Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

UK government urged to overhaul Prevent and counter-extremism policies Letter from civil society groups also calls on Labour to suspend Michael Gove's proposed definition of extremism

(Middle East Eye) A coalition of leading civil society organisations has urged the UK Labour government to overhaul counter-extremism policies including the controversial Prevent programme, Middle East Eye can exclusively report. In a letter sent to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, the organisations also […]

Government & Politics

Independent MP recorded telling Muslim male voters they had ‘duty’ to vote for him Iqbal Mohamed, who won in Dewsbury & Batley, denies breaching strict rules on improper religious interference at the general election

(Jewish News) A newly elected Muslim independent MP has been recorded telling people to “follow the teachings of the prophet” and vote for him, days before the general election. Iqbal Mohamed, who won in Dewsbury & Batley, and faced claims that his […]

Academics & Education

School serves ‘halal only’ lunches as local council faces demands for urgent answers A mother was left bemused after her daughter’s secondary school refused to provide non-halal meat options

(GB News) A local council is being quizzed by a leading Conservative politician after a secondary school started offering “halal only” lunches. Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies approached the Vale of Glamorgan Council after a constituent flagged Cowbridge Comprehensive School only […]

Government & Politics

New Muslim group ‘supported by Labour’ aims to challenge MCB’s leadership Former army imam among prominent figures involved in new network which seeks to engage with Keir Starmer's government and 'influence public policy'

(Middle East Eye) The Labour Party is supporting the creation of a new Muslim leadership group intended to become the primary point of engagement between Keir Starmer’s government and Muslim communities in the UK, Middle East Eye can exclusively reveal. A draft […]

Government & Politics

Geert Wilders to ‘Post’: Mass immigration, lack of integration cause antisemitism In his first interview with Israeli media since his coalition's formation, Geert Wilders spoke to the Jerusalem Post about his support for Israel.

(Jerusalem Post) To stop rising antisemitism in the Netherlands and Europe political leaders must put an end to open border mass immigration and reverse the cultural relativist failure to foster integration, Dutch Party for Freedom founder and leader Geert Wilders told the […]

Government & Politics

New MP who said election win was ‘for Gaza’ is brother of Islamist group founder Exclusive: Shockat Adam, who defeated former Labour shadow minister Jon Ashworth in Leicester South, is brother of Ismail Patel, who 'saluted' Hamas' attacks on 7 October

(Jewish News) A newly elected MP who dedicated his victory to “the people of Gaza” is the brother of the founder of the hardline Islamist group Friends of Al Aqsa, it can be revealed. Shockat Adam was the surprise winner in Leicester […]

Government & Politics

Pro-Gaza candidates capture seats from Labour as Muslim heartlands revolt Keir Starmer's party suffers startling loss of support in once-safe constituencies despite national landslide win

(National-UAE) Pro-Palestinian candidates scored shock wins in the UK general election, as Britain’s new Labour government suffered a startling loss of support in heavily Muslim areas. Independent candidate Shockat Adam declared “this is for Gaza” as he unseated Labour front-bencher Jonathan Ashworth […]

Demographics

Pro-Palestine campaigner sets sights on unseating Labour frontbench MP Shabana Mahmood Solicitor Akhmed Yakoob focused on Gaza to secure election upset against potential UK justice secretary

(National-UAE) Outsider Akhmed Yakoob believes “this election is mine to lose” as he looks to unseat the most senior frontbench Muslim Labour MP in the July 4 UK general election. Shabana Mahmood stands to become the UK’s justice secretary if her party […]

Government & Politics

Rochdale loyalties tested by Galloway’s Labour challenge on Gaza policy Flamboyant MP tells the National his by-election victory was a signal that British Muslims could provide a significant general election upset

(National-UAE) Rochdale, says its current MP George Galloway, will be remembered as the place where Britain’s Muslims saw that there was a new way of finding a political voice. His view, although bound with self-interest, was certainly borne out during the National’s […]

Government & Politics

UK election: What is The Muslim Vote — and why does it matter? The campaign backs a list of MPs for the election, and has been driven by Labour's early support for Israel’s war on Gaza

(Middle East Eye) Launched in December 2023, The Muslim Vote (TMV) is a campaign in the UK supporting parliamentary candidates for the upcoming election in constituencies with a significant Muslim electorate. Much of its driving force has been the early support from the […]

Government & Politics

Nigel Farage called out for ‘blanket accusation’ as he says ‘growing number’ of Muslims ‘loathe’ British values The honorary president of Reform UK also said the Conservatives and Labour were to blame for an increase in immigration, not Brexit — after Sky's Trevor Phillips challenged him for his 'offensive' remarks about Muslims.

(Sky News) Nigel Farage has argued on Sky News that a “growing number” of young Muslims in the UK do not subscribe to British values. The Reform UK honorary president told Sky News’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “We have a growing […]

Government & Politics
Government & Politics

Immigration minister raises issues over visa scheme for Palestinians to come to UK MPs from across all parties have spoken in support of a Ukraine-style scheme to allow Palestinians with families in the UK to escape the conflict in Gaza

(Jewish News) Immigration minister Tom Pursglove has said calls for the UK government to set up a Gaza family visa scheme for Palestinians to come to this country would be kept “under review” during a debate in Westminster. Responding to a succession of speeches […]

Government & Politics

Anger over Starmer’s Gaza stance dents Labour election glory Opposition thumps Conservatives in local polls, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's leadership may survive his party's losses

(National-UAE) Labour’s elation at thumping the Conservatives in the England and Wales local elections has been tempered by concern that it is losing key voter blocs, particularly in Muslim communities, over its stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Labour’s attempt to unseat the […]

Government & Politics

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'

(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 […]

Government & Politics

Michael Gove names far-right and Islamist groups which could fall under fresh extremism definition The communities secretary insisted the government has no intention of restricting 'freedom of expression, religion or belief,' as critics warned the new definition could have a 'chilling effect' on free speech.

(Sky News) Michael Gove has named five groups that will be re-assessed as a result of the government’s new definition of extremism. Speaking in the Commons, the communities secretary said two far-right organisations — the British National Socialist Movement and the Patriotic […]

Government & Politics

New extremism definition unveiled because ‘democracy at risk from far-right and Islamist extremists’ Michael Gove updates the description to include conduct that falls short of criminality, but the government still deems 'unacceptable.'

(Sky News) The government has unveiled its new definition of extremism despite warnings it could have a “chilling effect” on free speech. Michael Gove, the communities secretary, has updated the definition as part of a drive to clamp down on the Islamist […]

Demonstrations

Michael Gove says ‘good-hearted people’ at pro-Palestine marches should question potential ‘extremist organisers’ Tens of thousands of people participated in a Gaza protest on Saturday in London — the fifth march in the capital this year — which saw five arrests and a counter-protester de-arrested.

(Sky News) Michael Gove has urged pro-Palestinian protesters to question whether extremist groups are behind some of the demonstrations — days ahead of publishing a new official definition of extremism. The housing secretary said “good-hearted people” attending the marches should be aware […]

Academics & Education

UK to create ‘blacklist’ of Muslim groups under new extremism definition Government is bringing in robust changes to target groups and individuals 'undermining' British values

(National-UAE) The UK government is creating a “blacklist” of organisations under a new definition of extremism which would see their funding cut. Several Muslim groups are likely to be on the list after being singled out in government reports. The groups facing […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

In Britain, shockwaves from Israel-Hamas war are jolting domestic politics The United States and several European nations have been caught up in toxic debates that have altered election campaigns and led to eruptions of inflammatory language over the conflict.

(NY Times) Inside Britain’s Parliament, lawmakers jeered, booed, and stormed out of the House of Commons to protest the speaker’s handling of a vote calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. Outside, a crowd of pro-Palestinian demonstrators projected the slogan, “From the river […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

UK’s Tories tear themselves apart over Islamophobia A row over a suspended MP has triggered a days-long debate in the governing party about anti-Muslim hatred.

(Politico) Britain’s Conservatives have yet another civil war on their hands. The governing party has spent much of the past week publicly agonizing about anti-Muslim prejudice — and the bitter row shows no signs of subsiding. Lee Anderson, the party’s former deputy […]