Leaders of Anti-Islam and Muslim youth groups come face-to-face

Tommy Robinson from the far-right Pegida UK and Muhbeen Hussain from the BMY community movement met in a cafe in All Saint’s Square prior to Saturday’s protest (pictured).

Mr Hussain said the Luton-based Pegida leader – who was in the town to protest against “Islamic misogyny and anti-white hatred” – called him into the cafe, which was in the area of the anti-Pegida protest site, as he walked past.

“I shook his hand respectfully, I told him I hated his views and that he spewed hatred,” said Mr Hussain.

He claimed Mr Robinson was in the vicinity of the counter protest, which he believed he should not have been allowed in, to provoke a response.

“I don’t know why the police let him come to that area.”

Mr Hussain added: “I find he’s a bit of an act, he likes to provoke, he wants to divide communities.”

He said the conversation was very “straight-forward”, the atmosphere was “slightly tense” and they chatted for around three minutes.

“My aim was clear, I would not allow him to enter the area to provoke young people and provoke a response, that’s what his whole day was about, he was walking near the (counter) rally to provoke people.”

Many local Muslims were too scared to join the counter-protest, Mr Hussain said, particularly due to the alleged Islamophobic attack on a woman in Swinton a week earlier.

Mr Robinson, the former leader of the far-right English Defence League, was pushing for a “debate” with Mr Hussain about grooming.

“Me and Tommy were meant to have a debate last year, we booked a private hotel (to host it) in South Yorkshire, but outside of Rotherham.

“My argument has always been these (the groomers) are criminals, not matter what faith or culture, they are criminals and we stand against them.

“They are criminals, religion or race has nothing to do with it, but as usual Tommy wants to blame Islam.” 

Last year’s debate was called off by the police, Mr Hussain claimed.

“Pegida wouldn’t have held this protest in Rotherham if that debate had gone ahead,” he added.

The cafe meeting was ended “abruptly” by a police officer, Mr Hussain said.

Hours later during Mr Robinson’s speech at the protest he declared he was going to “rip the Koran to pieces”.

Mr Hussain said about the threats: “At the time I took this literally, it sent a shiver down my spine – I sat with this man, I shook his hand.”

He added: “He uses words very cleverly and uses them to provoke...I am not prepared to debate with him at this stage.

“I will debate anyone who is serious about the topic and cares about the victims.

“He does not care about people in Rotherham, he’s only bothered about his national profile.”