Robert Jenrick has been criticized by a rival for the Conservative leadership and Muslim parliamentarians for saying police should “immediately arrest” any protesters shouting “Allahu Akbar”, the Arabic phrase that means God is great.

The former immigration minister was speaking on Sky News about the accusations that police have been treating far-right marches and violence more harshly than other protests.

Jenrick said on Sky News he had been angered by the way pro-Palestinian demonstrations had been policed. “I have been very critical of police in the past, particularly around the attitude of some police forces to the protests we saw since [the Hamas attack on Israel on] 7 October.

“I thought it was quite wrong that somebody could shout ‘Allahu Akbar’ on the streets of London and not be immediately arrested; project genocidal chants on to Big Ben and not be immediately arrested. That attitude is wrong and I’ll always call out the police for it.”

Jenrick, who is one of the favorites to win the Conservative leadership, was criticized by Mel Stride, the former work and pensions secretary who is also vying for the leadership, as well as by the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, and the Conservative peer Sayeeda Warsi. Jenrick said his comments were about the words in the context of protests.

Stride said the “suggestion of wholesale criminalization of the words Allahu Akbar is unwise and insensitive”.

“Any threat in the use of these words can only ever be implied in the very rarest of circumstances,” he added. “Context clearly matters hugely here.”

Rayner, who was speaking in Rotherham as reports spread of further far-right violence on Wednesday night, August 7, said: “People like Robert Jenrick have been stirring up some of the problems that we’ve seen in our communities. Actually, what we want to see is communities coming together, and the vast majority of the public want to see that.”

Muslim politicians criticized the Tory former minister, one of six bidding to be the party’s next leader, accusing him of Islamophobia.

When Jenrick’s comments were first aired, Lady Warsi, a former Tory cabinet minister, wrote on X: “Every day before we start parliamentary business in the Commons and Lords we say a prayer and praise God – we say our parliamentary version of Allahu Akbars at the heart of democracy – a process Robert Jenrick is a part of. This language from Jenrick is more of his usual nasty divisive rhetoric – he is such a tool.”

Naz Shah, the MP for Bradford West, said: “This is complete ignorance and textbook Islamophobia from Robert Jenrick. It literally equates every Muslim in the world with extremism … It’s a basic Islamic saying that every Muslim in the world says in prayer.

“Imagine in this climate, either being that ignorant or deliberately trying to stigmatize all Muslims. He should apologize and speak to Muslim communities and learn more about our faith.”

Afzal Khan, another Labour MP, said: “Another day, another senior Tory being Islamophobic. Allahu Akbar means God is great – the Muslim equivalent of hallelujah. Jenrick’s confidence in going on national TV to say people should be arrested for saying Allahu Akbar exposes his deep-seated prejudice against Muslims.”

Speaking later on Times Radio, Jenrick stood by his comments. “I fundamentally disagree with Sayeeda Warsi … If a politician like myself, a political leader who aspires to be leader of the opposition of our country, cannot speak out about the undoubted problem we have as a country with Islamist extremism for fear of being falsely labelled as a racist by an individual such as Sayeeda Warsi, then that is a very troubling situation.”

The Muslim Council of Britain said: “We are shocked at Robert Jenrick’s claim on Sky News this morning that those who proclaim ‘God is great’ (or Allahu Akbar) in public should be arrested.

“As a prospective leader, Mr Jenrick should be showing leadership, reassuring our communities when fear is palpable. Instead, calling for a well-worn religious phrase to warrant arrest is the kind of divisive language we would come to expect by sections of the media and politicians. This divisive rhetoric has emboldened the far-right thugs we see on our streets today.

“He should apologize, fully retract his comments and speak to ordinary Muslims to understand why his remarks are so outrageous. Rather than inflaming tensions, he should focus on ways to bring communities together.”

Jenrick posted on X later on Wednesday, August 7, that he acknowledged it was a religious phrase, but said it could also be used as part of public disorder.

Following the backlash, the former immigration minister doubled down by posting a video on X of a march through Bolton with people chanting “Allahu Akbar”.

He said: “’Allahu Akbar’ is spoken peacefully and spiritually by millions of British Muslims in their daily lives. But the aggressive chanting below is intimidatory and threatening.

“And it’s an offence under Section 4 and 5 of the Public Order Act.”

But he was accused of trying to justify what he said rather than apologize by other senior Conservatives.

Baroness Warsi addressed Mr Jenrick directly on X, saying: “No Robert, you do not get to go on national broadcasters and say one thing and try and pretend you said something else after!

“If you genuinely feel your comments on Sky News were inappropriate, offensive, incendiary and anti Muslim (which they were) then start by apologizing.

“Then you can go back to pretending you a responsible candidate for the leadership of our party.”

Former Tory Foreign Office minister Lord Ahmad said the comments fuel Islamophobia “at a time when communal tensions are high”.

He said: “Don’t try and ‘qualify’ your comments – just apologize!”

Mr Jenrick also faced criticism from Muslim organizations, with the Muslim Council of Britain saying his remark “only goes to show that institutional Islamophobia is alive and well in the Conservative Party”.

Responding to Ms Rayner’s comments, a spokesperson for Mr Jenrick said: “Robert has called out all disorder in the strongest possible terms, whether from the far-right or retaliatory violence from sectarian mobs.

“We are yet to see one Labour politician do the same. The country needs strong leadership, not squeamishness.”

Source: The Guardian

This wasn’t a protest. This was supposed to be a standard general election declaration – where the most eye-catching thing you can usually hope to see is a glimpse of a candidate dressed as a bin or wearing a baked bean balaclava.

But it was the rise of a different kind of alternative candidate which caught the eye in Birmingham.

On a night Labour was cruising to victory nationally, huge Labour majorities in the second city were being slashed, and even overcome, by independents.

The scenes at the ICC were the culmination of six weeks of campaigning described as “gruesome” by Labour’s Yardley MP Jess Phillips.

There have been complaints to the police and claims of intimidation.

So what happened in Birmingham? Why did Labour struggle here while independent candidates thrived, and why is there so much anger?

In the run up to the election, political commentators – and I include myself – have probably been guilty of oversimplifying the issues in Birmingham, describing independents and Workers Party candidates in the city as campaigning on a “Gaza platform”.

That is true, but there are other, important reasons for the strong performance of those candidates.

Ayoub Khan was the big independent winner of the night, overturning a 22,000 Labour majority to become the independent MP for Perry Barr.

Speaking outside the House of Commons this week, he acknowledged that Gaza was the “prime factor” in his election.

But he also hit out at what he believes is the neglect of areas like Perry Barr.

He said: “There’s many issues in the Perry Barr constituency, stemming from homelessness to fly tipping, anti-social behavior.

“We have some of the highest levels of deprivation, cost of living. So I think all of those factors combined created a tsunami that resulted in my victory.”

And this is a message repeated by those living in ethnically diverse areas with large Muslim populations, overseen by Labour MPs and a Labour council. They feel taken for granted, ignored.

People here have lived under a Conservative government for 14 years, but some have had Labour MPs for decades – and a Labour-led council for 12 years. A council which recently hiked council tax by 10% and cut services.

In Perry Barr there’s a visual reminder of the council’s under-performance.

Land around the railway station remains undeveloped and flashy apartments, heralded as a legacy of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, remain empty.

While visiting the area I spoke with Roshan Dass, postmaster of Perry Barr post office.

He complains about the anti-social behavior in the area, his shop regularly visited by shoplifters. What appears to be drug dealing in the area comes to a halt as we turn on the camera for an interview.

Asked why people turned against the main parties at this election, he said: “They are frustrated – no jobs, benefits cut.”

He added: “Nothing has been done here, I’ve been here 43 years and I’ve never seen this area as bad as what it is now.”

And that feeling of under-representation is what appears to be at the heart of this election story: the rise of the alternative candidates, and the anger surrounding it.

Jody McIntyre narrowly lost to Jess Phillips in Birmingham Yardley but plans to carry on being a voice for communities he says are not represented by the mainstream parties.

He described the Conservatives and Labour as “two sides of the same coin” and added: “There’s something really particular to Birmingham that on a local level, as well as a parliamentary level, Labour are really failing communities here.”

Speaking after holding onto her seat, Jess Phillips defended Labour.

She said: “The fact of the matter is my constituents will be way better off under a Labour government… but we have to prove that.”

She also hit out at the nature of the campaign: “It’s been one of the worst election campaigns I’ve ever stood in.”

Both Jess Phillips and the outgoing Labour MP for Perry Barr, Khalid Mahmood, made complaints to West Midlands Police during the campaign.

A campaigner’s tires being slashed and intimidation at polling stations are among the claims, although no arrests or charges have been made.

A statement from the force said: “Our officers are aware of a number of incidents leading up to the election where people have reported criminal damage and harassment, and we are carrying out enquiries to identify those responsible.”

Both Ayoub Khan and Jody McIntyre have denied their campaigners have overstepped the line and both condemned any criminal conduct.

Mr McIntyre has also claimed he was the victim of online abuse which mocked his disability during the campaign.

Asked if the legacy of this election was division, Jody McIntyre said: “I believe that we had a unifying campaign that engaged all sections of the community and will continue to engage even more people.

“Political issues will cause division. Because people have different opinions. There’s nothing wrong with division so long as it doesn’t lead to abuse or personal mudslinging.”

It’s a little under two years until the next local council elections in Birmingham. But, based on the general election, it looks as if the alternative candidates will have a significant influence on Birmingham’s politics for some time to come.

Source: BBC

Among those who spoke at a rally near the Vollmer Complex in LaSalle, where students gathered after leaving their second-period class, was an individual who has lost 16 family members in Gaza.

The goal of the walkout was to show solidarity and urge local leaders to take action to provide support. Organizers also called for a ceasefire and for Canadian government officials to stop providing military aid to Israel. Additionally, they emphasized the need for mental health assistance for Palestinian students and efforts to counter antisemitism and Islamophobia in schools.

The walkout was part of a coordinated effort by Ceasefire Now, a coalition of 42 high school student groups in Ontario, to call for an immediate ceasefire.

Source: CTV NEWS

Violence erupted in the Indian capital on Monday, leading to a three-day-long rampage, with Hindu mobs attacking Muslim homes, shops and mosques. The attacks were carried out on protesters, who have been rallying against a new citizenship law, after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kapil Mishra threatened peaceful sit-ins would be removed from the streets.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed last December has been compared to US President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban as it blocks naturalization for Muslims, who form nearly 15 percent of India’s 1.3 billion population.

More than 30 people have been killed in a harsh police crackdown on nationwide peaceful sit-ins against the “anti-Muslim” law.

Source: Aljazeera

The hall had been rented by the Union of Muslim Worship and Cultural Associations of Clichy-la-Garenne (UAMC) since May 2013, but their lease expired in 2016. A court of appeal then ruled against the UAMC, who have been negotiating with the council to keep their old prayer space ever since.

As a result from taking the hall from the UAMC, 300 children now cannot attend Arabic or Islamic history classes formerly being held there.

Local authorities have argued that Muslims can use the new Clichy Muslim Cultural and Worship Center (ACCCMC) that was inaugurated last year. But after visiting the new center – located next to a car pound – last year, UAMC’s supporters say it’s too small and too far away.

“For women, the elderly and children who travel by foot or by public transport in the evenings, it will be difficult for us to get there,” Rabiaa, a member of the UAMC, told.

Protesters have been gathering outside the town hall for ten days now, and have vowed to stay every day until the issue is resolved.

There are an estimated five million Muslims in France, and street prayers are becoming more frequent due to a shortage of mosques. Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has pointed to such outdoor prayers as an example of Muslim encroachment on French secular values.

Source: RT

The protest was organized by a Bangladeshi group, Dhuumcatu, which has complained that Muslim places of worship in Rome have been branded illegal by authorities for various building violations. The group wants City Hall to intervene.

Police confirmed the closure of some places of prayer. In a statement, police said authorities guarantee freedom of thought, but within a legal framework. The anti-immigrant Northern League demanded to know why the group was allowed to stage a protest in such a visible and significant location for tourism.

Source: The Associated Press (AP)