Tower Hamlets: Muslims told not to vote in leaflets handed out near polling stations

Leaflets warning Muslims not to vote in the General Election have been handed out to voters entering a polling station in east London.

The flyers were also found stuck on to the windscreens of residents’ cars and attached to lampposts in the Tower Hamlets area.

One of the leaflets, discovered by Guardian political journalist Patrick Wintour, read: “None have the right to legislate except Allah. Appointing an MP as a legislator is shirk (polytheism).”

A Twitter hashtag at the bottom of the leaflet reads #StayMuslimDontVote.

Shirk, which means the sin of practising idolatry or polytheism, is forbidden under Islam.

Police have been made aware of the flyers and have been removing some from cars in Brabazon Street, Broomfield Street and Chrisp Street, a spokesman for Scotland Yard said.

Officers have also been liaising with a man handing out leaflets displaying the ISIS flag outside Bigland Green Primary School.

The bearded man, not dressed in any religious clothing, reportedly told officers trying to move him it was “his right” to be there.

Journalist Elsa Buchanan, 28, said: “I was going to vote and as I entered saw the guy handing out leaflets to Muslim ladies who were coming by. I asked him for a copy of the leaflet and saw it had the ISIS flag.

“I’m not shocked as there has been a couple of stickers put around encouraging Muslims not to vote, but for the Muslims that were going to vote, that must have been strange to have your religion used in that way.”

Councillor Peter Golds, leader of the Tower Hamlets Conservative group, said similar leaflets had been circulated in the borough at previous elections, adding he believed they were the work of a small group of local protesters.

He said: “It is absolutely tragic. We have seen too many of these leaflets bringing religion into politics.

“The election is a secular act - people are invited to vote for their government to pass for everybody not just one religion.”

A spokeswoman for the Muslim Council of Britain said: “Come every election time, a small band of naysayers will try to dissuade people not to vote.”

She continued: “Come every election time the Muslim Council of Britain and scores of mosques and imams come out in large numbers urging people to vote, for the good of our country, and as a civic duty we as Muslims must fulfil."

Similar stickers, printed in the same black and orange colours, were found in the Manor Park area last week.

A police spokesman said: "Police are aware of these leaflets in circulation and are working with the Electoral Commission.

"Anyone with information which could assist is asked to contact police via 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

About 346 police officers have been stationed at polling stations in Tower Hamlets today.

It comes after the borough was hit by an electoral fraud scandal and a High Court judge ordered disgraced mayor Lutfur Rahman to leave his position.