Ex-Terrorist Candidate's Controversial Views Emerge Ahead of Birmingham Vote
A convicted terrorist who is campaigning to become a local councillor in Birmingham has publicly praised jihad as a 'compassionate act' while simultaneously advising Muslims against forming friendships with Jews and Christians. Shahid Butt, who will stand as an independent candidate in the Sparkhill ward during May's local elections, made these remarks in recent interviews despite asserting that he has turned his back on extremism.
Background of a Controversial Figure
Mr Butt's history is deeply intertwined with violent extremism. In 1999, he received a five-year prison sentence in Yemen for terrorism offences, having been found guilty alongside five other UK nationals of plotting to bomb the British consulate, an Anglican church, and a hotel in Aden. Although they denied the charges, the case highlighted his involvement with extremist networks.
Since returning to the UK in 2003, Mr Butt claims to have dedicated over two decades to steering young people away from radicalisation. He has worked on the Home Office's Prevent scheme and previously served on the West Midlands Anti-Terrorism Steering Committee. However, his recent statements have cast doubt on this purported transformation.
Recent Controversial Statements and Actions
In a 2024 YouTube interview, Mr Butt described fighting jihad in foreign countries as an act of profound compassion. 'How much more compassion can somebody show that they're willing to risk their life to go into a war zone and to fight for people who they don't even know?' he questioned. He extended this reasoning to British jihadis who travelled to Syria, suggesting their actions were motivated by sympathy, despite many facing prosecution under the Terrorism Act upon their return.
Separately, in another interview posted just four months ago, Mr Butt argued that Muslims should not take Christians or Jews as friends, citing the Koran. When challenged about these comments, he maintained that he was merely referencing religious text and does not harbour hatred towards these groups, noting his collaborative work with local churches.
Mr Butt's activism has also manifested in local protests. He supported calls for demonstrations against Maccabi Tel Aviv when the Israeli football club played Aston Villa in Birmingham last November, urging 'every local Muslim' to attend while advising them not to bring weapons. Yet, footage from one protest captured him telling the crowd, 'Muslims are not pacifists… if somebody comes into your face, you knock his teeth out.'
Political Ambitions and Community Response
Standing in the inner-city Sparkhill ward, where 91% of the population is from ethnic minorities and nearly 70% practise Islam, Mr Butt argues he can represent the area better than the incumbent Labour councillors, whom he claims do not speak English. His campaign has leveraged social media platforms like TikTok to reach voters.
However, his remarks have drawn sharp criticism from anti-extremism experts and political figures. Ghaffar Hussain, a former Prevent manager who leads the Groundswell Project, warned that such 'bigoted views' could further strain the social fabric. Lord Walney, the Government's former political extremism adviser, expressed disbelief that someone with Mr Butt's history could potentially hold elected office in Britain.
A Complex Personal History
Mr Butt's journey into extremism began decades ago. Growing up in Sparkhill, he was part of an Asian street gang called Lynx, which clashed with skinheads and racists, leading to a jail sentence. He discovered Islam after participating in protests against Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses in the late 1980s.
His involvement escalated in the mid-1990s when he provided aid to Bosnian Muslims facing genocide, later joining jihadi fighters in conflicts abroad. He served as a lieutenant to the notorious hook-handed imam Abu Hamza, who preached violent jihad at Finsbury Park Mosque in London. The 1998 plot in Aden was linked to Hamza's Supporters of Sharia group, and two days after their arrest, a related kidnapping in Yemen resulted in the deaths of four Western tourists.
Despite this fraught past, Mr Butt insists he has reformed and now focuses on preventing radicalisation. 'I've met people who wanted to go and join Isis and talked them out of it,' he stated, adding that his recent comments were merely 'making a point' rather than endorsing violence. As the local elections approach, his candidacy continues to provoke intense debate about rehabilitation, extremism, and the boundaries of political participation.
