Nigel Farage has been condemned by Muslim leaders and politicians after calling for a ban on mass public prayers by Muslims in the UK. The Reform UK leader made the remarks during the launch of his party's Scottish parliament election manifesto, describing an Eid prayer event in London's Trafalgar Square as a 'provocative demonstration' and an attempt to 'intimidate and dominate our way of life'.
The event, organised by the Ramadan Tent Project and attended by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, has taken place in the square five times previously without incident. Farage said he would not want to stop individuals praying but added: 'We have to stop this kind of mass demonstration, provocative demonstration, in historic British sites.'
Former First Minister Humza Yousaf accused Farage of bigotry, noting that he had no issue with Christian, Jewish, or other religious celebrations in the same location. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar described Farage's comments as 'toxic, poisonous politics'.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch backed her shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy, who had earlier claimed Islamic prayers in public were 'intimidating and unBritish'. Badenoch questioned whether such expressions of religion 'fit within the norms of British culture'.
Crossbench peer Shaista Gohir said the calls to ban the gatherings reflected 'deep-seated hatred toward Muslims', while Akeela Ahmed of the British Muslim Trust warned that British Muslims 'must not become a political football'.
