Newcastle election candidate speaks out over 'hate-filled personal attacks'

An election candidate in Newcastle has spoken out saying he's faced a slew of “vicious” abuse aimed at him.

Habib Rahman, who is standing as an independent in the Newcastle Central and West constituency, has condemned a series of “hate-filled personal attacks” online since he announced his candidacy earlier this month. The former lord mayor of Newcastle and his election agent, fellow city councillor Tracey Mitchell, released a lengthy statement on social media claiming that Coun Rahman was the subject of attempts to “defame his character and damage his reputation within the Muslim community” – particularly with “derogatory and homophobic” comments attacking his support for the LGBT+ community.

They said that he had first “faced hate messages and extreme pressure from a segment of the community” urging him to drop out of the race and support former journalist and Muslim activist Yvonne Ridley, who is running as an independent in the seat too and has also made support for Palestine a key focus of her campaign, and that the abuse had become worse after Coun Rahman spoke in favour of a recent motion at Newcastle City Council backing Unison’s year of LGBT+ workers campaign. The social media and WhatsApp messages, a selection of which have been seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, have been reported to Northumbria Police.

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Coun Rahman, who quit the Labour Party earlier this year to become an independent councillor, said: “It is deeply hurtful for people to doubt my stance and contributions in challenging abuse, discrimination, violence, victimization, genocide, and war. I will not allow a small minority of people who are attempting to defame me to halt my efforts in standing up for humanity, for just causes, against injustices and inequality, and against hate crimes.

“I am a proud Muslim. Islam is a religion of peace, respect, and tolerance. To portray me as a sinner or as someone who has committed acts contrary to the teachings of Islam is deeply hurtful, offensive, divisive, and damaging to my faith.”

He claimed that some messages had targeted his family members and questioned the circumstances around the death of his father, Azizur, who was killed in 1977 at the Wallsend restaurant where he worked just days after moving to Tyneside. Coun Rahman, who has been a councillor for Elswick since 2010, added: “Don’t vote for me if you don’t believe I am a good fit for this role; vote for the candidate you wish to support. But stop these personal attacks, as they only reflect your ill-held views and opinions.”

A Northumbria Police spokesperson confirmed that the force received a report of “malicious communications” on Wednesday, June 19, and said that its enquiries “remain ongoing”.

Ms Ridley told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Sadly in the state of politics these days, online abuse is becoming more common. Myself and my campaign team would never endorse it, regardless of who the candidate is.”

Both she and Coun Rahman are hoping to challenge Labour’s Chi Onwurah, who has been the MP for the previous Newcastle Central constituency since 2010. The full list of candidates standing in Newcastle Central and West is:

• Ali Avaei - Liberal Democrat

• Frances Lasok - Conservative

• Ashton Muncaster - Reform

• Chi Onwurah - Labour

• John Pearson - Green

• Habib Rahman - Independent

• Yvonne Ridley - Independent