Lee Harpin

Board presidential hopefuls respond to claims of Islamisation of UK politics Four Board presidential candidates take part in hustings at JFS school ahead of May 12 vote

May 9, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) The four Board of Deputies presidential candidates have displayed differing approaches to answering potentially problematic questions at a hustings ahead of Sunday’s election. At a well-attended event at JFS school on Wednesday evening, hosted expertly by former British Ambassador to […]

NUS reaches undisclosed settlement with ‘anti-Zionist’ former president Shaima Dallali admits that tweet that got her sacked was antisemitic as she settles with student union

May 7, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) The National Union of Students has reached a settlement with ex-president Shaima Dallali, after she admitted a tweet posted on social media in 2012, for which she apologised, was antisemitic. A statement agreed by both parties confirmed that “a settlement […]

Greens confirm probe into new councillor after shout of ‘Allahu akbar’ Chair of the Leeds Jewish Representative Council writes to party leaders about serious concerns over city councillor Mothin Ali

May 6, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) The Green Party has confirmed it is investigating into a newly elected councillor who described his victory as a “win for the people of Gaza.” The chair of the Leeds Jewish Representative Council had written to the co-leaders of the […]

Sadiq Khan apologises to chief rabbi for hinting at Islamophobia over his ceasefire call Exclusive: London mayor reaches out to Ephraim Mirvis after claiming Jewish criticism had been influenced by his Muslim-sounding name

April 26, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) Sadiq Khan has apologised to the chief rabbi after implying that Ephraim Mirvis’s criticism of his call for a Gaza ceasefire was influenced by his Muslim-sounding name. In an interview with the broadcaster Mehdi Hasan, the mayor of London suggested he […]

Woman, 23, charged with terror offence after probe into support of Hamas Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command charge woman from north-west London after investigation into online support of proscribed terrorist group Hamas

April 19, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command have charged a woman with a terror offence as part of an investigation into online support of proscribed terrorist group Hamas. Sara El-Houssein, 23, of north-west London was charged on Thursday, 21 March, […]

Tory local election candidate stands down after ‘jew pigs’ social media post emerges Exclusive: Azmat Husain has withdrawn from contest in Eccles, Salford, but tells Jewish News a 'jew pigs' Facebook post was 'fake'

April 3, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) A Conservative Party candidate has withdrawn from the forthcoming local elections after a social media post emerged in which he appeared to have used the words “jew pigs.” Azmat Husain had been due to stand as the Tory candidate for […]

Tower Hamlets Council refuses to disclose how many Palestinian flags it has taken down In response to a freedom of information request asking how many Palestinian flags it had taken down following complaints by residents Tower Hamlets said disclosure could 'endanger the safety of individuals'

March 13, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) An East London council has refused to answer a freedom of information (FOI) request asking to know how many Palestinian flags they have removed from lamp posts and other public property in the borough on the grounds that to do […]

Claims of ‘no-go zones for Jews’ in London ‘total and utter fiction,’ says Shomrim president Rabbi Herschel Gluck has accused the Home Office’s independent advisor on extremism Robin Simcox of making claims about 'no-go [zones] for Jews' that have 'nothing to do with reality'

March 8, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) Suggestions that there are no-go zones in London for Jews are “a total and utter fiction,” Shomrim president Rabbi Herschel Gluck has said. Responding to claims made by Robin Simcox, the Home Office’s independent advisor on extremism, who suggested that […]

CST chief says claims London a no-go zone for Jews during Gaza protests ‘deeply troubling’ Mark Gardner, the CST’s chief executive, told Radio 4’s Today programme there was ’huge element of truth’ in the claim about the West End during pro-Palestine events

March 8, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) A newspaper headline claiming London’s streets have become a “no-go zone for Jews” during pro-Palestinian protests is “deeply troubling,” the Community Security Trust’s chief executive has claimed, but he added that “it also contains a huge element of truth.” Mark […]

Palestinian Solidarity Campaign distances itself from event with terrorist hijacker The PSC now says fundraising event featuring Leila Khaled 'did not clearly fall within the framework of the principles' it believes in

March 7, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) The Palestine Solidarity Campaign has attempted to distance itself from an event advertised as a fundraiser for its West Midlands branch following an outcry after it emerged the Palestinian plane hijacker Leila Khaled is set to be among the speakers. […]

Commons speaker says he allowed Labour Gaza motion out of fears for ‘safety of MPs and their families’ Lindsay Hoyle apologises to MPs over Commons Gaza vote chaos saying 'I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing'

February 22, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has said he controversially allowed Labour to bring their Gaza ceasefire motion to a vote because of genuine fears over the safety of MPs and their families. The surprise move took place as thousands […]

George Galloway accused of ‘using’ Rochdale’s Muslim community A renegade candidate and Labour in turmoil — all eyes are on next week’s by-election as recent events make the result anything but a foregone conclusion

February 22, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) Muslim voters in the Greater Manchester by-election town of Rochdale this week openly expressed fears to Jewish News that the veteran anti-Zionist campaigner George Galloway is “using us” as he attempts to secure victory in the polls. One local businessman, […]

Robert Jenrick claims ‘Islamist extremists’ have been allowed to dominate our streets The former minister tells the Commons 'British Jews and others' are ' too intimidated to walk through central London week after week'

February 22, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) Former Tory minister Robert Jenrick has suggested “Islamist extremists” have been allowed to dominate our streets leaving “British Jews and others too intimidated to walk through central London week after week.” Speaking in the Commons, as MPs discussed the frantic […]

Labour candidate claimed Israel deliberately let Jews be slaughtered on 7 October Azhar Ali said: 'They deliberately took the security off, they allowed that massacre that gives them the green light to do whatever they bloody want'

February 11, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) Labour’s by-election candidate in Rochdale has been recorded claiming Israel deliberately allowed the 7 October Hamas massacre to give it the “green light” to invade Gaza. In a recording obtained by the Mail on Sunday newspaper, Azhar Ali said: “The […]

Mike Freer stepping down as Finchley and Golders Green MP over safety fears Justice minister says arson attack at his constituency office last month was 'final straw'

January 31, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) The Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer has confirmed he is stepping down at the election citing intimidation and threats that have left him and his family frightened for his life. The 63-year-old told the Daily Mail he feels […]

Cleverly promises to crack down on hate ‘provocateurs’ at Palestine protests Exclusive: Home secretary tells Jewish News 'the police and government are working at identifying and dealing with those provocateurs, those people who are driven by antisemitism'

January 28, 2024 Lee Harpin and Jerry Lewis

(Jewish News) Home secretary James Cleverly has insisted the police are now making “significant arrests” of those responsible for antisemitic hate crimes at pro-Palestinian rallies. But he has admitted these arrests and prosecutions need to be better publicised to help calm widespread […]

Sunak criticises Starmer over legal advice he gave to extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir Labour leader's spokesperson says he gave advice in 2008 to the group, set to be banned in the UK, as 'lawyers give advice to people they don't necessarily agree with'

January 17, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) Rishi Sunak has attempted to use Keir Starmer’s past record as a barrister, when he offered advice to the Islamist extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir in a case in Germany, as means of discrediting the Labour leader’s position on UK security. […]

Speaker cheered as he calls for ‘world to be de-Zionised’ at London pro-Palestine demo Mohammed el-Kurd, a Palestinian writer and poet, is an official speaker at latest PSC-organised protest in London and urges attendees to 'root Zionism out of the world'

January 13, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) An official speaker [at] the latest pro-Palestine demonstration in London has been cheered loudly as he called for the world to be “de-Zionised.” Mohammed el-Kurd, a Palestinian writer and poet who spoke from the stage at Saturday’s protest, added: “We […]

Lib Dem councillor sparks fury after refusing to address antisemitism concerns Birmingham city councillor Ayoub Khan refuses to answer concerns put to him that he considers antisemitism awareness training 'is beneath you'

January 11, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) A Liberal Democrat councillor exposed by Jewish News for questioning evidence that Hamas carried out atrocities in Israel on October 7th has sparked renewed anger after refusing to confirm he has undertaken antisemitism awareness training for linking the Jewish state […]

Pro-Palestine group who confronted Starmer in Scotland praised Hamas’ 7 October atrocities Two people were charged after the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign urged activists to confront Labour leader in Glasgow on Thursday

December 8, 2023 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) A pro-Palestine group who confronted Keir Starmer as he arrived in Glasgow for a speaking event issued a statement on the day of the 7 October Hamas terror attacks in Israel praising them as “remarkable gains made by the Palestinian […]

Iranian school in London that sparked antisemitism fears served with closure notice Exclusive: Department for Education confirms a 'deregistration notice' sent to School of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Brent.

November 30, 2023 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) A north London Iranian school where children were filmed allegedly being encouraged to use antisemitic Islamist chants in the playground has been served with a closure notice, Jewish News can reveal. The Department for Education has confirmed it has issued […]

Muslim activist who led mosque call for Starmer to resign once declared: ‘We are all Hamas’ Exclusive: Mukhtar Master organised a statement criticising the Labour leader by 20 mosques in Preston.

November 13, 2023 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) A British Muslim activist who led an attempt to force Labour councillors to call for Keir Starmer to resign over his position on Gaza has previously openly spoken in support of Hamas, Jewish News can reveal. Mukhtar Master, who organised […]

Lib Dem councillor questions accounts of Hamas terrorist atrocities A Lib Dem spokesperson confirms a complaint about Birmingham city councillor Ayoub Khan's [TikTok] posts is being investigated.

October 26, 2023 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) An elected Liberal Democrat councillor has repeatedly questioned evidence of Hamas terrorist atrocities in Israel on 7 October, saying he “has a problem with the credibility” of an account of the massacre carried out at a kibbutz. Birmingham city councillor […]

Hamas terrorists praised in speech by activist at far-left festival Yasmin Elsouda, an activist and member of the Palestinian Youth Movement, told attendees at The World Transformed festival in Liverpool: 'Yesterday over 230 of our siblings ... ascended to martyrdom at the hands of the Zionist entity'

October 8, 2023 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) Hamas terrorists responsible for the barbaric attacks on Israel have been openly praised at a [far-left] conference in Liverpool, set up by far-left activists to run at the same time as the official Labour one. Speaking at an event on […]

Tory councillor rejoins party after apologising for ‘Zionist murderers’ posts Shakeel Hussain, a councillor in Stockton, had been suspended while the party investigated inflammatory social media posts

September 15, 2023 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) A Conservative councillor suspended earlier this year over social media posts, including one condemning “Zionist murderers,” has been allowed back into the party after apologising and insisting: “I am not antisemitic. I want to make amends.’” Shakeel Hussain has been […]

Fury as Iran-linked IHRC stages Wembley event chaired by disgraced academic Miller Exclusive: Board says Friday evening event, also featuring pro-Corbyn writer Asa Winstanley at the Islamic Human Rights Commission's HQ in north London, 'shows utter contempt for Jewish community'

August 9, 2023 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) A human rights organisation alleged to have close links with Iran is at the centre of renewed controversy over its staging of an event featuring the disgraced sociology professor David Miller and a writer criticised over antisemitism claims. The Islamic […]

‘Antisemitism scandal’ candidate triumphs for Conservatives at local elections Shakeel Hussain — who previously wrote of 'Zionist murderers' and 'so-called antisemtism' — was voted in as a councillor at the local elections in Stockton's Ropner ward

May 6, 2023 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) A local election candidate at the centre of an antisemitism scandal has been voted in as a Conservative councillor on the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. Shakeel Hussain triumphed in Thursday’s vote in the Ropner ward, despite newspaper reports about the emergence of Facebook […]

Communal leader says he was warned by counter-terrorism officers of plot to murder him The man, who spoke to a newspaper anonymously, said he believes Iran, and its ruling Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), want to murder him

May 3, 2023 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) A respected communal leader has revealed he was warned by two counter-terrorism officers of a plot to assassinate him. The man, who spoke to the i newspaper with the agreement of anonymity, said the two officers had read out the […]

Tories allow candidate ousted by Labour over ‘Zionist’ posts to stand in local elections Shakeel Munir Hussain was dropped as Labour's candidate in Stockton-on-Tees election, but now stands for the Conservatives.

April 27, 2023 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) The Conservatives are standing a candidate in next week’s local elections who was dropped by Labour after they were alerted to his social media posts, including Rothschild conspiracy theories and claims about governments being “controlled by Zionist money.” Shakeel Munir Hussain […]

NHS trust director steps down after JN uncovers posts about Holocaust and ‘real Jews’ Exclusive: Maqsood Ahmad, non-executive director of the Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, previously held senior role at the Home Office including 'advising the home secretary on equality and policing'

April 25, 2023 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) A director of an NHS foundation trust has “stepped down with immediate effect” from his role after Jewish News raised concerns about social media posts comparing Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians with the Nazi Holocaust, and comments about “real Jews.” […]

Two men charged over ‘Khaybar Khaybar’ demo chant claim Met Police confirm two men have been charged with behaviour 'likely to stir up racial hatred' and have been bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 17 May.

April 20, 2023 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) Two men have been charged with behaviour “likely to stir up racial hatred” at a demonstration where they allegedly chanted references to the historic massacre of Jews at the battle of Khaybar. In a statement issued by the Metropolitan Police […]

Tory councillor previously accused of ‘abhorrent antisemitism’ welcomed at Downing St Exclusive: Party chairman Greg Hands invites councillor Ishfaq Hussain, who was also pictured recently with prime minister Rishi Sunak, to Number 10

April 13, 2023 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) A Conservative councillor, previously suspended for social media posts that were branded “abhorrent and antisemitic” by the Jewish Leadership Council, has been invited to an event at Downing Street by party chairman Greg Hands. Councillor Ishfaq Hussain, who once posted the […]

CAGE accused of ‘excusing deliberate murder and inciting hate’ in Dee family tweets Controversial Muslim advocacy group appears to blame family of the two British-Israeli sisters Maia and Rina Dee for their murder in the West Bank

April 11, 2023 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) Controversial Muslim advocacy group CAGE has been accused of “excusing deliberate murder and inciting hatred” in a social media response to the killing of the two British-Israeli sisters Maia and Rina Dee. In an inflammatory Twitter thread posted on the […]

Government’s anti-terror programme failing to ‘understand and tackle antisemitism’ William Shawcross's long-[awaited] report into the Prevent programme includes references to cases that the author says show 'the prevalence of extreme antisemitism'

February 8, 2023 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) The government’s anti-terror programme is not doing enough to “understand and tackle antisemitism,” a new report has concluded. The findings of former Charity Commission chairman William Shawcross’s long-awaited report into the Prevent programme included claims by the author he was […]

Ofcom confirms ‘significant failings’ in BBC Chanukah bus attack report Broadcast watchdog says BBC caused 'distress and anxiety to the victims of the attack and the wider Jewish community.'

November 7, 2022 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) An Ofcom investigation into the BBC’s reporting of the Oxford Street Chanukah bus attack on a group of Jewish students has uncovered “significant editorial failings” following the broadcast. The BBC’s reports of the November 2021 incident claimed that an audio […]

NUS president is sacked after antisemitism probe Shaima Dallali is dismissed as president of the student body after panel meets to consider the findings of KC Rebecca Tuck's investigation into antisemitism allegations

November 1, 2022 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) The president of the National Union of Students (NUS) Shaima Dallali has been dismissed from her role — following an independent investigation into antisemitism claims against her and the student body. Jewish News has learned that an NUS disciplinary panel has concluded […]

Met Police drop investigation into Oxford Street Chanukah bus attack Exclusive: Police confirm they have closed probe into the November 2021 incident, in which men abused a bus carrying a group of young Jews, after they fail to identify the suspects

October 7, 2022 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) The Metropolitan Police have dropped their investigation into [an] antisemitic attack directed at Jewish passengers as they celebrated Chanukah on a bus in central London. In a statement to Jewish News, the Met confirmed their probe into the incident, footage […]

Ofcom rules TV channel broadcast ‘antisemitic hate speech’ The Ahlebait channel, serving the UK's Shia Muslim community, said it 'sincerely regrets potentially offensive antisemitic remarks were broadcast,' after CST complains to broadcast watchdog

July 27, 2022 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) The broadcast watchdog Ofcom has ruled that a television channel serving the Shia Muslim community in the UK broadcast content that “amounted to antisemitic hate speech” and was “abusive and derogatory towards Jewish people.” Investigating a complaint made by the […]

London mosque hosts hate preacher who called 9/11 and Charlie Hebdo attacks ‘comedy’ MP demands to know how Egyptian-born Dr Omar Abdul Kafi, who has also given sermons about getting 'revenge' on Jews, was allowed into the UK to speak at Finsbury Park mosque in north London.

April 22, 2022 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) An MP has demanded to know “how on earth” an Egyptian-born “hate preacher who has previously given sermons about killing Jews” was allowed to enter the UK. Dr Omar Abdul Kafi had last month given a lecture at the Finsbury […]

Tories turn their back on own candidate over inflammatory Israel posts Sham Raja, the Bury Conservatives candidate in the Sedgley ward, shared Facebook posts including one claiming Palestinian women were having 'unborn children ripped out.'

April 12, 2022 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) A local election candidate standing in one of the most Jewish populated wards in England “no longer has the endorsement of Bury Conservative Party” after his inflammatory social media posts on Israel were revealed. Sham Raja, who had been confirmed […]

New NUS president posted Islamic chant threatening ‘Jews’ and sympathised with Hamas Shaima Dallali was confirmed as the next NUS leader following a vote at the student body's annual conference in Liverpool on Monday.

March 28, 2022 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) The National Union of Students has voted for a new president who only last week had to apologise for a historic tweet in which she posted the words of an infamous Islamic chant threatening “Jews” with an attack by “the […]

CST ‘completely rejects’ BBC’s claim it confirmed anti-Muslim phrase used Community Security Trust reacted furiously to allegation made in findings of a BBC investigation over the Chanukah attack report

January 26, 2022 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) The Community Security Trust has reacted furiously to claims made in the findings of an investigation into the BBC’s Chanukah bus reporting, that they were responsible for confirming the slur “dirty Muslims” could be heard in video footage of the […]

JNF UK censured by Board of Deputies over chair’s ‘bigoted remarks’ about Muslims 64% of deputies vote in favour of a resolution in response to remarks made to Jewish News by Hayek, who claims Jews have no future in the UK as a result of Muslim immigration.

January 23, 2022 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) JNF UK has been censured by the Board of Deputies over its failure to “disavow” the “inflammatory and bigoted remarks” of its chair Samuel Hayek after a heated debate during Sunday’s plenary. Two-thirds of deputies voted in favour of a resolution […]

Manager at advocacy group MEND shares social media posts uncritical of Taliban Exclusive: One post shared by the Muslim Engagement and Development group's Nayeem Haque praised the 'impressive performance' of Taliban officials.

January 20, 2022 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) A manager working for the Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) organisation has posted and shared a series of social media messages that are all uncritical of the Taliban. Nayeem Haque, who has been employed as MEND’s London regional manager since […]

Board of Deputies senior VP asked to ‘step down’ over far-right social media posts Exclusive: Investigation launched into posts by Gary Mond, deputy for JNF UK, who is accused of showing support for anti-Islam activist Pamela Geller, who is banned from the UK.

January 12, 2022 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) Board of Deputies senior vice-president Gary Mond has been asked to “step down from his duties” while an investigation into allegations of anti-Muslim sentiment takes place. Mond — the deputy for Israel charity JNF UK where he is a trustee […]

Charity chief’s migrant warning sparks communal outrage Exclusive: JNF UK chairman Samuel Hayek’s claim that Muslim immigration threatens the future of Jewish life in Britain branded ‘simplistic and reckless’

December 22, 2021 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) The chairman of one [of] the UK’s top Jewish charities provoked dismay among community leaders this week after claiming immigration into this country would leave Jews with “no future in England.” Asked about comments made to an Israeli newspaper earlier […]

Chief executive of MEND wrote: ‘Israel’s generosity is like that of Hitler’ Exclusive: Azhar Qayum, head of Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND), tells Jewish News his incendiary comment on Facebook from 2014 was 'not meant as an insult to any people.'

August 16, 2021 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) The chief executive of Islamic advocacy group Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) wrote that “Israel’s generosity is like the ‘generosity’ of Hitler” in an incendiary social media post. Azhar Qayum made the claim during a heated online debate sparked by […]