The election campaign in Bradford is so toxic, dangerous, hate-filled and fuelled by Baradarism that one of Britain's most high-profile politicians, Naz Shah, has a police guard protecting her 24 hours a day because of death threats she has received and intelligence reports confirming there is an active threat to her life.
A huge banner hanging outside her campaign headquarters in Bradford City centre was desecrated and slashed with a knife in a clear attempt to intimidate her.
Welcome to Bradford, known as Britain's mini Pakistan.
In two seats in Bradford West and Bradford East, there are areas where the situation is so tense, divisive and volatile that it could be cut with a knife. Naz Shah is standing for re-election in Bradford West on the Labour list and Imran Hussain is seeking re-election in Bradford East on the Labour Party list. In both seats there are “independent” candidates challenging the traditionally safe Labour seats.
At first glance, Gaza is the central issue in these elections in these constituencies with a large diaspora of Pakistani and Kashmiri origin (Mirpur, Kotli), but in reality, this election is much more than that: it is about hateful abuses , vile smear campaigns, violence, old family rivalries, baradariism imported from Pakistan and Kashmir, extreme misogyny, caste and creed divisions and long-term political planning by local actors.
The division in both electoral districts is visible. In large areas and streets, posters and banners of only one candidate (whether affiliated with a party or independent) are seen, while other candidates are almost non-existent. The situation changes completely in the following streets, where banners and poles begin to be seen in the gardens of a single candidate.
Hussain faces a challenge from Talat Sajawal, who has the support of around ten local councilors who resigned from the Labor Party over the Gaza issue. Naz Shah faces a challenge from two independent candidates, Ali Islam and Akeel Hussain, who are running in the elections over the Gaza issue.
Several candidates shared videos and photographs with Geographic news how their banners and posters were destroyed day and night and how they are afraid to campaign outside their safe zones, their strongholds.
In this election there are eight parliamentary candidates for Bradford West, and only one of them is a woman and the fact that she is at a huge disadvantage – because of her origin and her being – is evident in the area.
She has been an MP for nine years on the Labour list but has been deserted by some local Labour Party members as a campaign is underway to oust her from the constituency at all costs, driven and aided by local Labour stalwarts. Information shared with us highlights that high-profile Labour members and officials close to campaigning with Hussain in Bradford East are actively opposing Shah in Bradford West, who is on the same Labour list.
Shah is clear that the campaign against her is sponsored by some local Labour leaders who have never liked her because she is a woman, does not have a strong local family and a Baradari orientation, and her position in the Labour Party in Bradford is seen as an obstacle to the career advancement of local Labour stalwarts who would benefit if she were not there.
She believes that at least one “independent” standing against her has the financial and political support of another local Labour leader who wants her out of the area at all costs and this election offers another opportunity for the local Labour group, which tried the same tactics but under different guises in two previous terms when Shah stood from here.
“It is sad to see that the issue of Palestine, where real suffering is taking place, is being used by some people as a ploy to overthrow me for their own political interests. This issue is an emotional one and I know many people in Bradford have concerns legitimate about it, but unfortunately some are trying to use these feelings for their own political and individual benefits. They are campaigning against me and they are the same ones who campaigned against me previously on the basis of Baradari and misogyny, but the people of their. Baradari himself and the people of Bradford have rejected them before and will do so again,” he said.
Shah said her posters were taken down, desecrated with paint and slashed. She said: “Businesses that support me are receiving phone threats that their shop windows and property will be damaged and boycotted. This is not about Palestine for everyone, some people are sadly using genuine sentiment for their own political gains. For them, it is a targeted campaign against me. I am the only woman in this seat and I am the target. It is so poisonous that I cannot take my 12-year-old son with me to campaign. There is a protection officer with me at all times.”
Naz Shah pointed out that the perpetrators are those who downplay the gravity of violence against women and have a history of playing the Baradari card.
She had faced similar attacks in the area when George Galloway ran against her in 2017, an election he won with a majority of more than 25,000 votes.
She says nothing has changed since then. “My banners were not vandalized then, I did not receive death threats then. The situation is worse now. This is vandalism. There were some filters then, but not anymore. The intimidation that I am facing as a woman has affected me, my family and my followers.
Shah said several members were recently suspended by the Labour Party after evidence established their involvement in hooligan behaviour against me.
Shah said he always supported his constituents, voted against the war in Gaza, voted for ceasefire, raised the issue of Indian human rights violations in Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), resigned from his position in the shadow cabinet in protest of Israel's war. in Gaza and was always on the side of just causes, but “they are attacking me through fake news campaigns to intimidate me, but I will not give up. I will not give up.”
She said: “The irony is that such tactics and abuse are expected from the far right, but are unexpected from people who experience marginalisation and alienation, particularly in mainstream politics. Once again, this campaign has shown that internalised misogyny and hatred continue to hamper the experiences of women, especially those from minority backgrounds, in politics. This election is not just a fight for a parliamentary seat, it is a stand against misogyny and prejudice that seeks to silence our strong voices in parliament; to take a vitriolic stance on politics and, through an emotional response, to push the issue of Palestine off the top table altogether.”
Sajawal shared a video with Geo news In the video, two masked men are seen trying to set fire to his banner at the home of one of his main supporters. The video shows two men wearing gloves and masks, first throwing something in front of the banner and then lighting a firework, which failed to start a fire, but every effort was made to cause the damage.
He said: “My supporters have been attacked by those who fear me and believe I have the will and support to break their stranglehold on local politics. I will not be intimidated by anyone. We are a group of ten independent councillors. We have all won as independent and we are now the third largest group on Bradford Council We will not leave.
Hussain shared a video showing a man removing his campaign banner from one of his supporters' garden. “In total, my opponents have removed 40 banners from the area. I have the registration number of the car of the person who did this. I have not reported this to the police but my opponent wanted me arrested for removing a £30 banner but the police took no action.”
Hussain said his father was a Labour councillor until a few weeks ago but resigned from his position. He denied having the support of a local Labour leader who wanted Shah to lose votes at local level.
Muhammad Islam said that Bararadariism was a reality in the area, but the new generation was fed up with it. “The old guard failed us. People want change in this area.”
He said his opponents removed poles and banners from his own yard. “We have reported the incidents against my campaign to the electoral body for investigation.”
Hussain did not respond to repeated requests for an interview, but a local community leader affiliated with his campaign said he has faced similar problems in his area.
Anger towards Labour is a reality in the area, but it is also clear that a number of local residents, who are likely to vote Labour on 4 July, have chosen not to put up Labour banners or posters in their windows to express their feelings. Several residents said Geographic news They felt intimidated by the culture of vandalism and the intimidation tactics on display.
Shah has gone on record to say that she contemplated suicide twice in 2017 when her opponents carried out a hate campaign against her in the general election over the Battle of Bradford West.
He was referring to a speech given in June 2017 by community leader Pateh Khan in his remarks at the Khidmat Center in Bradford West.
He had said about Shah: “Even when we adopt or buy a dog, we carefully look for its pedigree, lineage and character. What do we look for in her? What does Naz Shah promote? What does her dress, her lifestyle, her character demonstrate? What will be the impact she will have on our next generations? First of all, we are all Muslims, praise be to God.”
Seven years later, prejudice, misogyny and hatred are more frequent and evident than ever. This time, without filters, controls or balances.
