Sadiq Khan has vowed to take urgent action to assess a controversial series of adverts across the Transport for London (TfL) estate after GB News revealed that an Islamic preacher and Russian-linked fighter had popped up on billboards across the capital.
The adverts for Islamic finance firm Wahed show Muslim preacher Ismail ibn Musa Menk, known as “Mufti Menk”, and Ramzan Kadyrov-linked ex-UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Menk had been banned from entering Singapore in 2017 for what the country said were “unacceptable… segregationist and divisive teachings”.
He was also banned from entering Denmark for two years in 2018.
Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov enjoys close links to Russian warlord Ramzan Kadyrov – a close Putin ally who has gifted the fighter luxury cars, and handed him honorary citizenship of the southern Russian region of Chechnya.
Nurmagomedov enjoys close links to Russian warlord Ramzan Kadyrov – a close Putin ally
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On Wednesday, TfL had confirmed to GB News that the ads had been reviewed and were found to comply with its advertising policy.
But Tory London Assembly member Susan Hall warned that the ads “begged a lot of questions” about Khan’s policing of advertising – not least after comedian Ed Gamble’s posters were banned because they featured a hot dog.
Speaking to The People’s Channel, Hall said: “If Wahed had wanted to advertise their platform with a high-calorie meal on the tube, it would be banned, but apparently a preacher banned from other countries for promoting religious discord is fine?
“We strongly urge TfL to reconsider the suitability of this advert, particularly when they so quickly clamp down on others,” Hall added.
But now, the story has taken a fresh twist, with Hall taking the matter to London’s City Hall.
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This morning, she told the London Assembly at Mayor’s Question Time: “You’ll be aware of the very, very strict rules around food [on the TfL estate].
“In fact, you [Khan] have been commenting on it just now.
“So strong are these rules that Ed Gamble, a comedian, had to Photoshop out a hot dog and replace it with a cucumber on an advert for his show. Amazing.
“However, you’ve got a company called Wahed, a finance company, featuring on those adverts is a chap called Mufti Menk – who, actually, is known to have denounced homosexuality as ‘filthy’ and said that gays were ‘worse than animals’.
Susan Hall was seen presenting photos of the ads, unearthed by GB News, to the Mayor
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“You’ll stop a hot dog being put on there, but you’re quite happy to have people like that featuring in those adverts!”
She was also seen presenting photos of the ads, unearthed by GB News, to the Mayor as she raised her concerns to Assembly Members.
Khan responded: “I’ve not yet read the advert. I’ll have a look at it as soon as Mayor’s Question Time is finished, to see what’s gone on there. I’m more than happy to look into that.”
Hall jabbed: “Please do – because I think things like that just make the whole thing look totally ridiculous. Thank you, Mr Mayor.”
GB News understands that Khan suggested his office would be looking into the ads shortly after Mayor’s Question Time.
Khan has vowed to take action on the controversial ads
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Hall’s reference to Menk’s comments refers to an incident in which he was barred from touring six UK universities after calling homosexuality “filthy”.
He has since retracted his remarks, saying: “On the issue of LGBT, let me clarify the statement I made back in 2011 which had me saying: ‘With all due respect to the animals, they are worse than those animals,’ was based on a misguided notion.
“I no longer believe that to be true. I make a full retraction of that statement.”
A spokeswoman for the Mayor told GB News today: “The Mayor is clear that there is no place for hate in London and he strongly condemns any language which divides London’s amazing diverse communities.
“The Mayor has no involvement in approving or deciding which ads run on the TfL network, and TfL’s policy reflects legal requirements.”
GB News has approached Wahed for comment, and the Mayor of London for further comment.
