Sacked Corrie Star to Bury North MP Candidate continues hate speech propaganda targetting LGBTQI community

Anwarul Haq, the Coronation Street actor who played Sharif Nazir in the show and was dismissed by ITV over his ‘entirely unacceptable’ posts back in 2016, continues to speak hate during his campaign to become Bury North’s next MP.

His tweets in question, which led to his dismissal by ITV in 2016, referred to Indian people as "b*******" and "p***-drinking c****".

In October 2023, Roch Valley Radio covered the story of Salaam BCR Community Radio and Project 29, charities run by Anwarul, receiving backlash from installing anti-LGBT education signage on his Bury town centre business premises.

The signage quoted “STOP CHILD ABUSE” “LET ME BE” STOP LGBTQ+ EDUCATION, CHILDRENS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS”.

You can read the full article here: https://www.rochvalleyradio.com/news/local-news/salaam-bcr-community-radio-and-project-29-face-backlash-for-displaying-controversial-anti-lgbt-education-signage/

Anwarul, at the time, in addition to the signage, also published YouTube videos on the Salaam BCR Youtube channel saying that the local councillors within Bury who attended the annual Bury Pride parade had “abandoned their Muslim faith and had nullified their religion and were out of the fold of Islam”.

You can read the full article here: https://www.rochvalleyradio.com/news/local-news/salaam-bcr-radio-station-sparks-controversy-by-saying-the-councillors-are-no-longer-muslim-over-bury-pride-attendance/

Source: Anwar's X (formerly Twitter profile)

A picture posted on Social Media by Anwural shows his campaign vehicle with images of Cllr Khalid Hussain, Cllr Ummrana Farooq, Cllr Tamoor Tariq, and Cllr Shaheena Haroon, which have been targeted by Anwural for supporting a Bury Pride event several years ago in their official capacity as elected Councillors.

In the YouTube video published this week, he explains how Greater Manchester Police had been to his property regarding his vehicle.

The role of a Councillor is to provide a bridge between the community and the council by representing their local ward and community in its entirety in the running of their local council; the Councillors have faced backlash from Anwar for months over the positive cohesion work they have done supporting their wide diverse communities.

Cllr Sandra Walmsley, Labour Cabinet Member for Communities and Inclusion, said:

I am proud to represent a culturally diverse town rich in history and tradition, and Bury Council supports all our communities across the borough, irrespective of background. Freedom of expression, tolerance and respect for others' values are fundamental to British Society, and there is no place in Bury for hate-filled politics, which serves only to divide our communities and cause distress. I am reminded that whatever our differences, we have more in common than that which divides us.

The Bury Pride organisation has this week released a statement on their website and social media platform as new social media posts published by Anwar throughout May and his campaign has promoted that he is "standing independent in Bury North @A4B1st Muslims are against LGBtQ voting."

The Bury Pride committee in their statement said:

The Bury Pride committee is deeply dismayed and concerned by the recent statements that Anwar, the MP candidate for Bury North has continued to make over the past several months, who has irresponsibly fueled hatred and expressed the dangerous notion that LGBTQI+ communities should now not have the right to vote.

Such rhetoric is not only harmful and divisive but also fundamentally undermines the principles of equality, democracy, and human rights that our society stands for.

At Bury Pride, we strive to foster a community built on respect, inclusivity and acceptance. We believe that every individual, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, has an inherent right to participate fully in the democratic process. Disenfranchising any group of people is a direct attack on the democratic values that bind our society together.

Anwar’s statements are not only a gross violation of these values but also pose a serious threat to the safety and well-being of the LGBTQI+ community. We cannot allow such divisive and regressive ideas to take root in our community. It is essential that we stand together against bigotry and ensure that all voices are heard and respected.

Bury Pride will continue to work tirelessly to support and uplift the LGBTQI+ community within Bury. We will not be silenced or intimidated by hatred. Instead, we will use this moment to reinforce our commitment to advocacy, education, and the celebration of diversity.

Anwural Haq was approached for comment but declined.