Attorney General Richard Hermer has challenged Kemi Badenoch to clarify whether she would object to Jewish public prayer, following the Conservative leader's support for a shadow minister who described an Islamic prayer event as intimidating and un-British. Hermer, who is Jewish, said Badenoch's backing of Nick Timothy's comments put her on a par with Reform UK and far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
The controversy erupted after Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, posted images of mass prayers at a Ramadan event in London's Trafalgar Square on Monday evening, calling it 'an act of domination' and 'straight from the Islamist playbook'. Badenoch defended Timothy on Thursday, stating that public religious expressions should 'fit within the norms of a British culture' and criticising the gender separation during prayers, with men closer to the stage.
Hermer told the Guardian: 'Nick Timothy has said mass prayer in public places is an act of “domination”. But when he and Kemi Badenoch were questioned about his appalling views, they seemed to only have an issue with Muslim events. Timothy and Badenoch’s comments beg the question – would they have a problem if I as a Jewish man, were praying in public? Or is it just Muslim prayer they find offensive, and contrary to “British values”?'
Despite widespread criticism, Timothy has stood by his views, writing in the Daily Telegraph that Islamic prayer repudiates other faiths and challenges Christianity. He called for the Trafalgar Square event to be banned, a move backed by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. However, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer rejected the calls, saying: 'The prime minister is clear that freedom of religion and the rights of peaceful expression are core British values and should be respected.'
The Open Iftar event has been held in Trafalgar Square for six years and was attended by London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Organisers' photographs showed no gender separation beyond the prayers themselves.
