A Muslim cleric who invited far-right rioters into his mosque for a meal says the UK needs to keep up the momentum of reconciliation that emerged in the aftermath of last week’s unrest.
Far-right riots targeting hotels housing asylum seekers and mosques gripped the UK, leaving Muslims fearing for their safety on the street.
But imam Adam Kelwick, in the northern city of Liverpool, has taken a different approach. The week of riots, he said, had shown communities coming together to combat racism, and some people with far-right views being tempered by dialogue.
Online videos of the charismatic preacher embracing a far-right protester, and inviting another into Liverpool's Abdullah Quilliam mosque for food, became internet sensations. “We don’t want to go back to how we were before,” he told The National.
“We’ve entered into a new phase now. Alliances and friendships have been built from people who just over a week ago were considered to be our enemies. Now they're our friends and our protectors,” he said.
The riots were triggered by a fake news campaign, which falsely claimed that a Muslim asylum seeker was responsible for a deadly knife attack against girls at a dance class in Southport, 30km from Liverpool, on July 29.
Though courts eventually disclosed the suspect's real identity as British-born, 17 year-old Axel Radukabuna, protests and riots continued into the following week. The ensuing violence resulted in 975 arrests and 546 charges being brought, according to the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC).
Hundreds of people arrested during the riots began to appear in courts this week to face heavy charges.
Mr Kelwick welcomed the swift justice against the rioters, but hopes to continue the outreach work that began amid the violence.
He has just returned from a two-day retreat organised by Mark Scanlon, a former MMA boxer and fitness influencer from Liverpool – who had promoted one of the city’s far-right gatherings on his social media.
The rally on August 3 descended into chaos as police had cans and smoke bombs thrown at them, with parents and children seen running away from the violence.
Though many of Mr Scanlon’s own followers criticised his involvement in it, Mr Kelwick refrains from condemnation.
“The majority of the (protesters) were not far-right leaning, or driven by political ideologies. They were there because the emotions were so raw from the Southport stabbing, and they felt they wanted to do something,” he said.
The pair met for coffee in the days after the rally. Mr Scanlon invited the imam and his congregation to join him on an annual retreat that he organises in North Wales.
Most of Mr Kelwick's congregation were initially scarred to join the trip, but a highlight for them came on a walk in the countryside. “We were walking and talking in the countryside, and we prayed in a valley surrounded by the mountains. I never felt so safe before,” he said.
As we spoke, the imam was still receiving text messages from people he had met on the trip who had also taken part in the far-right rally. “I see it as an opportunity to admit I was wrong,” one person wrote to him.
One Yemeni woman from his congregation who went on the trip said she felt safe to return to work on Monday, after a week of staying at home.
But behind the positive messages, lies a darker reality.
Mr Kelwick’s Abdullah Quilliam mosque, which is the UK’s oldest, now has round-the-clock security and regular police patrols due to an emergency fund that the government released to protect Islamic spaces across the UK last week.
The imam admits he was worried when he saw the crowds gathered at Liverpool Pier Head on August 3. In previous years, members of the far-right coming into Liverpool to stage protests were chased away by locals when they got to the station, he said.
But not on that day. “To see that many people down on the Pier Head, I was very surprised, and worried,” he said.
Another danger came when a group of young Muslims made plans to take matters into their own hands, which could have caused more escalation and violence. Mr Kelwick said: “I found those guys and said: 'If anyone’s arrested for violence, I’ll come find you in prison and remind you of the shame you brought on to our community.'”
Since then he has sought to engage different communities to try to unite people. “Liverpool is a tribal city, half of the people have Irish origins, they have their own tribal leaders. It sounds strange, using it in a British context, but I've been sitting down with tribal leaders and making peace treaties with them,” he said.
There were steps the UK government could take moving forward, he said. While he praised recent security measures, he said more needed to be done around the messaging so Muslims were not seen to be getting preferential treatment – a trope peddled by the far right. “If it seems like the government is only giving this funding for mosques, that could just feed into this narrative,” he said.
More opportunities should also be created for dialogue between communities at the grassroots level. “I’m not talking about traditional interfaith dialogue. What we've been doing with members of the community in Liverpool for the last the last week or so, really needs to increase, because that's how you get rid of ignorance,” he said.
Another step was to put an end to “toxic” narratives about immigration – fuelling misinformation in public debate and on social media. “It has to be recognised that social media played a huge part in stoking this trouble up in the first place,” he said.
Damage caused by riots in the UK – in pictures
As a preacher, Mr Kelwick has sought to combat online misinformation by sharing his own videos of positive messages and correcting misconceptions about Islam.
But it was up to the government to regulate social media platforms. “This is a job for the government, not for me, and they've got their own battles to be had around issues like freedom of speech and all the rest of it.”
The fact that the riots happened weeks after the general election, in which political campaigns put immigration to the fore, is no surprise to Kelwick. “What we've seen on the streets is actually a result of the horrible campaign in the last general elections, where it was all about immigration and Muslims taking over,” he said.
Politicians such as Nigel Farage, the leader of the populist Reform UK party, were instigating the anger on the street with plausible deniability, he said: “They’re very good at supporting violent protests without supporting violent protests, good at being racist without being racist.”
Counter-extremism programmes such as Prevent were failing their own goals he said, and needed a “complete rebranding” to address the fears and suspicions they invoke among British Muslims.
A new version of the programme would need to be viewed as also protecting Muslims from far-right extremists. “There's a very delicate kind of balance which needs to be found there,” he said.
In its current state, the programme had caused a lot of distrust from the Muslim community, as it gave schoolteachers the power to refer children suspected to be at risk of radicalisation to local police.
“There’s so much damage being done,” said Mr Kelwick. “If you have to launch another programme which will not be at the expense of the development of the Muslim community, then you really need a complete rebranding.”
A Royal United Services Institute report last week found that the UK government had failed to treat far-right attacks as seriously as Islamic ones, resulting in a double standard in counter-extremism measures.
“Rusi’s research suggests that the nature of far-right violence, which is often seen as low-impact and disjointed, coupled with institutional bias and racism, means that far-right violence has historically not triggered the same responses from politicians, security services and the media as jihadist violent extremism,” the report said.
Mr Kelwick fears the government has been reluctant to reform the Prevent programme as “they see it as some kind of defeat, because a lot of very politically ideological Muslim organisations are also calling for the same thing.”
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
if you go
The flights
Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav.
The tour
While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).
more from Janine di Giovanni
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Barbie
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
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DMZ facts
- The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
- It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
- The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
- It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
- Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
- Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
- Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012.
- Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
CREW
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SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202-litre%204-cylinder%20turbo%20and%203.6-litre%20V6%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20automatic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20235hp%20and%20310hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E258Nm%20and%20271Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh185%2C100%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SPECS
Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 518bhp
Torque: 625Nm
Speed: 0-100kmh 5.3 seconds
Price: Dh633,435
On sale: now
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
THE BIO
Favourite author - Paulo Coelho
Favourite holiday destination - Cuba
New York Times or Jordan Times? NYT is a school and JT was my practice field
Role model - My Grandfather
Dream interviewee - Che Guevara
Top tips
Create and maintain a strong bond between yourself and your child, through sensitivity, responsiveness, touch, talk and play. “The bond you have with your kids is the blueprint for the relationships they will have later on in life,” says Dr Sarah Rasmi, a psychologist.
Set a good example. Practise what you preach, so if you want to raise kind children, they need to see you being kind and hear you explaining to them what kindness is. So, “narrate your behaviour”.
Praise the positive rather than focusing on the negative. Catch them when they’re being good and acknowledge it.
Show empathy towards your child’s needs as well as your own. Take care of yourself so that you can be calm, loving and respectful, rather than angry and frustrated.
Be open to communication, goal-setting and problem-solving, says Dr Thoraiya Kanafani. “It is important to recognise that there is a fine line between positive parenting and becoming parents who overanalyse their children and provide more emotional context than what is in the child’s emotional development to understand.”
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan v Juventus
Saturday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Watch the match on BeIN Sports
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EClara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPatrick%20Rogers%2C%20Lee%20McMahon%2C%20Arthur%20Guest%2C%20Ahmed%20Arif%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELegalTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%244%20million%20of%20seed%20financing%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWamda%20Capital%2C%20Shorooq%20Partners%2C%20Techstars%2C%20500%20Global%2C%20OTF%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Knuru%20Capital%2C%20Plug%20and%20Play%20and%20The%20LegalTech%20Fund%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
