A Conservative MP has expressed outrage at what appears to be a group of Muslim worshippers praying outside the Ministry of Defence's base in central London. Nick Timothy posted video of some six or seven people bowing and kneeling in prayer on his X account on Monday (June 15). He said the religious observance was being performed near a memorial to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
MP's Controversial Statement
The MP for West Suffolk wrote: "As I have said before, choosing to pray in this way in public is a political act. It is a social statement and, yes, it is an act of domination." Mr Timothy said there was "quite obviously no need" to pray in that location, adding the decision to do so was "symbolic", "pointed" and "not welcome".
He added: "We have freedom of religion in this country, which is why there are mosques. But we are not a Muslim country and this is not welcome. It should be stopped."
Islamism and Public Spaces
The Shadow Lord Chancellor, who was an adviser to former prime minister Theresa May, suggested "domination" of public spaces is part of the "modus operandi" of Islamism, which asserts Islam should dictate social, political and personal life. He added: "It is done so Islamists can show who is in charge - and to show other Muslims and the wider public that the authorities will bend to their will."
It is not the first time Mr Timothy has suggested Islamic prayers in public amount to an act of domination. He described mass prayers at a Ramadan event in Trafalgar Square, London, in March as being an act of domination "straight from the Islamist playbook".
Political Reactions
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch stood by Mr Timothy after criticism from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and a call from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for him to be sacked. Mr Timothy's latest post sparked a range of comments on social media, with some X users agreeing the public act of prayer signalled "dominance and threat".
One X user asked if public prayers would be banned for all religions while others pointed out that followers of Islam are required to pray five times a day, with one X user accusing the MP of "peddling religious persecution". Another asked what harm they were doing, adding there are people in the UK who go out and "literally p*** up walls and corners", making the streets smell of urine.
