Far-right hate groups, including a former Reform UK candidate, have targeted a Muslim journalist in a two-year-long “alarming and sustained campaign” of physical harassment, intimidation, and digital violence.
Mariam Elsayeh has faced physical assaults at pro-Palestine protests, along with a vicious online defamation campaign. This has put her in grave danger and directly attacks press freedom in the UK.
Mariam works for a number of outlets, including Al Jazeera Arabic and ITN. She is also an elected member of the UK’s Ethics Council of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Physical intimidation of Muslim journalist
The intimidation began back in October 2023. She recalls being punched in the face and kicked while covering a protest outside the Israeli embassy. Following that incident, her primary alleged stalker, a Reform UK politician and 2024 parliamentary candidate, attempted to intimidate her by photographing her press badge.
Mariam told the Canary:
Initially, I didn’t perceive it as part of an organised campaign; I thought each incident was isolated. It was only later—when the harassment was cynically referred to as a “birthday gift”—that I realised the scale and coordination behind it. That moment made me feel naïve for having underestimated the situation and confirmed that this was not an isolated case.
Since then, the Reform UK politician has allegedly appeared at numerous events she has attended. He also reportedly showed up at a family Eid celebration, which was deeply threatening.
On September 6, 2025, the situation reportedly escalated. According to her account, the Reform UK politician verbally threatened her, saying,
You’re done.
At one point, a Tommy Robinson supporter attempted to pull off her hijab during an NUJ vigil while accusing her of supporting Hamas.
Co-ordinated online attacks have systematically amplified the physical intimidation. After she spoke at two recent NUJ vigils against the murder of Palestinian journalists, she was then attacked on social media, including being called a “terrorist supporter.”
Pro-Israel lobby
On September 2, 2025, the pro-Israel media watchdog Honest Reporting published an article containing defamatory allegations against Elsayeh. They falsely characterised her as a “rabid anti-Israel social media personality” and an “apologist for terrorism.”
The far-right circulated the article widely, which triggered a further wave of coordinated online hate speech.
Replies on these social networks included direct threats such as:
Don’t worry, we will deal with her in due course.
And calls to:
Deport her and air drop her into one of the 57 barbaric Islamic countries.
Mariam said:
At first, I didn’t even know the individual was linked to the Reform movement. It became clear only after the article was published, when his behaviour escalated to the point of intimidation. My legal team grew concerned that this might involve a diplomatic or political dimension and suggested seeking FCDO guidance, given the potential cross-border nature of the harassment. When colleagues in journalism later helped identify his name and role, it came as a complete shock. Until then, I had assumed it was a personal dispute, not a coordinated act. Still, I am naive again, cause this person’s first show-up to me was with an Israeli influencer.
Shockingly, despite the explicit threats to her safety, none of the implicated tech platforms, including Meta’s Facebook and Threads or X, took action to remove the content. This meant the content remained public and put her in more danger.
On September 6, 2025, a far-right protester shouted that “she should be beheaded”.
Other online attacks include xenophobic and Islamophobic incitement, with calls for her deportation and defamatory accusations labelling her an “odious rat” and “Islamist.”
A “critically insufficient response”
The police advised that Mariam and her family leave her home due to the extreme threat level. However, this wasn’t possible due to personal circumstances. This meant they inadvertently exposed her family to further abuse.
Mariam told Skyline International for Human Rights:
What truly breaks me is seeing my children pulled into these threats without mercy — growing up between police visits and social care checks. That is not a normal life, and it must never be normalised.
Recently, the situation has escalated. Mariam and her family are now under the protection of the Police Victim and Witness Protection Unit, in coordination with Social Services. Yet, she emphasises that her case is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of suppression.
My story should never distract from the real story.
But it is also part of it: the silencing of voices that challenge the Israeli narrative. That is the real issue.
A threat to democracy
Mariam told the Canary that, whilst it’s important to recognise how seriously the situation became, focusing on the broader issues is more significant. That is, of course, the intimidation of journalists and trade unionists, which poses a threat to the very foundations of a democratic society.
She continued:
Such experiences can challenge our commitment to public roles and vital journalistic work. I am immensely thankful for the solidarity and support that have enabled me to continue, but it is crucial to recognise how easily others might be discouraged. This understanding underscores the necessity of collective protection and solidarity.
No one working in journalism or representing others through their union should face intimidation while serving the public interest. When one of us is targeted, it impacts the freedom and safety of us all.
She added that it is vital that we address the concerning trends of fascist language and tactics, which are creeping into democratic societies across Europe.
Finally, she said:
This rising hostility often targets Muslims, immigrants, and those who advocate for Palestine or challenge dominant narratives. Recognising these issues is the first step in safeguarding not only individuals but also the democratic values and pluralism that Europe aspires to protect. Together, we can foster understanding and resilience, creating a more inclusive and secure society for everyone.
Feature image via Abdullah Bailey
By HG
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