UKIP and multi-faith leaders clashed over the right to freedom of speech on Saturday 17th January when a rally was held to defend Muslims who suffered the backlash after shootings at the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Leading the demonstration was MP for Bradford West, George Galloway: “I am here to defend the honour of Muslims, Islams and Muhammad” he announced in front of the Bradford Town Hall. “These are not cartoons, these are obscene insults to the prophet Muhammad (…) The backlash against Muslims is under way in France and the UK (…) It seems there are limits to freedom of speech in France. That's hypocrisy, not democracy.”
Roughly 200 people, including members of the Muslim Youth League, gathered at Bradford city's Centenary Square, and received green ribbons as a symbol of unity in peace. UKIP's candidate Jason Smith raised objection, complaining to the Bradford Council that the demonstration was in bad taste: “While I am a big advocate of freedom of speech, I have major reservations regarding this protest and its timing” he stated in an interview with the Telegraph and Argus. It took place “just days after the funerals of the victims of the Paris shooting (…) this is not only disrespecting the people who died in Paris but could potentially be very inflammatory.
“All Bradford communities should be protesting against the murders in Paris, not protesting against newspapers drawing satirical cartoons (…) This will almost certainly be a disaster for Bradford’s reputation.” Bradford council reported that multi-faith protesters had not sought endorsement from them and that local police were briefed as part of standard precautions.
Councillor Imran Hussain, deputy leader of Labour-run Bradford Council, also announced at the rally: “Let's have freedom of speech, not freedom to openly insult.” Although there was anxiety about the controversy of the protest, the EDL scheduling to attend just a day before, the event went drew on peacefully with no violence to speak of.
