Headlines across corporate media outlets have been feverishly reporting a fire at a ‘former synagogue’ as the latest ‘antisemitic’ attack on British Jews.
However, a Muslim group actually bought the property in February of this year. It is planning to convert it into a mosque, community and education centre.
Of course, the mainstream media sure did forget to mention that one. Or does Islamophobia not fit the narrative?
Synagogue attacked when owned by Muslims
The group Ashaadibi put down a £235,000 deposit following a successful crowdfunding appeal. The organisation was hoping to raise an additional £2.2m by October 2026.
Its Youth Hub and community centre already support over 500 people each week, and the new premises would have allowed it to continue doing so.
Of course, the British press’s lying by omission feels very deliberate. Especially given the current climate of faux-antisemitism accusations against anyone who dares to criticise Israel.
Even the Guardian has reported that:
Counter-terrorism police are investigating whether a fire at a former synagogue in east London is part of an arson campaign linked to Iran.
Tower Hamlets council has also branded the attack “antisemitic” – despite the former synagogue now being owned by Muslims.
Of course, British (and Israeli) media outlets were quick to link the arson attack to the ‘stabbing of two Jewish men’ in London last week. Again, completely ignoring the fact that the first of three victims was Muslim.
The bigger picture
In February, 18-year-old Zeshan Afzal was fatally stabbed outside a West Midlands mosque. The attackers also wounded two other Muslim men. Police charged nine people with his murder.
The police have not named his alleged killers yet, but there has been no political or media outcry. There has been no condemnation of, or even speculation about, the murder of a Muslim man by an apparent mob.
In March, a visibly Muslim woman was deliberately and horrifically mowed down in London by a car that swerved to make sure it struck her. ‘Mainstream’ media coverage was and remains almost non-existent.
Between July and October 2025, 27 mosques were purposefully set on fire in arson attacks in the UK.
Yet the media and government ignore the Muslim community time and time again. Where is the extra funding for the safety of Muslims and to tackle Islamophobia?
As the Canary previously reported:
Islamophobic attacks vastly outnumbered antisemitic incidents during the year ending March 2025. Home Office data* also indicated they have risen while antisemitic incidents fell during the same period — even though pro-Israel groups count the mere waving of a Palestine flag as a hate incident. This cannot be discerned from the media or political discourse.
Additionally, anti-Zionism – that is, opposing the Jewish ethnostate of Israel – is not the same as antisemitism, which is dangerous and totally incompatible with any movement for collective liberation.
And honestly, we may as well be back in 2019. The media will do whatever they can to weaponise antisemitism to create a false narrative, which essentially just garners more support (and funding) for the illegal state of Israel.
The mainstream media and, no doubt, the Israeli lobby have managed to turn a possible attack on the Muslim community into an attack on Jews.
Obviously, ‘arson attack at mosque’ doesn’t fit the narrative. This same narrative allows colonial countries like the UK and the US to continue active participation in the genocide of Muslims in West Asia.
Featured image via Ashaadibi Centre/ YouTube
By HG
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