Counter-terrorism expert warns of increasing extremist presence in the UK surpassing that of the Middle East, highlighting the country’s growing influence as a hub for radical Islamists, attributed to Keir Starmer’s perceived lack of strength.

A warning has been issued by a counter-extremism analyst about the possibility of Britain turning into a significant hub for radical Islam if immediate action is not taken by the government led by Sir Keir Starmer. According to Middle East expert Amjad Taha, the UK is facing a unique situation where extremist Islam is gaining ground within the country while losing influence in nations like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Taha highlighted the emergence of sectarian voting and the presence of independent candidates advocating for pro-Gaza policies in elections. He expressed concern that these factors could contribute to the transformation of Britain into a dominant center for extremist ideologies.

And he warned that there were ‘more extremists in the UK than the Middle East’ with radical Islamists hiding behind freedom of speech. 

Furthermore, Taha emphasized the urgency for the UK government to address these developments and prevent the escalation of radical Islam within the country. Failure to intervene effectively could result in Britain playing a pivotal role in the global propagation of extremist beliefs.

Mr Taha, who has 1.6million followers on X and Instagram, raised concerns about what he described as harmful teaching in schools and local communities. 

His claims come as Sir Keir’s Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner launches a new council on Islamophobia, including a potential official definition of the term -and which some critics have suggested could introduce a ‘blasphemy law’.

The Home Office has responded by saying training was being stepped up under this Government for officials ‘to spot terrorist ideologies, explicitly Islamist extremism’. 

The new body looking into Islamophobia is set to be run by ex-Conservative MP and former Attorney General Dominic Grieve.

It has been lined up to make recommendations on a new definition of Islamophobia that could criminalise certain criticism of the religion – prompting allegations that there could be new curbs on ‘free speech’.

Dr Taj Hargey, a historian, academic and founder of the Oxford Institute for British Islam, said last week: ‘It is astounding that an unpopular Labour Party is seeking to sacrifice free expression just to placate Islamic fundamentalists.’

And now British-Bahraini author and social media influencer Mr Taha has voiced concerns about growing radical strains in UK society – while suggesting some Middle Eastern states were ‘rolling back ultra-conservatism’.

Mr Taha, an advisor to Middle Eastern institutions countering extremism, told GB News: ‘I think you have more extremists in the UK than you have in the Middle East.

‘The things that some of the  Islamists say in various mosques, and we have been seeing it online the terminology they use the analysis they make statements they actually make, they wouldn’t be able to say it all the way in Afghanistan for example or Iraq.

‘The Muslim brotherhood, who are the Islamist who are the main ones who are ruling and controlling various press when it comes to the Muslim society in the UK, they control the whole narrative. And the Muslim brotherhood and the Islamists are the radical Islamists, and they use the freedom of speech in the manner where they will be anti-Semite in the name of freedom of speech.

‘I absolutely stand against that as I think ant-semitism is not an opinion but a crime, and a crime against humanity. And once you allow that, on the 7th of October for example when it happened, the genocide against the Israelis what I saw and what we witnessed is the fact that some islamists from all the way over here, we saw their voices it was for Hamas. 

‘And Hamas has a force that carried that genocide in Gaza and also in Israel, it’s actually the armed forces of the Muslim brotherhood.

‘Muslim brotherhood for example in my country, the UAE, is banned however it is not banned in the United Kingdom.’

And he said the group should ‘absolutely’ be banned in the UK ‘because they use the freedom of speech to censor your right to speak against them’. 

‘And when they use the terminology Islamophobia is just to stop you from criticising the Islamists and the Muslim brotherhood or form of radicalism,’ he said. 

‘The fact that the Islamic Relief for instance is registered as a charity here but all the way in Saudi Arabia in UAE and other countries it is banned because of the investigation that showed that this charity is sending money all the way to some terrorist groups in the Middle East, it tells you a lot.’

He earlier said: ‘There has been an unprecedented paradigm shift, where once things that were alien in the UK now form part of everyday society in many areas.

‘In Saturday Islamist schools in London, Birmingham, and Manchester, children are being taught global jihad against Jews and Christians, with Holocaust denial as part of the curriculum.

‘On London’s streets the flags of terrorist groups are flown to protest against the war in Gaza, the Met Police happily explain on social media that “jihad” on a flag means struggle not war and thousands of people are prepared to stand alongside Hamas terrorists and those sympathetic to ISIS and Al-Qaeda.

‘All this is happening while the Gulf countries are rolling back ultra-conservatism, banning religious police, allowing women to drive, encouraging the arts, live music and promoting English in schools so children are worldly and equipped to go for the opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t.’

Mr Taha, who led the first independent youth delegation to Israel after the 2020 Abraham Accords, added: ‘The rise in independent Muslim candidates is straight out of the Islamist political playbook.

‘We are seeing the realisation of a radical Islamic strategy to exert increasing influence in the UK, emboldened by the lack of forceful pushback from the authorities.

‘Keir Starmer sounds confident when he talks of this great democracy that values free speech and respect for international human rights. But the plan by extremists is to eradicate democracy while pretending to participate in it.

‘Starmer’s lofty ideals leave the UK vulnerable to Islamist extremism and they are making London and other UK cities part of its global powerbase.

‘Rather than taking firm action, the UK government has frequently failed to act decisively, allowing Islamist groups to flourish under the guise of community organisations, advocacy groups, and charities.’

A Home Office spokesperson today told MailOnline in response to the criticisms: ‘Islamist extremism has no place in our society and the government is committed to tackling the threat it poses to communities and individuals.

‘That’s why we’re redoubling our effort – working across government – to tackle the threat of extremism, including Islamist extremism.’

Mr Grieve, who previously served as Attorney General, has been recommended to chair a committee of 16 people set up to define anti-Muslim prejudice, it was revealed earlier this month.

He previously wrote the foreword to a 2018 report on Islamophobia by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims co-chaired by Wes Streeting, who a leading figure in the Labour government as Health Secretary.

Its definition, later adopted by the Labour Party, specified that Islamophobia is ‘rooted in racism’ and ‘targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness’.

In his foreword, Mr Grieve said the report was ‘an important contribution’ to the debate as to how anti-Muslim discrimination could be addressed, however some argue the definition is too wide and potentially prohibitive of legitimate criticism.

The former Tory minister also led the Citizens’ UK Commission on Islam, which was set up to promote cooperation between Muslim and non-Muslim communities.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has since branded the all-party group’s analysis a ‘Trojan horse for a blasphemy law’ and the definition ‘deeply flawed’.

Despite saying he had yet to be approached to lead the council, Mr Grieve told the Telegraph he was ‘willing to consider’ assisting the Government on a non party political basis.

He acknowledged that defining Islamophobia is ‘extremely difficult’ because of concerns over freedom of expression.

The former MP for Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire was one of 21 Conservatives to have the whip withdrawn by Boris Johnson for rebelling over Brexit.

The new group would have 16 members, candidates for which are thought to include Leeds Imam Qari Asim, who was dropped as government adviser after backing a ban on The Lady of Heaven, a historical drama film on the prophet Mohammed’s daughter. 

It is unclear whether or not the Government will adopt the definition drafted by the all-party group, in which one element appeared to suggest that use of the term ‘sex groomer’ in relation to anyone from a Muslim background could be deemed Islamophobic.

Fiyaz Mughal, founder of Islamophobia monitoring group TellMAMA, has warned that any definition would need to protect the right to criticise religion and question behaviour related to cultural elements.

Alongside the council on Islamophobia would be a similar group to address anti-Semitism, despite suggestions within the Jewish community that there were already sufficient bodies monitoring the issue.

In addition, the Home Office has unveiled plans to record more non-crime hate incidents for both types of discrimination.

A spokesperson for Ms Rayner’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has said that ministers were looking at a ‘more integrated and cohesive’ approach to tackling racial and religious hatred.

Last month, Foreign Secretary David Lammy denied the Government was using the all-party definition of Islamophobia and insisted that predators would be pursued regardless of their race or religion.

A spokesperson for the MHCLG said: ‘No blasphemy laws will be introduced by this government.

‘We are firmly committed to tackling all forms of hatred and division, including the unacceptable rise in anti-Muslim hatred. We will provide further updates on this in due course.’