A newly elected Reform UK councillor in Doncaster has been invited to visit a local mosque after facing strong criticism for controversial comments about Islam on social media.
Isaiah-John Reasbeck, aged 19, who secured victory in the Bentley by-election in August, came under fire after posts resurfaced where he suggested people should be “f***ing terrified” of Islam.
One of his posts, shared on August 6, 2024, on X (formerly Twitter), read:
“Bradford has one of the biggest Muslim populations in Europe. It is also one of the biggest s**holes in Europe. Draw your own conclusions.”*
READ MORE: Powerful Dua for Daily Life: A Complete Guide to Spiritual Peace and Success
On the same day, he followed up with another remark claiming people should be “f***ing terrified” of Islam.
Following the backlash, Reasbeck addressed the controversy, telling the Local Democracy Reporting Service earlier this week:
“I do not stand by those posts. I especially don’t stand by the wording. I was 18 at the time, and I wasn’t even considering local politics.”
In response to his remarks, Doncaster’s Jamia Masjid Sultania mosque, located in Hyde Park, has extended an invitation to the councillor to engage in dialogue and better understand the Muslim community.
Imam Habeeb Minhas Madani, a senior figure at the mosque, condemned the comments as Islamophobic, stating:
“These are the words of keyboard warriors. They rarely take the opportunity to speak directly with people like me. I invite him, and anyone who shares his views, to visit and openly discuss their concerns about Islam.”
Reasbeck acknowledged that he regretted his choice of words, saying that if he could “reword” the posts, he would, though he stopped short of specifying what he might have said instead.
