‘Punish a Muslim day’ letters called “blatant incitement to terrorism” after being sent to Muslim MPs – three hospitalised

A number of Muslim Labour MPs have been targeted by “Punish a Muslim day” letters dipped in “low-level noxious substance” which advocate for violence against Muslims leading to members of staff being hospitalised.

Ms Rupa Huq, MP, Ms Rushanara Ali MP, Mr Mohammad Yasin MP and Mr Afzal Khan MP, have all received the suspicious packages.

Members of Ms Huq’s staff, yesterday, and Mr Yasin’s staff, on Monday, were taken to hospital as a precaution after making contact with the substance covering the letter.

Ms Huq said: “I’m sure I won’t be the last and I’m sure this is part of a pattern of targeting Muslim MPs. Among my colleagues, people have shown support they are outraged”.

Downing Street has also commented on the issue expressing the Prime Minister’s concern on the letter.

The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said: “the Prime Minister is clear there is no space for racism, intimidation or extremism in the country or in Parliament, so of course the reports are concerning”.

Ms Anna Soubry MP, has said the letters were a “blatant incitement to terrorism” and Shadow Policing Minister, Ms Louise Haigh MP, said: “there is overwhelming evidence that the threat from the extreme right is growing increasingly violent and we have to be clear that by threatening members of our diverse communities they are also a threat to our national security through their anti-democratic, dehumanising and murderous beliefs”.

Others took to Twitter to condemn the letter, including Lord Nick Bourne who called the Islamophobic letter “a racist, illegal dangerous attempt to divide us”.

MEND CEO, Dr Shazad Amin, said: “this is not happening in a bubble or a vacuum, these kinds of comments and threats are made by people who are actually looking at, seeing and reading and thinking about all of the negative hatred and bile produced by right-wing organisations, the right-wing media against Muslims”.

MEND is continuing to work to address the situation, MEND Yorkshire & Humber Regional Manager, Mr Shahab Adris, developed a counter-letter titled “Love a Muslim day”.

The letter calls on people to appreciate the contribution of British Muslims to various aspects of British Society including as teachers, political representatives, journalists, doctors and others and calls on people to love each other.

The letter continues by suggesting ways of being nice to Muslim in increasingly pleasant ways presenting it as a game. Examples including 10 points to “smile at a Muslim” and 250 points to “take a weekend trip with your Muslim colleagues”.