United Kingdom, Feb. 13 -- John Cleese says criticism of Islam is "not racist, it's culturalist".

The 86-year-old actor and comedian has described criticism of the religion as "Islamosceptic", after MP Rupert Lowe - who is carrying out an independent inquiry into sex abuse gangs - claimed the Muslim Council of Britain stated some of his inquiry's findings were "Islamophobic".

However, Fawlty Towers co-creator John has insisted phobias are "for spiders" rather than "criticising a religion".

He wrote on X: "I'll say again...

Criticism of Islam is not racist, it's culturalist

For example, disapproving of Female Genital Mutilation

is not racist

Criticism of Islam is Islamosceptic. There is no phobia involved in criticising a religion. ...