Muslim groups, activists and councillors have sent an urgent letter to the Home Office urging it to ban Saturday’s far-right “hate march” in London over public safety fears.
The so-called “rally for free speech” is headed by Tommy Robinson, real name Steven Yaxley-Lennon, a far-right agitator, riot inciter and repeat convicted criminal who is known for pushing Islamophobic hate and anti-immigrant messages to his radicalised audience.
The letter addressed to newly appointed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood warned that the march is not about “defending free speech” but is happening to promote and incite anti-Muslim hatred at a time of rising tensions in England.
“This event is being promoted as the ‘Biggest Free Speech Rally,’ however, we know that this rally is primarily about attacking Muslims, pushing false propaganda to promote hostility against Muslims. This protest poses a significant threat to public safety, community cohesion, and national security and will have a fundamental impact on the Muslim Community.”
The list of signatures includes: Dr Yvonne Ridley, Secretary General of the European Muslim League (EML), the Sri Lankan Diaspora UK, Legal Action for Peace and Campaign Against Anti-Muslim Hate, as well as multiple councillors from across England.
The letter concludes that the signatories are “astounded that the Government has failed to crackdown on the spread of vile anti-Muslim propaganda which has and will result in violence against our community. The Government is able and willing to tackle antisemitism but seems to be unable to engage in the same way to both condemn and deal with the significant rise in anti-Muslim hatred…
“In the run up to this protest, there has been a significant number of Muslims who have been attacked in a number of locations. Tommy Robinson’s protest is a direct link to the violence against Muslims yet the Government appears unable to accept this evidence.”
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Robinson’s hate rally is planned for Saturday but it isn’t the first of its kind to march through central London.
Numerous similar marches have been organised by Robinson and his supporters managing to mobilise tens of thousands of demonstrators each time.
Editorial credit: Lois GoBe / Shutterstock.com
Far-right patriots, sectarian Christian nationalists, Islamophobes and Israel supporters are common attendees at the rallies. 5Pillars has witnessed drunk and disorderly behaviour, drug abuse, anti-Islam hate chants and excessive public urination at past demonstrations.
Miriam Khan of Legal Action of Peace told 5Pillars: “Tommy Robinson has a long history of spouting racial hatred against minorities but now we are seeing him openly calling for violence on the streets against refugees and members of the Muslim community.
“This is not about freedom of speech but clear hostile incitement to racial and religious hatred which leads to violence on our streets. The Metropolitan Police and the Government must take action to protect our minorities as no one can deny the clear relationship between his vile rhetoric and the violence that we are seeing against refugees, mosques and throwing petrol inside a Muslim restaurant while people were eating. This is terrorism.”
The letter to the Home Office warns that Robinson’s activism may be responsible for the noticeable increase in attacks, abuse and harassment of Muslims taking place all over the UK.
“In the run up to this protest, there has been a significant number of Muslims who have been attacked in a number of locations. Tommy Robinson’s protest is a direct link to the violence against Muslims yet the Government appears unable to accept this evidence.”
It added: “Allowing this protest to proceed would not only endanger public safety but also undermine community cohesion and national security. We urge the Metropolitan Police and the Home Office to act decisively to prevent further violence and protect vulnerable communities. We strongly suggest that you do not allow actors supportive of Tommy Robinson to divert you from taking appropriate actions including strict conditions against the protest.”
The letter asks for a quick response and lists several prominent examples of Robinson’s past criminal actions and hateful messaging to justify the ban.
Robinson’s history of hate
Robinson has a long track record of hate-filled rants, protests and activism under his belt.
In October 2024, he was jailed for 18 months after admitting contempt of court by repeating false claims against a Syrian refugee boy who he alleged had “violently assaulted young English girls” in a school.
The boy suffered harassment and hate as a result of Robinson’s fake claims. Robinson admitted 10 breaches of a High Court order made in 2021, during a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court.
Earlier that same year, Robinson went viral for an aggressive video rant where he appeared to incite against immigrants in hotels, demanding “Get them out of the hotels, get them GONE!” while the racist summer riots were in full swing.
Mobs of men surrounded and attacked hotels and mosques across England during the unrest.
Robinson was caught by the Daily Mail “stoking far-right race riots” from a five-star Cyprus hotel sun bed while his “foot soldiers ran riot in violence protests across Britain.”
On 20 August 2025, a multi-cultural black and white family were forced to live in fear after a video of them enjoying a day out with their grandchildren turned into an online hate campaign, fuelled by far-right activists including Robinson.
Footage of the family was altered and shared online which alleged that two white children were being approached by strange foreign men at a playground. In reality, they were all one family.
