Bedford and Kempston MP Mohammad Yasin has condemned a wave of racist abuse directed at his social media posts celebrating both Indian and Pakistani Independence Days.
The posts, shared on his official Facebook page earlier this week, were met with a torrent of hostile and xenophobic comments – many from individuals believed to live outside the constituency.
In a statement posted to Facebook, Labour MP Mr Yasin said he had been forced to limit comments on the posts after witnessing what he described as “disgusting rhetoric”.
“I’m disgusted by the rhetoric that has flooded the comments from many people who do not even live in Bedford,” he wrote.
“I’m proud to celebrate Bedford and Kempston’s diverse cultural community. Bigotry aims to divide us with ignorance and hate – true patriotism unites us.”
The posts had marked the independence days of both India and Pakistan and featured photos of their respective flags flying outside the Harpur Suite on Harpur Square, a common site for such displays.
Flags for all
Throughout the year, Bedford Borough Council flies flags donated by local people, groups and organisations for recognised days. They also have a small number of their own flags, such as the flag of St. George.
Other flags flown in Harpur Square include the Windrush flag and the Armed Forces Day flag. The Union Flag flies at Borough Hall each day.
Some commenters objected to the flags being flown at all, with one incorrectly claiming that national flags should only be flown at an “embassy”. Bedfordians were quick to point out that the Harpur Suite is a civic building, not a consulate.
Speaking to the Bedford Independent, Mr Yasin said: “Bedford and Kempston has long been a richly diverse community, with people from all around the world making a home here – myself included.
“I have raised my family here and have long served my community, first as a councillor for 13 years, and now as an MP for over eight years.
“I therefore know a thing or two about Bedford’s warm and welcoming spirit, which is more than can be said for those who flocked to my social media this week, many of whom do not even live here.
“It speaks to the character of Bedfordians that I rarely experience racism within my own constituency, but I am not naïve to the rising attitude that it is acceptable to treat people with utter contempt based on their race, nationality, or whatever else it might be that marks them as ‘other’.
“These commenters do not intimidate me. They are saying far more about their character than mine. Instead, I feel even more motivated to serve my constituents to the very best of my ability.
“It is a privilege to represent Bedford and Kempston, and I will continue to do so from the heart. I am endlessly proud of my constituency, and I know that true patriotism does not divide us, it unites us.”
My Yasin’s office told the Bedford Independent that they would pursue criminal action against anyone posting racist comments in “extreme cases”.
According to the 2021 Census, 23% of Bedford Borough residents identify as being from Black, Asian or other minority ethnic backgrounds, making it one of the most diverse areas in the country.
Farage fail
In 2022, Bedford Borough Council was similarly targeted over its flag-flying policy.
Nigel Farage, now leader of Reform UK, falsely claimed that the Council failed to fly the St George’s flag on St George’s Day but raised the Albanian flag for Albanian Independence Day.
Read: Bedford Borough Council thanks Nigel Farage for ‘flagging’ Borough’s diversity after Twitter gaff
The Council later corrected the claim and published photographic evidence showing the English flag had, in fact, been flown on 23 April as usual.
