Sadiq Khan’s Transport for London (TfL) has come under fire for a series of billboards showing a controversial Islamic preacher and a Russian-linked fighter across the capital.
The adverts for Islamic finance firm Wahed show Muslim preacher Ismail ibn Musa Menk, known as “Mufti Menk”, and Ramzan Kadyrov-linked ex-UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Londoners taking the tube on stations like Holborn and Moorgate in the centre of the capital, riding on the Piccadilly Underground line, and taking the 92 bus route can expect to see the two controversial brand “ambassadors” advertising the firm across London.
In one, Menk can be seen holding a briefcase of burning money underneath the caption “join the money revolution”, while in another, Khabib is pictured raising his index finger – a traditional Islamic pose – below the words “withdraw from Riba (usury)”.
Passengers at Holborn station are greeted by the two controversial figures on the platform
GB NEWS
One ad shows Mufti Menk holding a briefcase of burning banknotes
GB NEWS
The Wahed adverts have cropped up across the TfL estate
WAHED
In another, the same photo of Menk with the briefcase accompanies a wall of text describing how charging interest was “once called exploitation” but has now led to a “massive wealth gap”.
The firm specialises in “Shariah-compliant” investments – through Wahed, customers can place their money in halal (“permissible”, in Arabic) investments, “structured in accordance with the strictest Islamic principles” – as charging interest is forbidden in the religion.
After vetting by the firm’s “Shariah Review Bureau”, Wahed puts its customers’ money in carefully screened non-interest-bearing funds.
Any investments which may see money earned through alcohol, gambling, “impure” food like pork, tobacco or adult entertainment are off-limits.
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The ads can also be seen on billboards and buses
WAHED
Susan Hall highlighted the disparity between the Wahed ads and the controversial banning of comedian Ed Gamble’s posters
PA
The ad campaign can be seen on billboards, buses and the London Underground – but the pair featuring in the posters have sparked concern from critics.
Tory London Assembly member Susan Hall, speaking to GB News, highlighted the disparity between the Wahed ads and the controversial banning of comedian Ed Gamble’s posters – because they featured a hot dog.
She told The People’s Channel: “The Wahed advert on TfL services begs a lot of questions about the Mayor’s policing of advertising.
“If Wahed had wanted to advertise their platform with a high-calorie meal on the tube, it would be banned, but apparently a preacher banned from other countries for promoting religious discord is fine?
Ramzan Kadyrov ally Khabib Nurmagomedov advertises for the firm on a billboard in central London
GB NEWS
Khabib and Kadyrov, pictured in 2018
Ramzan Kadyrov, pictured inspecting weapons with Vladimir Putin
REUTERS
“We strongly urge TfL to reconsider the suitability of this advert, particularly when they so quickly clamp down on others.”
Hall was referring to Menk’s ban from entering Singapore in 2017 for what the country said were “unacceptable… segregationist and divisive teachings”.
Meanwhile, Khabib Nurmagomedov – who also features across the firm’s billboards – has been gifted luxury cars and been handed honorary citizenship of Chechnya by Russian warlord Kadyrov, who himself is a close Putin ally.
A Transport for London spokesman told GB News: “This advert was reviewed and found to comply with our advertising policy.”
GB News has approached Wahed for comment.