Councillor on platform at ‘terror’ group’s rally Call for Labour to probe politician’s presence at banned event
AVETERAN Birmingham councillor has come under fire after attending a banned rally by a terrorist group.
Mohammed Fazal, who was first elected to Birmingham City Council in 1987, attended the rally organised by Hizbul Majahideen – a Kashmiri separatist group – in Victoria Square on July 5.
The group, formed in 1991, is designated as a terrorist organisation in the US, EU and India, known for carrying out terror attacks.
Their promotion for the rally included a call to take Kashmir by force until it is free from “Kuffars” – a derogatory term for non-Islamic people.
Councillor Fazal, Labour representative for Springfield, played a prominent role in the rally, joining the speakers on the platform.
The event, attended by about 300 people, marked the anniversary of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in Indianoccupied northern Kashmir in 2016. His death sparked violent protests in the region, leaving dozens dead.
Birmingham City Council had initially allowed the protest but the Indian government objected. When it drew attention to the group’s terrorist activity and violent calls to take Kashmir by force, the permission was withdrawn.
Councillors were emailed and warned that the rally had been banned – but Cllr Fazal says he did not see it.
He told the Birmingham Post: “The rally was against terrorism. Nobody told me it was banned.
“If they had, I would gone.”
Opposition Conservative councillor Peter Douglas Osborn (Weoley) called on the Birmingham Labour group to investigate. not have
“We will be asking the Labour group leader whether Cllr Fazal should retain his position,” he said.
“This group wants a Kashmir free from ‘kuffars’.
“Speaking as a ‘kuffar’ I reject that ideology and I wonder if that’s their view of any area where they are in the majority.”
The West Midlands Labour Party was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.
Cllr Fazal has served two spells on the city council, first from 1987 to 1995.
He returned in 2002 and has been councillor for Springfield ward ever since.