Election candidates have distanced themselves from a graphic calling out Blackburn mosque members as ‘supporters of genocide’.
The graphic, being shared on social media, shows individuals who are believed to be associated with the Raza and Madina mosques in the town pictured with the Labour candidate Kate Hollern.
It asks if these people ‘are fit to lead the mosques’ and names people individually alongside their images.
The graphic was shared on WhatsApp this week, but it was immediately condemned by party activists.
Since the general election on July 4 was called, local canvassers have stepped up attacks on opposition candidates and those associated with them.
The focus in some wards and by some candidates has been on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Sitting MP Kate Hollern has been outspoken on the humanitarian issues of Gaza and also called for a two-state solution to end fighting in the region.
Ms Hollern confirmed she had reported the ‘vile' graphic to the police.
She said: “I was shocked to see the post which was clearly [aimed] to bully and harass people who have views that contradict their own.
“It is interesting that it has only been condemned when I said it had been reported to the police.
"Posts like this have been shared for months; vile and graphic pictures used to intimidate.
“There is no place in our town for divisive and hateful messages to bully people and interfere in our democratic processes in Blackburn.”
Independent candidate Adnan Hussain, who has been endorsed by the 4 BWD independent group of councillors, has urged his supporters to "concentrate on getting the right message out to people" and not to be drawn into personal attacks.
He said: “I strongly believe in every individual's right under a democracy to be free to decide who and what they wish to align with politically.
“To target them as individuals, for their choices, is reprehensible.
“Questioning and critiquing a stance taken by a political institution, however, is also a democratic right and should not be curtailed.”
Craig Murray, who is standing for the Workers Party of Britain said: “I certainly agree that anybody associating with Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is tainted with support for genocide.
"But people should be careful of condemning people who just happen to be in a photo.”
Several canvassers spoke out against the graphic saying ‘personal attacks’ like this must stop.
A message was shared in a WhatsApp group by one vocal pro-Palestine campaigner.
He said: “Whoever has put this post out should refrain from suggesting the mosque is supportive of the Labour Party.
“Mosques/Masjids are apolitical. The committee members who are shown in the pictures are not representing the mosque. They are doing so in their personal individual capacity.
“As a separate note, the mosques themselves do have a moral, religious and civic duty to encourage their congregations to register to vote and exercise that right.
“They cannot endorse a candidate or party.”
The full list of candidates expected to stand in Blackburn is: Kate Hollern, Labour; Jamie McGowan, Conservatives; Adam Waller-Slack, Liberal Democrats; Craig Murray, Workers Party; Adnan Hussain, Independent; Altaf 'Tiger' Patel, Independent; Natasha Shah, Independent; Denise Morgan, Green Party; Tommy Temperley, Reform UK.
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