Billyboy

London Mayor Sadiq Khan: “British Muslims are scared”

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We all know why Nick Timothy MP singles out Muslims celebrating Ramadan in Trafalgar Sq. Not because praying is domination, but because he wants to blow a rabid anti-Muslim dog whistle for political gain. He should be nowhere near politics, let alone the shadow front bench.

30,000 at Eid prayers in Small Heath, Birmingham. It’s probably fair to say that Sir Jim Ratcliffe may have had a point. Now for the inevitable fireworks battles later!

Eid Mubarak to everyone celebrating in London and around the world. This Ramadan, I’ve had the privilege of breaking bread with Londoners of all backgrounds.

Too many are too polite to say this. But mass ritual prayer in public places is an act of domination. The adhan - which declares there is no god but allah and Muhammad is his messenger - is, when called in a public place, a declaration of domination. Perform these rituals in mosques if you wish. But they are not welcome in our public places and shared institutions. And given their explicit repudiation of Christianity they certainly do not belong in our churches and cathedrals. I am not suggesting everybody at Trafalgar Square last night is an Islamist. But the domination of public places is straight from the Islamist playbook. Trafalgar Square belongs to all of us. It is a national memorial to our independence and our salvation. Last night was not like a televised football match or a St Patrick’s Day celebration. It was an act of domination and therefore division. It shouldn’t happen again.

Imagine seeing British people at prayer and thinking “this is a great chance to stoke fear, hatred and division”. People who do that should have no place in British politics. Freedom to worship is a fundamental British value – one the Conservative Party used to believe in.