By Hammad Kahlun
Scandinavian news Finland
Kellie-Jay Keen Islamophobia backlash intensified this week after a video showed the British activist confronting two Muslim men as they prayed in a corner of Hyde Park, London.
The footage, which circulated widely on social media, shows Keen standing directly in front of the men mid-prayer.
What the video shows
The clip was uploaded to Middle East Eye’s Instagram account on Monday, 27 July, and shows Keen questioning why the two men were praying at that location. In the video, she can be heard telling them: “This is not what we do in this country.”
Keen went on to describe herself as “an Islamophobe, not a racist” while the men attempted to continue their prayers, according to the footage.
Critics quoted in coverage of the incident described the confrontation as a deliberate act of anti-Muslim hate.
Reaction to the Kellie-Jay Keen Islamophobia video
According to reports on the video, Keen later shared a photo from the incident on social media with a mocking caption aimed at the two men, using the image to ridicule them publicly after interrupting their prayer.
Islamic teaching holds that Muslims are required to perform five daily prayers at set times, and may pray in any clean, quiet space including public parks if they are away from a mosque when a prayer time arrives.
The video has renewed criticism of Keen’s public conduct toward Muslim communities in Britain. This is not the first time her activities in London have drawn controversy or counter-reaction.
At a separate event at Speaker’s Corner last month, a man was recorded threatening to cut Keen’s throat during a dispute over comments she had made about Islam, an incident Keen reported to police at the scene.
Who is Kellie-Jay Keen?
Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, also known as Posie Parker, is a British activist who leads the political party Party of Women and describes herself as a women’s rights campaigner, though she says she is “not a feminist.”
She is best known internationally for her anti-transgender activism, but has increasingly drawn attention and criticism for public remarks and actions targeting Islam and Muslim communities in the UK.
In May, a Liberal Democrat peer publicly questioned the government’s response after Keen was reported to have called for Islam to be “removed” from British public life during a rally in London.
Key facts:
- A video shows UK activist Kellie-Jay Keen confronting two Muslim men praying in Hyde Park, London.
- Footage was published via Middle East Eye’s Instagram account on Monday, 27 July.
- Keen told the men “This is not what we do in this country” and called herself an Islamophobe, not a racist.
- Critics have called the confrontation a deliberate act of anti-Muslim hate.
- The incident follows other recent controversies involving Keen and Muslim communities in London, including a throat-threat incident at Speaker’s Corner last month.
FAQs:
Who is Kellie-Jay Keen?
She is a British activist, also known as Posie Parker, who leads the Party of Women and is best known for anti-transgender campaigning, though she has increasingly commented publicly on Islam.
What happened in the Hyde Park video?
Keen is shown standing in front of two Muslim men while they prayed in a corner of the park, questioning them and making remarks before they finished praying.
Is it legal to pray in a public park in the UK?
Yes there is no law against praying in a public space such as a park; Muslims are permitted to pray outside a mosque, including outdoors, when a prayer time falls while they are away from home.
Has Kellie-Jay Keen responded to the backlash?
No detailed public statement from Keen addressing this specific incident had been reported at the time of writing.
Where was the video first published?
According to available reporting, it was first shared via Middle East Eye’s Instagram account on 27 July.
Context: rising scrutiny of anti-Muslim incidents
The Hyde Park video has been shared alongside broader reporting on Islamophobic incidents in the UK and Europe in recent weeks, feeding into wider public debate about anti-Muslim hate and free speech at public spaces like Speaker’s Corner, historically a site of open debate and confrontation of all kinds.
Neither Kellie-Jay Keen nor representatives for the two men shown in the video have issued a detailed public statement responding directly to the backlash at the time of writing.
This is a developing story and will be updated as further details, statements, or official responses become available.
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