This is Northumberland Calling 20.3.26
The challenging acts of dominance edition
Hello America (especially Central Ohio), this is Northumberland calling.
On 16 March the Ramadan tent project hosted a mass prayer event at Trafalgar Square. It was a male-only event from the looks of the photos. Many Muslim countries ban these sorts of events because they have been used by the Muslim Brotherhood and other radical Islamists as a way to exert their dominance over the religion and indeed over public spaces. The organizer of the event apparently does have links to Islamists through his support of the controversial group Cage. Starmer withdrew from the event in 2021 after he was made aware of the connection. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/03/19/public-prayer-un-british-ramadan-trafalgar-square/ or https://archive.ph/idANf
This is the JC article from 2021 explaining about Starmer’s withdrawal from the event because of the extremism. https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/starmer-withdraws-from-ramadan-event-after-board-of-deputies-warning/amp/editorial@thejngroup.com/
Nick Timothy decided to challenge the new Anti-Muslim-Hostility definition and called the event an act of dominance on X on the 17th. Cue the usual suspects (the same MPs who supported a ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans) denouncing him as. They have sent a letter to the Parliamentary standards commissioner asking him to investigate Timothy. He told them to get lost. Starmer has called for him to be sacked. Kemi Badenoch refused and said that he was defending British values. This is Nick Timothy’s op-ed explaining his stance: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/19/islamic-domination-of-public-sphere-is-unacceptable/ or https://archive.ph/t3CQn
Nick Timothy’s response to the letter on X . It is worth noting what else they are also objecting to including the banning of schoolgirls wearing the hajib (think the murder of Sara Sharif as to why people might think this a good idea) and the closing of Islamic Centres (they are mainly funded by the Islamic regime) .The whole thing about sharia marriage is another red herring – it has to do with exploitation of underaged girls. In short the taqiyya is there if one knows where to look. They are counting on people not looking. The letter reveals more about the writers and their agenda than I think they intended.
Nigel Farage has now weighed in on the side of Timothy, saying that he would ban such things, pointing out that they are banned in many Muslim countries. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/nigel-farage-ramadan-kemi-badenoch-sadiq-khan-w56n5bzx6 or https://archive.ph/zB1Dy
Before anyone goes on about Tommy Robinson, I will say that his name is being invoked to shut the conversation down. His name is reached for when any public figure criticizes Islamism or Islamist practices. Thus, he has played a major role in ensuring Islamists gain more of a foothold by ensuring no debate.
For the avoidance of doubt – I don’t believe single-sex religious observations like the one detailed above should be taking place in mixed-sex public spaces. They should be confined to private areas of worship such as mosques, temples, or churches. In Britain which is generally a mixed-sex society, the few remaining single sex spaces are there for fairness, privacy and dignity. Open-air religious observations in major public spaces don’t pass the single-sex exemption test.
The Free Speech Union are taking the government to court over its new Anti-Muslim hostility definition because as they point making such statements could be interpreted (weaponized) . https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/19/atheists-could-be-silenced-under-new-protections-for-muslim/ or https://archive.ph/BNEXY
A failed businessman attempted to use Sharia law and need to provide a home for his wife as a reason for why his multimillion-pound property should not be sold. The judge refused and said his protestations had no force in British law. The house will now to sold to help satisfy the creditors. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/billionaire-shekh-wife-lose-high-court-battle-home-2cfk8wn9v or https://archive.ph/Tc3en
If you want to know how the IR works to silence its opponents, this article is about the IR’s recent activities in Britain including how it tries to buy the services of various Iranian drug dealers. There are reasons why the IRGC should be proscribed (something which 6 more countries did today but not Britain). https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/20/how-iran-is-bringing-the-war-to-britains-streets/ or https://archive.ph/qZvCm
In a surprise to very few, the COVID inquiry has stated that the advice ‘Stay at home, protect the NHS’ contributed to the excess death rate during the period as people having heart attacks decided not to go to A&E. Equally cancers were not properly investigated. At the time, people raised concerns but were actively silenced. Their caution has now proved correct. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/covid-inquiry-hallett-advice-fbxlwlw8r or https://archive.ph/BDX5Q
The latest (and last) instalment in the Peaky Blinders series is on Net flix in the UK today. The Observer did a walk with its creator Steven Knight around the area which inspired him. If you haven’t discovered Peaky Blinders, it is violent but it is also very well-plotted. https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/steven-knight-theres-always-one-family-in-a-place-like-this-that-everybodys-scared-of
Here
My husband was suppose to go visit my youngest on the remote Scottish island. Despite boarding the ferry and the weather being breezy, not blustery on Colonsay (my youngest was surprised at the cancellation), the captain cancelled the ferry. There were very few people or vehicles on the ferry. Because it was ‘weather-related’, Cal Mac does not have to pay for accommodation. The next ferry was in two days’ time. My husband returned 12 hours after he set out. Cal Mac are very unreliable but apparently this was a new low even for them. I feel sorry for any islander who was trying to get back.
The weather has turned Springlike. All three bee colonies are flying. The magnolias are just starting to blossom. The buds are starting to swell on the fruit trees. We sometimes get warm weather around now, but there still can be frosts.
Paddy is now booked in for his Spring haircut on the 28th. He is starting to look shaggy and seed season is right around the corner. He has also been chasing rats again. I think he uncovered a nest as I discovered 3 dead rats on the pathway.
I sent my Viking pitches in and the editor swiftly replied that she had them and would let me know by the end of the month. My writing continues.
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Hello Northumberland! Good to see You again this Friday.
At least Starmer withdrew from the Ramadan event. More power to Nick Timothy. I agree with You. And the FSU.
I'm glad to see Sharia law turned down. The IRGC should be turned down also. I wish I could say I was shocked by their activities.
I'm sorry to hear about Baroness Hallett's report.
And I'm also sorry to hear about Your husband's cancelled trip.
We're having good weather here, too. And Paddy looks good and will look even better with a haircut.
Good luck with the editor. And, as always, TY for the very fine roundup, Michelle.
Being proven correct after Covid in ever so many ways, kinda sucks to be honest. I mean if it caused folks to get smarter and pay more attention and question more and make sure that such future events were not handled so suckily, that would be fantastic. Unfortunately tho all you have to do is look at the forces trying to crush RFK's attempts to bring sanity ( ie actual real science) to the whole vax thing and well- it's discouraging to say the least.