Today, Muslim MP Ayoub Khan has published a cross-party letter demanding that Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch condemn the Islamophobic comments made by her Shadow Justice Secretary, Nick Timothy, describing an Iftar event at Trafalgar Square as “a declaration of domination.”
The event saw approximately 3,000 Muslims gather in central London to break their fast during Ramadan’s final week. The public iftar also saw the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, join worshippers in a public prayer on the street.
The event sparked a wave of right-wing hate online which peaked when the Member of Parliament for West Suffolk described it as “a declaration of domination” in an X post.
Timothy’s post read: “Too many are too polite to say this. But mass ritual prayer in public places is an act of domination. The adhan – which declares there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger – is, when called in a public place, a declaration of domination.
“Perform these rituals in mosques if you wish. But they are not welcome in our public places and shared institutions. And given their explicit repudiation of Christianity they certainly do not belong in our churches and cathedrals. I am not suggesting everybody at Trafalgar Square last night is an Islamist.
‘But the domination of public places is straight from the Islamist playbook. Trafalgar Square belongs to all of us. It is a national memorial to our independence and our salvation. Last night was not like a televised football match or a St Patrick’s Day celebration. It was an act of domination and therefore division. It shouldn’t happen again.”
In the cross-party letter, signed by 26 lawmakers, MPs openly condemned Timothy, stating that his remarks were “inimical to the fundamental British values of mutual tolerance and respect for those practising their faith peacefully.”
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They challenging Badenoch to demonstrate her commitment to eradicating hate, racism and discrimination within the ranks of her own party.
“If you – as Leader of the Conservative Party – are serious about making our nation safe for all, you must demonstrate your commitment to eradicating hate, racism and discrimination wherever it may be found: especially when it emerges within the ranks of your own party.
“In this spirit, we urge you to publicly condemn Nick Timothy MP’s comments, which have shown his views to be inimical to the fundamental British values of mutual tolerance and respect for those practising their faith peacefully.”
Khan himself went further, urging Badenoch to withdraw the party whip from Timothy, arguing: “Any political party serious about uniting our nation cannot get away with platforming an individual with such toxic and divisive views.”
In response to the widespread criticism of his post, Timothy has responded saying: “I will not be silenced. Labour are only demonstrating that they cannot see right from wrong. They will not stand up for our way of life. But we will.”
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called on Badenoch to sack Timothy as Shadow Justice Secretary.
Nick Timothy’s anti-Islam activism
Timothy has a history of speaking out against Islam and campaigning in his political capacity against the interests of British Muslims.
In 2025, he campaigned against a proposed UK definition of Islamophobia, calling it a move toward “Islamic blasphemy laws.”
This stance drew criticism from some campaigners and commentators who argued it dismisses or downplays anti-Muslim prejudice.
He sparked similar controversy when he used his parliamentary privilege to repeat a bogus claim against a Muslim Imam, accusing him of supporting the Hamas-led October 7 attack on Israel.
The claim was made despite a Labour MP having previously clarified that the accusation against Imam Adam Kelwick of Liverpool’s Abdullah Quilliam Mosque was wrong.
Back in 2024, Timothy pushed the government to avoid recognising that a genocide was happening in Gaza.
On October 28, Timothy urged Lammy to clarify that “there is not a genocide occurring in the Middle East.”
In response, Lammy said: “These are, quite properly, legal terms that must be determined by international courts.
“But I do agree with the honourable gentleman, those terms were largely used when millions of people lost their lives in crises like Rwanda, the World War II, the Holocaust, and the way that they are used now undermines the seriousness of that term.”
