Conservative candidate Rabbi ‘abused and intimidated’ at local mosque

This has been picked up by a national newspaper more quickly than I expected, which is a pleasant surprise. From the Telegraph

A rabbi standing as a Conservative candidate was “abused and intimidated” at a local mosque by a pro-Palestine supporter.

Rabbi Arnie Saunders was invited to Bilal mosque in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, by the mosque elders last week.

Footage on social media shows a man shouting at him and calling for him to condemn Israel’s actions amid the continuing conflict in Gaza following the Oct 7 attack by Hamas.

In the footage, the man can be seen approaching the rabbi before pointing and shouting at him.

The man, who appears to be holding the camera, says: “Condemn the IDF, condemn the killing of children, of women, of old people, of livestock.”

Rabbi Saunders can be heard attempting to speak but the man keeps cutting him off.

He continues: “Don’t [say I] regret … Condemn in the strongest terms. What was your stance on the ceasefire? Did you vote for it? Were you willing to condemn? Tell him to go. He should go. Ask him to go. We don’t want to engage with you people. We don’t want to engage with you. You justify child killers. You say that it’s right that they cut off water and electricity supplies. You say that and then you come here and smile like a snake… You’re not getting our vote.”

“You are a snake”
WATCH the threatening way Rabbi Arnie Saunders was treated when he was invited to the Bilal Mosque in Prestwich, Manchester in his role as the Conservative candidate for Bury South by the mosque elders. That he was allowed to be abused, intimidated and have his… pic.twitter.com/X4PZTsteLq

— NW Friends of Israel (@NorthWestFOI) June 30, 2024

Bilal mosque was contacted by The Telegraph for comment.

Any comment from the mosque yet???

NW Friends of Israel @NorthWestFOI 16h Nope.

From the Manchester Evening News – an apology from Masjid Bilal Islamic Centre

The mosque said in a statement today that Rabbi Saunders, a councillor in Salford, was a guest at a meet-and-greet event, but admitted he ‘was treated inappropriately and disrespectfully’. Unfortunately one or two individuals questioned the Rabbi in a hostile manner and this clip has been widely circulated. This clip was recorded by one of the individuals himself.

“The Rabbi was a guest of the mosque, and he was treated inappropriately and disrespectfully. Any genuine political questions should have been raised respectfully. We regret what has happened, we have already apologised to the Rabbi for how he was treated and wish to extend our apologies to others who have seen the clip and are upset by it.”

“Masjid E Bilal has a long track record of good inter-faith relations and positive relations with the Jewish and other faith communities,” added the statement. “We call on anyone attending any election events, wherever it may be, to remain calm and respectful whilst questioning candidates or holding politicians to account.”