A row is erupting in Bradford as a Christian candidate is being barred from an all-Muslim election hustings.
George Grant, Conservative candidate for Bradford West, is excluded from a question and answer session organised by the Muslim Women's Council billed as 'an audience with the two Muslim women candidates'.
Salma Yaqaab, the former leader of Respect, and Labour's Naz Shah will speak and answer questions at the Carlise Business Centre on Wednesday evening but no other candidates have been invited.
When contacted by Christian Today, the Muslim Women's Council denied the event was a hustings and said it was aimed at promoting Muslim women's engagement in the election.
But Grant told Christian Today that was 'rubbish' and the event was a 'hustings in all but name'.
A churchgoing Christian, he said: 'It has been advertised in the context of the general election as an opportunity to meet with the two Muslim women candidates.
'What I object to in this case is the assumption that the best person to represent a Muslim woman is a Muslim woman.'
He added: 'Inviting candidates based solely on their gender or religion is neither helpful nor progressive.'
He told Christian Today it was imperative that religious and social divides in Bradford were broken down but said events like this 'are part of the problem'.
Naz Shah, Labour's sitting MP, also expressed her disappointment and a spokesman agreed the event was a hustings in all but name and said all Bradford West candidates should be invited.
'We told the organisers we expected them to invited all the candidates,' he told Christian Today. 'We do not want to see any dividing lines.'
He went to criticise the Muslim Women's Council organisers.
'The way this has been done is detrimental to all the people in Bradford West.
'It is sad that this event has become what it is.'
I've made it clear I believe all candidates should be offered same platform, that is democracy, that is equality.... https://t.co/bEZQfFnQ2q
— Naz Shah (@NazShahBfd) May 17, 2017 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">But the Muslim Women's Council defended the meeting and said it was vital to engage Muslim women in the electoral process.
CEO Bana Gora said: 'The women of Bradford West have requested the opportunity to engage with these two candidates on what real, tangible policies they will implement in Bradford, should they be elected to office.
'Muslim women might be a politically disenfranchised group, but now more than ever, we want to send the message that they can shape the future of this country through the simple act of casting their vote and engaging with those in positions of power.'
