Islamophobia and talked about it with Nicky Campbell on Radio 5 Live.

Ahmed, in London, took part in a Secret Santa at
work, assuming it “would be innocent” fun, he told BBC 5 Live.

Instead, he was the subject of a cruel joke.

The tradition usually sees people draw a name out of a hat, and give that person a gift anonymously.

“I received a book: the book was titled ’50 shades of
bacon’.

“Why would you send such an offensive book, and find
it funny?”, he said.

He felt trapped, and uncomfortable flagging the incident at
work.

“I wasn’t sure what to do at the time. I knew if I
raised it with HR, then that’s potentially my career, my opportunities, all
gone.”

Ahmed said sometimes he finds it difficult to integrate.

“If people seem to have this deep thinking that you
can send anything as offensive as that and do nothing about it, then I’m not
sure what people are supposed to do,” he concluded.