Who is Ayoub Khan, the independent Muslim MP who has faced a barrage of Islamophobic abuse over his advocacy for the banning of Maccabi Tel Aviv hooligans from an upcoming Europa League match with Aston Villa?
Khan, a Pakistan-born barrister and independent Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham Perry Barr, has become a lightning rod for Zionist and far-right bullying since his successful campaign to ban racist and Islamophobic Israeli hooligans.
Rising from humble roots in Birmingham’s Aston ward, Khan has built a career championing social justice, community safety, and a pro-Palestine stance that resonates with his diverse constituency.
His recent advocacy for banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a November 2025 Europa League match against Aston Villa—citing safety concerns after violence in Amsterdam last year — has ignited a firestorm of abuse, much of it steeped in Islamophobic rhetoric.
From October 15 to 18, 2025, Khan has faced a deluge of online harassment, false media accusations of racism and antisemitism, and calls for his resignation, with critics leveraging his Muslim identity to paint him as a divisive figure.
Social media platforms like X have amplified this backlash, with slurs like “jihadi MP” and “terror supporter” reflecting a broader surge in Islamophobic attacks against Muslim politicians in the UK.
Despite support from allies like independent MPs Shockat Adam and Jeremy Corbyn, who decry the “despicable” vilification, Khan’s experience underscores the challenges of navigating British politics as a Muslim advocating for public issues.
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Early life
Born in May 1973 in Ratta, Azad Kashmir, Ayoub Khan is one of twelve children of steel worker Iqbal and Parveen Khan.
Arriving in England at six months old, he grew up in Birmingham’s Aston area, a diverse working-class neighbourhood.
Educated at Prince Albert Primary School, Duddeston Manor Secondary School, and Josiah Mason College, Khan pursued higher education at the University of Birmingham, University of Central England in Birmingham, and BPP Law School, qualifying as a barrister.
His legal expertise and deep roots in Birmingham’s multicultural community have shaped his political career, marked by a commitment to social justice and community representation.
Political Journey
Khan’s political career began in local government, serving as a councillor for Birmingham’s Aston ward from 2003–2004 and 2005–2012. He returned in May 2022 as an independent, capitalising on a Labour scandal to reclaim the seat.
His local prominence paved the way for his 2024 general election victory in Birmingham Perry Barr, where he defeated Labour incumbent Khalid Mahmood.
Running as an independent, Khan appealed to the constituency’s significant Muslim population (around 37%) with a pro-Palestine platform, joining four other independents, including Jeremy Corbyn, elected on similar grounds amid discontent with Labour’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As an MP, Khan has focused on social welfare, foreign policy and community safety.
He co-sponsored an amendment with Green Party MPs to abolish the UK’s two-child benefit cap, a policy limiting welfare payments to families for only their first two children.
He also backed a similar Scottish National Party (SNP) amendment and co-authored a letter with MPs like Jeremy Corbyn criticising major parties for upholding the cap, which he argues fuels child poverty.
Khan’s vocal pro-Palestine stance has defined much of his parliamentary work. Building on his 2022 Birmingham City Council motion condemning Gaza violence and promoting peace, he has continued advocating for Palestinian rights in Parliament.
Maccabi Tel Aviv
In October 2025, Khan led a petition to cancel or restrict a Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv, citing safety risks after hooliganism by Maccabi fans in Amsterdam in November 2024.
The subsequent ban on Maccabi fans attending the November 6, 2025, fixture in Birmingham was welcomed by Khan, who framed it as a non-partisan safety measure. A YouGov poll showed 42% of Britons supported the ban, with 28% opposed.
But Khan’s support for the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban has triggered intense backlash since October 15, 2025, with abuse ranging from media criticism to online harassment.
A October 17 Telegraph editorial accused Khan of “enabling antisemitism” by supporting the ban, calling it a pretext for exclusion and demanding he “cannot continue to sit as an MP.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Labour figures have criticised him, with some X posts calling for his prosecution alongside other pro-Palestine MPs.
X users labeled him a “terror supporter” or accused him of “naked antisemitism,” with one post claiming he represents an “Islamic horde.”
Khan has defended the ban as a safety-driven decision, stating on October 17: “This is not about the Jewish community, this is about hooligans. We’ve seen what’s taken place in Amsterdam.” He dismissed critics as “shameful” for undermining police efforts.
Allies, including independent MPs Shockat Adam and Adnan Hussain, have called the attacks “despicable,” noting similar harassment against other pro-Palestine MPs like Zarah Sultana.
While accusations of antisemitism have intensified, his supporters view the backlash as targeted harassment against a Muslim MP addressing legitimate safety concerns.
