Watch the moment a GB News star slapped down a guest during a fiery row over the ongoing saga on the Trafalgar Sqaure iftar to celebrate Eid.
The controversy on the issue first erupted earlier this week when the Tories’ Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy stirred up a heated debate by branding the Ramadan event, hosted by London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, as “an act of domination”.
Speaking about the mass prayer, where men and women were separated, Mr Timothy said: “Perform these rituals in mosques if you wish. But they are not welcome in our public places and shared institutions.
“I am not suggesting everybody at Trafalgar Square last night is an Islamist. But the domination of public places is straight from the Islamist playbook.”
Defending Mr Timothy’s criticism of the Open Iftar event, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch told GB News her issue is with the division of men and women at the event, which she does not support “as a woman”.
Today, Dawn, while in conversation with Mohammed Amin, director of the Campaign for Shared European Values, clashed over the gendered segregation, with women having to pray behind men during the event.
However, Mr Amin insisted many religions had some separation between both genders for specific activities, which was “normal”.
But the host argued: “I would have to agree with [Kemi Badenoch], to be honest with you, Mohammed.
Dawn said the segregation of men and women made her feel ‘uncomfortable’ – but Mr Amin said it was ‘normal’
|
GB NEWS
“If I’d have walked through that, I would have felt slightly uncomfortable that women were at the back of the crowd and had to be kept separate from their husbands, their fathers, their sons, etc.
“As a woman, a British woman, that makes me feel uncomfortable.”
But Mr Iman responded: “These are Muslim women who chose to pray at the back because that’s how Muslim prayers are conducting. Nobody was forcing them.
“Nobody needs to force them because if they’re Muslims, they behave the way that they think that Muslims should behave.”
Around 2,000 people attended the iftar
|
GETTY
She went on to ask: “Now, we have seen an increase in radical Islamism in this country. Do you think maybe that people like Nick Timothy are concerned about that element and the divisiveness that these open air prayers do bring?”
“Well, first of all, these open air prayers do not bring divisiveness,” the director insisted.
But when Dawn attempted to reply, he fired back: “Let me finish. Nick Timothy’s remarks will actually make people more hostile.”
Nevertheless, the GB News star went onto cite moderate Muslims who believe the decision is “very divisive”, several of whom appeared on the channel yesterday.
But, challenging Dawn, the Mr Amin responded: “I haven’t come across any Muslims objecting to an open iftar being held like this in Trafalgar Square. I haven’t heard a single one.”
“Well, we interviewed at least three on this on this channel yesterday who were saying it made them very difficult,” Dawn shot back.
“What were their names?” Mr Amin grilled.
Speaking to GB News yesterday, political commentator Khadeja Brown supported those calling for a ban on such prayer events, declaring that prayer should be “private”.
She said: “We have mosques and we have churches and so many houses of God that we could practise our prayer there. And I do see how it can be intimidating to other religions.”
“So it’s nice to keep the country neutral, the public spaces to be kept neutral and no public prayer. I understand how it could be very demeaning to others.”
Agreeing with the criticism led by Mr Timothy about the event, Ms Brown said it was an “attempt to overtake, intimidate and dominate our way of life”.
Citing the case of Ms Brown, Mr Iman asked Dawn if the political commentator was an ex-Muslim now.
Appearing slightly perturbed by the question, Dawn reassured Mr Amin saying: “No, she’s very definitely a Muslim…
“I mean, forgive me, but women may have to pray at the back in your religion, but they do know their own religion as well. She was saying that in, as a moderate Muslim, she was uncomfortable with the public demonstration of faith.”
“Well, I don’t share her discomfort,” Mr Amin said.