Pro-Gaza activists are telling Muslim voters whom to back in next month’s local elections based on whether they support a boycott of Israeli goods, saying “Allah sees everything”. The Telegraph has more.
A campaign video which declares that “Allah sees everything” suggests which county council candidates voters in Wycombe should support based on whether they will back a boycott of Israeli goods if elected on May 1st.
The video was condemned by Kemi Badenoch on Wednesday night as “evil Islamist sectarianism” that had no place in the UK.
The reference to Allah risks raising concerns that voters are being subjected to “undue spiritual interference”, a criminal offence under electoral law.
It comes amid warnings of the spread of sectarian politics after four independent MPs won their seats at the last election by running on a pro-Palestinian ticket.
The video features the logos of the High Wycombe branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and Palestine on the Ballot, a nationwide pressure group. The PSC said it had no knowledge of the video and was not involved in producing it. Palestine on the Ballot was contacted for comment.
Eighty-one Buckinghamshire county council hopefuls are pictured alongside a summary of their views on the controversial BDS (boycott, divestment and sanction) movement against Israel.
Eighteen candidates appear alongside a green tick after telling activists they would “support and promote divestment from companies involved in human rights violations”.
The names of the remaining 63 candidates appear in red text with a cross next to their names because they either said they were opposed to a boycott or did not give a response.
The previous Tory government had planned to ban allowing public bodies to run their own boycott campaigns but the legislation was ultimately dropped.
At the start of the video, text that appears beside a Palestinian flag reads: “Think before you vote! It’s clear who is supporting genocide and subservient to their masters.
“There are those that are against it, have morals and are not scared to support the oppressed. Don’t just vote because they are Muslim.”
At the end of the clip, a second block of text says: “Think before you vote. Separate the clout seekers from humans who will make a difference.
“Don’t sell your soul as Allah sees everything.”
Undue spiritual influence – the use of religion to pressure people into voting in a certain way – is a form of election interference and is illegal under the Elections Act 2022. The offence comes with a maximum prison sentence of two years.
Mrs Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader, told The Telegraph: “Conservatives will never succumb or kowtow to this evil Islamist sectarianism, which destroys lives all around the world.
“It is evil, make no mistake, and it stands against everything we believe in. Every day millions of people flee countries where this sort of politics is practised.
“It does not belong in Britain and threatens our democracy and our way of life.”
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