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'''Shaykh Asrar Rashid''' (Arabic: أسرار رشيد) is a British-[[Pakistan]]i Sunni [[Muslim]] scholar, preacher, and author associated with the Sufi tradition. He resides in Sparkbrook, [[Birmingham, England]], and is known for his lectures, books, and online presence. While he presents himself as a defender of Islamic orthodoxy, Rashid has faced widespread condemnation (including from Jewish organizations, human rights groups, and counter-extremism experts) for his repeated [[antisemitic]] rhetoric, [[Holocaust]] minimization - [[Hitler]] apologia, praise for terrorist violence against Israeli civilians, and calls for violence that endanger [[Jewish]] communities in the [[UK]] and beyond.<ref name="MEMRI2022">{{cite web |title=U.K. Islamic Scholar Asrar Rashid: Hitler Did the Jews a Favor – They Capitalized on Europe’s Sympathy to Come to Palestine |url=https://x.com/MEMRIReports/status/1603348522866159616 |website=X |publisher=Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) |date=December 15, 2022 |access-date=October 19, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Gomes2025">{{cite web |last=Gomes |first=Jules |title=Radical British Cleric Calls for ‘Preemptive’ Jihad Against the ‘White Man’ |url=https://www.meforum.org/fwi/fwi-news/radical-british-cleric-calls-for-preemptive-jihad-against-the-white-man |website=Middle East Forum |date=October 16, 2025 |access-date=October 19, 2025}}</ref><ref name="DailyMail2025">{{cite web |last1=Duell |first1=Mark |last2=Lisbona |first2=Natalie |last3=Wilcock |first3=David |last4=Robinson |first4=Martin |last5=Wolfisz |first5=Francine |title=The Birmingham preacher who urged 'no mercy' for Israeli fans amid fury at city's ban for Villa game |url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15201283/Muslim-preacher-Bimingham-mercy-Maccabi-Tel-Aviv-Aston-Villa.html |website=Daily Mail |date=October 17, 2025 |access-date=October 19, 2025}}</ref><ref name="JPost2021">{{cite web |title=British Jews fear antisemitism has risen after Gaza protests |url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/british-jews-fear-antisemitism-has-risen-after-gaza-protests-669056 |website=The Jerusalem Post |date=May 25, 2021 |access-date=October 20, 2025}}</ref><ref name="StandWithUs2025">{{cite web |title=‘Scholar’ Asrar Rashid is seen praising Hamas' brutal violence against Israeli civilians |url=https://www.facebook.com/StandWithUs/videos/1414023079819800/ |website=Facebook |publisher=StandWithUs |date=July 16, 2025 |access-date=October 20, 2025}}</ref>

'''Shaykh Asrar Rashid''' (Arabic: أسرار رشيد) is a British-[[Pakistan]]i Sunni [[Muslim]] scholar, preacher, and author associated with the Sufi tradition. He resides in Sparkbrook, [[Birmingham, England]], and is known for his lectures, books, and online presence. While he presents himself as a defender of Islamic orthodoxy, Rashid has faced widespread condemnation (including from Jewish organizations, human rights groups, and counter-extremism experts) for his repeated [[antisemitic]] rhetoric, [[Holocaust]] minimization - [[Hitler]] apologia, praise for terrorist violence against Israeli civilians, and calls for violence that endanger [[Jewish]] communities in the [[UK]] and beyond.<ref name="MEMRI2022">{{cite web |title=U.K. Islamic Scholar Asrar Rashid: Hitler Did the Jews a Favor – They Capitalized on Europe’s Sympathy to Come to Palestine |url=https://x.com/MEMRIReports/status/1603348522866159616 |website=X |publisher=Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) |date=December 15, 2022 |access-date=October 19, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Gomes2025">{{cite web |last=Gomes |first=Jules |title=Radical British Cleric Calls for ‘Preemptive’ Jihad Against the ‘White Man’ |url=https://www.meforum.org/fwi/fwi-news/radical-british-cleric-calls-for-preemptive-jihad-against-the-white-man |website=Middle East Forum |date=October 16, 2025 |access-date=October 19, 2025}}</ref><ref name="DailyMail2025">{{cite web |last1=Duell |first1=Mark |last2=Lisbona |first2=Natalie |last3=Wilcock |first3=David |last4=Robinson |first4=Martin |last5=Wolfisz |first5=Francine |title=The Birmingham preacher who urged 'no mercy' for Israeli fans amid fury at city's ban for Villa game |url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15201283/Muslim-preacher-Bimingham-mercy-Maccabi-Tel-Aviv-Aston-Villa.html |website=Daily Mail |date=October 17, 2025 |access-date=October 19, 2025}}</ref><ref name="JPost2021">{{cite web |title=British Jews fear antisemitism has risen after Gaza protests |url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/british-jews-fear-antisemitism-has-risen-after-gaza-protests-669056 |website=The Jerusalem Post |date=May 25, 2021 |access-date=October 20, 2025}}</ref><ref name="StandWithUs2025">{{cite Facebook |first=Robert |title=‘Scholar’ Asrar Rashid is seen praising Hamas' brutal violence against Israeli civilians? |url=//www.facebook.com/StandWithUs/videos/1414023079819800/ |publisher=StandWithUs |date=July 16, 2025 |access-date=October 19, 2025}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==

== Early life and education ==

Rashid has also expressed anti-white sentiments, decrying "bad brown people in positions of power" and advocating discrimination by skin color in appointments, stating "Whites only!" in a video criticizing non-white officials.<ref name="MEMRI2022" /> He has spread conspiracy theories, such as claiming Maccabi fans in Amsterdam were undercover IDF soldiers provoking violence.

Rashid has also expressed anti-white sentiments, decrying "bad brown people in positions of power" and advocating discrimination by skin color in appointments, stating "Whites only!" in a video criticizing non-white officials.<ref name="MEMRI2022" /> He has spread conspiracy theories, such as claiming Maccabi fans in Amsterdam were undercover IDF soldiers provoking violence.

== Responses and investigations ==

== Responses and investigations ==

UK authorities, including [[West Midlands Police]] and [[Nottinghamshire Police]], have faced criticism for failing to investigate Rashid despite multiple complaints of hate speech. The [[Crown Prosecution Service]] requires a full police file to proceed.<ref name="Gomes2025" /><ref name="DailyMail2025" /> Politicians like MP [[Robert Jenrick]] have questioned why Rashid is "still preaching in the UK," while activists like Nioh Berg highlighted "two-tier justice" in handling incitement.<ref name="Jenrick2025">{{cite Facebook |first=Robert |title=Why Is Asrar Rashid Still Preaching? |url=https://www.facebook.com/RobertJenrickNewark/videos/why-is-this-man-still-preaching-in-the-uk/783388098007239/ |date=October 2025 |access-date=October 19, 2025}}</ref>

UK authorities, including [[West Midlands Police]] and [[Nottinghamshire Police]], have faced criticism for failing to investigate Rashid despite multiple complaints of hate speech. The [[Crown Prosecution Service]] requires a full police file to proceed.<ref name="Gomes2025" /><ref name="DailyMail2025" /> Politicians like MP [[Robert Jenrick]] have questioned why Rashid is "still preaching in the UK," while activists like Nioh Berg highlighted "two-tier justice" in handling incitement.<ref name="Jenrick2025">

 

Jewish communities have expressed alarm, with the [[Jewish Chronicle]] and others reporting on Rashid’s ties to antisemitic figures and his role in exacerbating tensions.<ref name="JC2025" />  As of October 2025, no charges have been filed, raising concerns about the UK’s ability to protect Jewish citizens from radical Islamist threats.<ref name="DailyMail2025" /><ref name="CAA2025" />

Jewish communities have expressed alarm, with the [[Jewish Chronicle]] and others reporting on Rashid’s ties to antisemitic figures and his role in exacerbating tensions.<ref name="JC2025" />  As of October 2025, no charges have been filed, raising concerns about the UK’s ability to protect Jewish citizens from radical Islamist threats.<ref name="DailyMail2025" /><ref name="CAA2025" />