Muslim patrol incidents in London

A group of vigilantes calling themselves "Muslim patrols" patrolled the streets in East London from 2013 to 2014.[1] The individuals were young Sunni Muslim men, members of an organisation that called itself the "Shariah Project".[2] Early in 2013, videos of their activities, filmed by members of the patrol, were uploaded online:[3] these showed hooded members confronting passers-by and demanding that they behave in an Islamic way.[4] They targeted prostitutes, people drinking alcohol, couples who were holding hands, women whom they considered to be dressed immodestly, and harassed others whom they perceived as being gay.[5][6][7] Five men were arrested in January 2013 as part of an investigation into the gang.[8] In December 2013, three of them pleaded guilty to affray, and were subsequently jailed.[9]

The Muslim East London Mosque community condemned the patrols as "utterly unacceptable"[10] In response to the attacks, British nationalist organisation Britain First established "Christian Patrols".[11]

  1. ^ Taylor, Jerome (27 January 2013). "Imam speaks out against Muslim 'vigilantes'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  2. ^ Norman, Zachary (19 November 2013). "Convicted 'Muslim Patrol' attackers' views condemned". Waltham Forest Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  3. ^ "'Muslim Patrol' confiscate alcohol and demand women cover up in London". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Muslim 'vigilantes' confront Londoners in name of Islam". The Daily Telegraph. 17 January 2013. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ Muslim 'Patrol' Harass East London Man They Believe To Be Gay Huffington Post
  6. ^ ""Muslim patrols" target drinkers and gays in London". The Observers. 22 January 2013. Archived from the original on 5 April 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference standard was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference guardian was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ "Muslim vigilantes jailed for 'sharia law' attacks in London". The Guardian. London. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  10. ^ "Muslim Patrol: thugs abuse man in second 'vigilante' video". The Daily Telegraph. London. 22 January 2013. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference HP was invoked but never defined (see the help page).