A convicted Islamist terrorist, Shahid Butt, is running for local office in Birmingham, England, despite his past involvement in planning attacks on the British consulate in Yemen. Butt, who describes himself as an “Islamist,” is standing as a candidate for the Independent Candidates Alliance (ICA) in the Sparkhill district of Birmingham, where two-thirds of residents are of Pakistani origin.
Butt was jailed for five years in Yemen in 1999 for conspiring to bomb the British consulate, an Anglican church, and a Swiss-owned hotel. He claims his confession was extracted under torture and maintains that he did nothing wrong. However, he has admitted to making “mistakes” in his past, including being a member of a Pakistani street gang in his youth and traveling to fight in Afghanistan and Bosnia in the 1990s.
The ICA, which is running 20 candidates across Birmingham, was set up by lawyer Akhmed Yakoob, who has been accused of money laundering. Butt’s candidacy has raised concerns, particularly given his comments on self-defense. He has advised his fellow Muslims to defend themselves if attacked, stating that “if somebody comes into your face, you knock his teeth out.” This approach has been criticized as promoting violence.
Butt’s campaign has sparked debate in Birmingham, where a third of the population is Muslim. His candidacy has also raised questions about the vetting process for local election candidates. Despite his past, Butt describes himself as the “ideal candidate” to “unite” his district, citing his experience and knowledge of the community.
The local elections in Birmingham are scheduled to take place in May, and Butt’s candidacy is likely to be closely watched. The outcome of the election will depend on the votes of the residents of Sparkhill, who will need to weigh up the qualifications and character of all the candidates, including Butt. The election result will have significant implications for the community, and it remains to be seen how Butt’s past will impact his chances of being elected.
