Jenrick: Police should arrest those yelling 'Allahu Akbar'

Robert Jenrick has sparked outrage after saying people shouting Allahu Akbar” on London streets should be arrested immediately”.

- MILLIE COOKE

"Allahu Akbar" is an Arabic phrase meaning "God is greater" or "God is greatest"", which is commonly used in prayer and as a declaration of faith.

Asked whether he believes the UK has a system of "two-tier policing", Mr Jenrick told Siy News: "I have been very critical of the police in the past, particularly around the attitude of some police forces to the protests that we saw since 7 October.

"I thought it was quite wrong that somebody could shout 'Allahu Akbar' on the streets of London and not be immediately arrested. Or project genocidal chants onto Big Ben and that person not be immediately arrested. That attitude is wrong and I'll always call out the police."

In February, pro-Palestine activists projected the phrase "From the river to the sea" onto parliament during a demonstration, drawing anger from some pro-Israel supporters who argue the disputed phrase calls for the eradication of the state of Israel.

Sharing a video on X/Twitter of men in balaclavas chanting "Allahu Akbar", Mr Jenrick later added: "Allahu Akbar is spoken peacefully and spiritually by millions of British Muslims in their daily lives. But the aggressive chanting below is intimidatory and threatening. And it's an offence under section 4 and 5 of the Public Order Act. Extremists routinely abuse common expressions for their own shameful ends. All violence must end. All violence must be called out."