A Conservative Party general election candidate has drawn flak for sharing a message on social media that claimed Muslims have "nasty culture."
Linden Kemkaran, who is standing for Conservatives in Bradford East, retweeted a message on Twitter last week that dismissed Islamophobia.
The former BBC journalist also retweeted two others who accused Naz Shah, shadow minister for women and equalities, for being "not white enough" to have experienced Bradford's "no-go areas."
The message that was retweeted read: “You are a dunce. There weren’t any no-go areas when I was a kid. Muslims always the victims, play race card, ‘Islamophobia’, what a crock, what a nasty culture. No integration, what makes you think we will accept 3rd world ways and why should we?”
Kemkaran also retweeted another message that said Shah's loyalties weren't with Bradford.
After Shah flagged up the post that declared Islamophobia to be “crock”, Kemkaran replied: “Please @NazShahBfd don’t bother trying to shut me up by crying ‘Islamophobia’, or calling me a racist. Neither is true. I’m standing up for the diverse people of #Bradford who are telling me how it is. You should be listening to people not trying to shut down debate.”
The retweets have since been unshared.
On Monday (9), Shah submitted an complaint to Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly, urging him to suspend Kemkaran.
In the letter, Shah wrote: “To peddle these far-right tropes – especially an individual standing for office – is not only irresponsible, but hugely dangerous for minority communities … I do not believe it is fit for a parliamentary candidate to retweet a message, victim-blaming Muslims, suggesting attacks on them are nonsense, whilst almost half of all religious hate crime offences in 2018-19 were targeted against Muslims (according to the Home Office); or to assert that Muslims have a ‘nasty culture’.”
On Sunday, Cleverly apologised for cases of Islamophobia in the party. He said he was “sorry” when Tory candidates “do or say things that are wrong”.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)