Lib Dem Hina Bokhari claims she received Islamophobic abuse during ward surgery - 'I won’t let hatred win’

A London assembly member (AM) has said she “won’t let hatred win” after claiming she was subjected to Islamophobic abuse from a member of the public.

Liberal Democrat AM Hina Bokhari, who is Muslim, said she received the abuse while holding her ward surgery in West Barnes, where she is also a councillor.

Ms Bokhari had previously raised the issue of Islamophobic graffiti being sprayed on a bus route in her borough of Merton. Posting on X, she wrote that while this had been resolved by Transport for London (TfL) and the Met Police, when a lady found out she was Muslim while holding her surgery “she listed all the reasons we were evil to my face”.

Ms Bokhari told LondonWorld the incident was isolated, describing everyone else as “incredibly kind and friendly as always”.

She added: “But with recent tensions, I am sadly not surprised that one resident decided to say such horrid and hateful things. 

“It is not right that anyone in London faces Islamophobia or antisemitism at any time and communities in London should not bear the brunt for events happening in the Middle East that are completely out of their control. 

“I have always worked with cross communities and have been involved with many interfaith charities. For example, I recently attended a peace vigil bringing together Muslim and Jewish women, to reflect on what we have in common even in our grief.

“As one of the first Muslim women elected to the London Assembly in 2021, I went into politics to break glass barriers for Muslim women in the UK. I won’t let hatred win and I passionately believe we have far more in common than divides us.”

LondonWorld understood Ms Bokhari had not reported the incident to the police when this article was first published. Ms Bokhari has since confirmed she has reported it following publication.

Ms Bokhari’s allegation comes amid a spike in hate crimes in the capital following the outbreak of war between Hamas and Israel in the Middle East.

Between October 1 and October 18, 218 antisemitic offences and 101 Islamophobic offences were recorded by the Met Police, up from 15 and 42 in the same period last year. These represent rises of 1,353% and 140%, respectively.

Several Jewish schools temporarily closed following Hamas’s attack on October 7 due to security fears, and Mohammed Kozbar, chairman of Finsbury Park Mosque, told LondonWorld he has heard of Muslim women scared to go out alone due to being attacked. 

The Met Police has pledged to intervene in demonstrations where hate crimes occur, and the mayor, Sadiq Khan, previously called for “the full force of the law” to be applied to those committing such offences.

The force was this week criticised for a lack of action against the use of the word 'jihad' at a protest on Saturday, when it said no offences were identified.