Conservative shadow minister falsely claims British imam supported Hamas attack

A Conservative shadow cabinet minister has recently come under criticism for making false statements in Parliament. She incorrectly claimed that a British Imam had called for Hamas to be victorious and celebrated the October 7 attacks. This accusation has sparked widespread concern and raised questions about the veracity of the statements.

Mims Davies, the Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities and the Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, made the accusations against Imam Adam Kelwick of the Abdullah Quilliam Mosque in Liverpool during a parliamentary session. Kelwick had previously attended an iftar dinner hosted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street. Following the dinner, false claims circulated online that he had prayed for Hamas, which he strongly condemned.

Kelwick told Middle East Eye on Thursday: "The statements made in parliament are false, misleading and defamatory. I have never, and would never, express support for any terrorist organisation. My work speaks for itself and will always be rooted in promoting harmony and uniting people." Last summer, Kelwick made headlines after embracing and comforting protesters outside the mosque following the deaths of three children in Southport, after anti-Muslim disinformation about the perpetrator circulated online.

Davies questioned Equalities Minister Sima Malhotra in the House of Commons: "Is it permissible in this country for anyone to say that people should pray for Hamas to be victorious over Israel, or to celebrate the October 7 attacks as a 'David and Goliath' situation? If not, why did the prime minister invite Adam Kelwick, who has made such vile comments, to 10 Downing Street last week? Will the minister apologise to the Jewish community on behalf of the prime minister, because they need to know that this government will stand with them against violence, hate and division - indeed, with all communities of all races and religions?" Malhotra responded with a single sentence: "The shadow minister knows that Hamas is a proscribed organisation, and we do not tolerate antisemitism in any way, shape or form."

In an Instagram post on October 28, 2023, Kelwick wrote: "Pray for peace, pray for mercy, pray for justice, pray for victory, pray for the departed, pray for the living..." There was no mention of Hamas in the post. In a post on social media platform X on October 11, Kelwick wrote: "David defeats Goliath!" There was also no mention of Hamas in this post - nor was there any indication that Kelwick supported the October 7 attacks on Israel led by Hamas.

Parliamentary privilege means that MPs cannot face legal action for defamatory statements made in parliament. Later on Wednesday evening, Sarah Owen, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims, raised a point of order with Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle, calling Davies' statement "completely inaccurate". Owen said that Kelwick "made absolutely no reference to Hamas or against Israel in the posts that she mentioned; that was wrongly added by the shadow minister. In fact, he called for prayers for peace." She added: "Adam has worked for many years to tackle extremism, even uniting people with food and dialogue last year when rioters attacked a local mosque in Liverpool. I ask the honourable member to correct the record and remind her that if she made such a statement outside parliament, she would be liable to legal action."

Middle East Eye contacted Davies, asking if she would repeat her claims outside parliament, or withdraw it. Kelwick told Middle East Eye: "My calls for prayers for peace have been deliberately misrepresented. It is disappointing that my words have been so blatantly twisted in an attempt to score political points. It is concerning that a member of parliament has abused parliamentary privilege to spread disinformation and make false and defamatory allegations against me - which, if said outside parliament, would be subject to legal action. The shadow minister should retract her words and reflect on how and why these lies were shared." Davies is not the first Conservative MP to repeat false claims about Kelwick. MP Nick Timothy posted last week that Kelwick invited people to "pray for (Hamas') victory" - inserting the word "Hamas" into the quote himself.

Kelwick said he has dedicated himself for many years to "building bridges between Muslim, Christian, Jewish and all other communities in the UK". He said: "I have and will continue to call attention to the suffering of innocent Palestinian people, as I always have in different conflicts around the world."