A blue and white booth emblazoned with “Jesus is a Muslim” and offering “Free Qurans” was erected without permission outside Shepherds Bush station.  It has been moved, but Hammersmith & Fulham Council have warned the booth’s owners that if it is erected at the site again, they will take enforcement action for obstruction of the highway.

The organisation running the booth was “One True Message Foundation”, whose purpose appears to be to promote the Islamic faith.

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) informed the Council that the messages on the booth were likely to be offensive and cause distress to the public.  The attempt to convert the public to Islam and the slogan “Jesus is a Muslim” might  foster hostility between different religious groups. It is widely accepted that Jesus was born a Jew in Bethlehem and is the central figure of Christianity.

UKLFI pointed out  that the booth breached the Council’s planning laws and reminded it of its Public Sector Equality Duty under Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010.  The Council has a duty to have due regard to the need to foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.  Allowing the booth to remain, given its incendiary messages, will not foster good relations between people of different faiths and beliefs.

In response to UKLFI’s letter, the Council insisted that it was “fully committed to upholding the public sector equality duty under the Equality Act 2010 in relation to all its functions”.

Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council, told UKLFI: “I hope that you will be assured that we will not allow this booth to be placed here, or anywhere on the public highway.”

Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI commented: “We are pleased that Hammersmith & Fulham Council reacted quickly and warned the organisation that it would not be able to repeat its actions.”

This incident at Shepherd’s Bush Station in Hammersmith follows another case where a booth claiming “Jesus is a Muslim” was erected in Chelmsford High Street, which UKLFI has drawn to the attention of Chelmsford City Council.