A prominent Birmingham Muslim preacher has sparked outrage by vowing “no mercy” for Maccabi Tel Aviv fans visiting for an Aston Villa match, as the Government scrambles to overturn a police ban decried as a shameful capitulation to antisemitism. In a lecture delivered in Amsterdam on October 1, Asrar Rashid – a Sparkbrook-based influencer with a large online following – urged European Muslims to withhold compassion from Israeli supporters.
Mr Rashid said: “Imagine the Muslims were known to have the integrity that we not only safeguard those who are vulnerable, we safeguard women from such exploitation. We safeguard the vulnerable from any type of exploitation. That is the character of a Muslim. A Muslim has rahma. Remember rahma is in its place, it’s in its place when the Tel Aviv fans come to Birmingham in a few weeks. Using the Arabic term for mercy, he added: “‘We will not show them rahma in Birmingham, but it has its time and place, yes?
Asrar Rashid during the controversial clip (Image: X)
“So in the Hadith it states: ‘Those who show mercy, the merciful will show… have mercy on those on the earth. The one in the heavens will have mercy on you’.
Reposting a clip amid backlash, Mr Rashid doubled down on X: “I stand by the fact that IDF are shameless murderous foul beings… Typical Judeo-Christian Zionist propaganda.”
Mr Rashid’s history includes praising Palestinian “armed struggle” as jihad against Israel’s “bankers’ state” in July, and claiming in 2022 that Hitler “did a favour for the Jews” by earning them European sympathy post-Holocaust.
His remarks, flagged by the pro-Israel MEMRI, have stoked tensions still further just as Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) – comprising council officials and West Midlands Police – imposed a blanket ban on Maccabi away fans for the November 6 Europa League tie at Villa Park.
Hamas hostage survivor Emily Damari has condemned the ban (Image: SWNS)
Classified “high risk” over intelligence and the 2024 Amsterdam clashes, where pro-Palestinian mobs attacked Israeli supporters – including families – the decision has united condemnation.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on X: “We will not tolerate anti-Semitism on our streets. The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.”
No 10 sources say he is “angered”, vowing cross-government action on “fundamental principles of fairness”. Discussions are “at pace”: Communities Secretary Steve Reed has called Birmingham City Council, while Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy meets officials today to secure “safe attendance”, potentially with Whitehall-funded policing. Updates are imminent, a spokesman said.
The Home Office was briefed “last week” on possible restrictions, per the UK Football Policing Unit, which backed the ban to “respect structures”.
However, Simon Foster, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, demanded an “immediate review” to check if it’s “appropriate, necessary, justified, reasonable and proportionate”, urging alternatives. Labour mayor Richard Parker suggested Government resources could cover costs if reversed.
Sir Keir Starmer has said he is unhappy at the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans (Image: Getty)
UEFA has urged UK authorities to allow fans, warning of discrimination risks. Jack Angelides, Maccabi CEO, told BBC Radio 4: “To suggest we were the instigators… is just false… What does antisemitism look like? It’s often… small events leading up to something that’s more sinister.”
Critics from all sides piled in. Kemi Badenoch, Tory leader, called it a “national disgrace” on X, demanding Sir Keir guarantee Jewish fans’ safety. She said: “Will he back those words with action…?”
Sir Ed Davey, Lib Dem chief, deemed it a “serious mistake”, saying: “You don’t tackle antisemitism by banning its victims.” Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader, meanwhile said it “takes racial discrimination to a whole new level”.
Emily Damari, a British-Israeli held by Hamas for 17 months and a Maccabi fan, raged: “This is like putting a big sign… ‘No Jews allowed’. What has become of the UK where blatant antisemitism has become the norm?”
Andrew Fox of Aston Villa’s Jewish Villans dismissed safety claims as a “political message”, citing no Maccabi hooliganism evidence.
The Jewish Leadership Council called it “perverse”, suggesting a behind-closed-doors match. Gideon Sa’ar, Israeli Foreign Minister, labelled it a “shameful decision” while Ian Murray, Culture minister, agreed, saying: “It’s completely unacceptable… We’ll do everything to resolve this.”
Defenders like Ayoub Khan, independent MP, insisted: “We cannot conflate anti-Semitism… We’re talking about violent fans.”
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign demanded the match’s outright cancellation, arguing on X that “Israeli football teams shouldn’t play in international tournaments whilst it commits genocide and apartheid.”
