Baradarism, hatred, death threats on the rise

The election campaign in Bradford is so toxic, dangerous, hateful and fueled by Baradarism that one of Britain’s leading politicians Naz Shah has a police guard protecting her around the clock from the death threats she has received – and the intelligence reports confirming that there is an active threat to her life.

A huge banner hanging outside the central campaign office in Bradford city center was defaced and slashed with a knife in an apparent attempt to intimidate her.

Welcome to Bradford, known as Britain’s mini Pakistan.

In two places in Bradford West and Bradford East, there are areas where the situation is so tense, divisive and volatile that it could be cut with a knife. Naz Shah is standing in Bradford West for re-election on the Labor ticket and Imran Hussain is seeking re-election in Bradford East from Labour. In both seats, there are ‘independent’ candidates challenging traditionally safe Labor seats.

On the face of it, Gaza is the central issue in this election in these constituencies with a large Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora (Mirpur, Kotli), but in reality this election is much more than that: it’s about hateful abuse, scoundrels . smear campaigns, violence, old family rivalries, baradarism imported from Pakistan and Kashmir, extreme misogyny, caste and creed divisions and long-term political planning by local actors.

The division in both constituencies is visible. In areas and high streets, posters and banners of only one candidate (either party-affiliated or independent) are visible, while the other candidates are almost non-existent. The situation changes completely in the following streets where banners and garden poles of a single candidate start to become visible.

Hussain faces a challenge from Talat Sajawal, who has the support of around ten local councillors, all of whom resigned from Labor over the Gaza issue. Naz Shah faces a challenge from two independent candidates Ali Islam and Akeel Hussain, both running on the Gaza issue.

Several candidates shared videos and pictures of Geo News about how their banners and posters have been torn down night and day and how they are afraid to campaign outside their safe zones, their fiefdoms.

There are eight Parliamentary candidates for Bradford West in this election and only one of them is a woman and the fact that she is at a huge disadvantage – to her background and being – is evident in the area.

She was a Labor MP for nine years, but some members of the local Labor Party have abandoned her as she begins a campaign to oust her from the constituency at all costs – fueled and aided by local Labor grassroots. . Information shared with us highlights high-profile Labor members and post-incumbents close to Hussain’s campaign in Bradford East are actively opposing Shah in Bradford West, who is on the same Labor ticket.

Shah is clear that the campaign against her is being sponsored by some local Labor leaders who have never liked her because she is a woman, she does not have a strong local family and a Baradari orientation, and her position within Bradford Labor is seen as a stumbling block to the career advancement of local workers who would benefit if she is not there.

She believes at least one “Independent” opposing her has the financial and political backing of another local Labor leader who wants her out of the area at all costs, and this election offers yet another opportunity for the local Labor group – which has tried same tactic. but under different guises in two previous terms when the Shah left here.

“It is sad to see that the issue of Palestine, where the real suffering is taking place, is being used by some people as a ploy to remove me for their own political agendas. this issue, but unfortunately some try to use these feelings for their own personal and political gains. They are campaigning against me and it is the same group that campaigned against me earlier on the basis of Baradari and misogyny, but Baradari and Baradari people. the people of Bradford have rejected them before and will do so again,” she said.

Shah said her banners were removed, defaced with paint and cut with knives. She said: “Businesses that support me are getting phone calls threatening that their windows and property will be damaged and boycotted. It’s not about Palestine for everyone, some people unfortunately use genuine sentiment for their own political gains. For them it’s a targeted campaign against me I’m the only woman in this seat and being targeted is so poisonous I can’t take my 12 year old son out on the campaign trail with me.

Naz Shah noted that the culprits are those who downplay the seriousness of violence against women, they have a history of playing Baradari’s card.

She had faced similar attacks in the area when George Galloway ran against her in 2017 – an election he won by more than 25,000 votes.

She says nothing has changed since then. “My banners weren’t vandalized then, I didn’t have a death threat on me then. It’s worse now. This is hooliganism. There were some filters then, but not anymore. The bullying I face as a woman has. ma affected me, my family and my supporters”.

Shah said several members were recently suspended by Labor after evidence established their involvement in hooligan behavior against me.

Shah said he was always with his constituents, voted against the Gaza war, voted for the ceasefire, raised the issue of human rights violations in India, Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), resigned from the cabinet in shadow in protest of Israel’s war. on Gaza and has always been on the side of just causes, but “I am being targeted by the fake news campaign to intimidate me, but I will not give up. I will not surrender.”

She said: “The irony is that such tactics and abuse are expected from the far right, but it is unexpected from individuals experiencing marginalization and alienation, particularly in mainstream politics. Again, this campaign has shown that internalized misogyny and hatred continues. to hinder the experiences of women, especially those from minority backgrounds, in politics. This election is not just a fight for a parliamentary seat, but a stand against the misogyny and prejudice that seeks to silence our powerful voices in parliament. rise to vitriolic politics and, through an emotional response, completely sideline the question of Palestine from the top table”.

Sajawal shared a video of Geo News which showed two masked men trying to light his flag on a house of one of his key supporters. The video shows two men wearing gloves and masks first throwing something at the front of the banner and then setting off a firework, which failed to cause a fire, but every attempt was made to cause damage.

He said: “My supporters have been attacked by those who fear me and I believe I have the will and support to break their stranglehold on local politics. I will not be intimidated by anyone. We are a group of ten independent councillors. We all have won as independents and we are now the third largest in Bradford Council We will not go away.

Hussain shared a video showing a man taking his campaign banner from the garden of one of his supporters. “In total, 40 banners were removed from the area by my opponents. I have the license plate number of the car of the person who did this. I didn’t report it to the police but my opponent wanted to arrest me for removing a £30 banner but the police didn’t take action.’

Hussain said his father had been a Labor councilor until a few weeks ago but had resigned from his position. He denied he had the support of a local Labor leader who wanted Shah to lose votes locally.

Muhammad Islam said bararadarism was a reality in the area but said the new generation was fed up with it. “The old guard has failed us. People want change in this area.”

He said his own garden poles and banners were removed by his opponents. “I have reported the incidents against my campaign to the electoral body for investigation.”

Hussain did not respond to repeated requests for interviews, but a local community leader affiliated with his campaign said he faced similar problems in his area.

Anger against Labor is a reality in the area, but what is also clear is that several residents in the area, who are likely to vote Labor on July 4, have chosen not to put up Labor banners and posters on their homes to -express his feelings. Several residents told the story Geo News they felt intimidated by the hooligan culture and intimidation tactics on screen.

Shah said she considered killing herself twice in 2017 when her opponents mounted a hate campaign against her in the general election battle for Bradford West.

She was referring to the June 2017 speech by community leader Pateh Khan in his remarks at the Khidmat Center in Bradford West.

He had said of Shah, “Even when we adopt/buy a dog, we carefully look for its pedigree, lineage and character. What are you looking at her? What is Naz Shah promoting? What a dress, her lifestyle, her character. let’s demonstrate what will be its impact on our future generations firstly we are all muslims praise be to god?

Seven years on, prejudice, misogyny and hatred are more prevalent and evident now than before. This time, no filters, checks and balance.