The Telegraph has reported on this a bit. See below. Make of it what you will.
In 2024 in Leicester East the imans sent out messages endorsing the Lib Dem candidate but on religious grounds.
"Members of the community are told that it would be “unwise” for Muslims “not to choose a person of faith who promises never to compromise on Islamic principles”. The message goes on to say that Mr Haq is “Muslim, God-fearing, understands Islamic values and will always stand up for Palestine”."
Fears of ‘undue spiritual influence’ on voters as community leaders ‘highlight Islamic values’
Dossier of messages circulated in Leicestershire constituency ‘urges backing for named candidates’
Almost a decade ago, the mayor of Tower Hamlets was sensationally removed from office after an electoral court found him guilty of a string of “corrupt and illegal practices” including ballot rigging, bribery and buying votes.
But perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the judgement was that Lutfur Rahman was found to have exerted “undue spiritual influence” to win votes among the east London borough’s Muslim Bangladeshi community.
Put simply, this means using religion to pressure people into voting in a certain way. This was the first and only successful case of its kind since the 19th century.
Fast forward to this election, and there are once again fears of imams exerting “spiritual pressure” over Muslim voters – a type of election interference which is illegal under the Elections Act 2022.
The Sunday Telegraph has seen a dossier of messages which are being circulated among Leicester’s Muslim community, with religious leaders urging voters to get behind particular candidates.
Religious leaders backing Lib Dem
In one message, voters are told that the “ulama and the masaajid” of Leicester East, meaning religious leaders and mosques, are endorsing the Liberal Democrat candidate Zuffar ul Haq.
Members of the community are told that it would be “unwise” for Muslims “not to choose a person of faith who promises never to compromise on Islamic principles”. The message goes on to say that Mr Haq is “Muslim, God-fearing, understands Islamic values and will always stand up for Palestine”.
Labour signs were defaced with Star of David graffiti in the Harborough, Oadby & Wigston constituency in Leicestershire
Labour signs were defaced with Star of David graffiti in the Harborough, Oadby & Wigston constituency in Leicestershire
It notes that , Claudia Webbe, the constituency’s former MP, who is standing in this election as an independent, has also “spoken out for Palestine” but adds that “this is not a special favour”.
The message goes on: “Any decent human being should condemn genocide. As an MP expelled from Labour, it is politically advantageous for her to speak on the Palestinian issue.”
Ms Webbe was elected as a Labour MP in 2019 but has sat as an independent since 2020 when she was expelled from Labour following her criminal conviction for harassing a love rival.
Another message which is being sent around in Leicester East is titled: “Why we as the Muslim community should vote for Claudia Webbe.” It says that a vote for Labour or Conservatives is a “vote for genocide”.
There is no suggestion that Ms Webbe or Mr Haq are involved in circulating such messages.
The dossier has been passed to Leicestershire Police to investigate whether any laws have been broken, The Telegraph understands.
Issue ‘going on for decades’
Fiyaz Mughal, an interfaith campaigner who founded the charities Tell MAMA and Faith Matters, said the issue of religious leaders pressuring their communities to vote for certain candidates has been going on for “decades”.
But he went on to explain that it has become “much more widespread in this election”, adding that he has picked up on similar things happening in Luton, around Yorkshire and Lancashire, and in east London.
“For me it really truly crosses that line to undue spiritual influence as well as psychological and social influence,” Mr Mughal said.
“What we are also seeing is a hardening of this sense of Islamic identity. There is a lot more activity on WhatsApp and there is no way to monitor this stuff. Imagine there were messages sent around telling people to vote for a white candidate – there would be uproar.”