As the United Kingdom faces a series of protests and counter-protesters, several Muslim preachers across the country have claimed during their Friday sermons that "Zionists” are to blame for the riots and unrest throughout the United Kingdom.
Must read article in The Telegraph exposing how a several imams use their sermons to blame “Zionists” for the clashes between far-Right rioters and Muslim counter-protesters.
No matter what happens, it’s apparently always the Jews’ fault.
https://t.co/MVqvDgKuHs— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) August 24, 2024
During a week of violent clashes between “far-right” protesters and counter-protesters, which also includes Muslims, several imams in the UK reportedly attributed the unrest to a "Zionist agenda.”
Imam Ashraf Dabous, who serves as the deputy imam of the Lewisham Islamic Centre in south London, said that the far-right protesters and anti-Muslim riots were being “manipulated and misguided” by Zionists to attack the reputation of British Muslims.
Dabous also claimed that the far-right riots, which broke out after the murder of three young girls in Southport, were fuelled by misinformation spread by supporters of Israel.
Last Friday, the malevolent force behind the riots was revealed at the Lewisham Islamic Centre. Yes, it’s “Zionists”.
The very next day, praise was heaped on the mosque at a “United Against Racism” rally featuring councillors, a vicar, the Green Party, and “Stand Up To Racism”. pic.twitter.com/x1JiLYPmXF— habibi (@habibi_uk) August 13, 2024
"It is quite well known now, publicly, due to information that has been released online, that they are Zionists and they are supporters of the state of Israel,” Dabous said about the rioters.
The imam also conceded that while the protesters were prejudiced, Dabous also said they had been misled by “individuals who do not have their best interests at heart.”
“And that with the ground that has been lost over the past few months, something had to take place that would try to win some ground back for the Zionist agenda. And what better way than to paint the Muslims as being savages and killers and barbaric and so on and so forth – which in reality is a projection of the Zionist state itself.” he also added.
Pakistani man (in Pakistan) charged with cybercrime linked to riots in Britain
- by Mubasher Bukhari@ReutersWorld https://t.co/H1G2wbWyaf— Miriam Cosic (@miriamcosic) August 23, 2024
An imam from Blackburn also told listeners that the leaders of the "acts of violence" during the were "Zionist people."
Speaking at the Masjid Al Husayn Mosque in Leicester, Sheikh Ali Abbas Malik called British anti-Islam campaigner and far-right activist Tommy Robinson a “Zionist.”
“Then you have Zionists such as Tommy Robinson, paid by, supported by the fathers of all genocides, the Zionist regime, to perpetuate these ideas amongst them,” Malik said.
Robinson founded the anti-Islam, far-right English Defence League in 2009 and left the United Kingdom after being arrested for terrorism last July.
Well, isn't the instigator of the riots Tommy Robinson a zionist? They are right to blame zionism, the cancer of our world!
— TruthSeeker (@FreeDom1245357) August 25, 2024
On August 9th, another imam, Shaykh Mostahfiz Gani, claimed that “there is a link between Tommy Robinson and the IDF."
Haitham al-Haddad of the Greenwich Islamic Center claimed that rioters have a “Zionist” agenda and are attempting to “divert the attention” away from “condemning what the Zionist state Israel is doing.”
All of the mosques or Islamic religious centers mentioned are registered charities and, therefore, are governed by the Charity Commission.
Various groups, such as the Campaign Against Antisemitism, have condemned the remarks made by British imams regarding the riots.
FFS we are being blamed for everything it’s never ending
— Manx Tony (@Tonyt34200) August 7, 2024
“This pattern of blaming the riots on ‘Zionists’ is as alarming as it is prevalent.“According to our representative polling, an overwhelming majority of 80 percent of British Jews consider themselves to be Zionist, and only six percent do not. They know what these preachers mean when they say ‘Zionists’.” Campaign Against Antisemitism said.
“We urge the Charity Commission to investigate any charities that platform this sort of extremist rhetoric and divisive rhetoric, and we are submitting complaints whenever cases are brought to our attention. They cannot be left unchallenged.” the group added.
In response, a spokesperson for the Charity Commission said the commission is “aware of potential concerns at several charities relating to claims about the recent public disorder. We are assessing information to determine if there is a role for the Commission.”
