Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has called on the Home Secretary to act—and act fast—to block the entry of extremist preacher Mohamed Hoblos, who is set to speak in Middlesbrough on Sunday, 23rd February.
Hoblos, who has been banned from Germany and the Netherlands due to his inflammatory rhetoric, is now poised to bring his message of division to Teesside.
This is a man who has publicly declared that Muslims who miss a single prayer are “worse than murderers, rapists, terrorists, and paedophiles.” A man who openly espouses views that have already been deemed so dangerous by two of our closest European neighbours that they shut their borders to him. And yet, here in the UK, we are apparently rolling out the welcome mat. Why?
Ben Houchen Demands Action
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has issued an urgent plea to Labour Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, demanding she intervene to stop Hoblos from entering the country. In a strongly worded letter to the Home Office, Houchen expressed his deep concern about the potential visit and the impact it could have on community cohesion.
“I am writing to express my deep concern over the planned visit of Mohamed Hoblos to Middlesbrough,” wrote Mr Houchen. “Mr Hoblos has already been banned from entering Germany and the Netherlands due to his extreme views, which have been deemed unacceptable in those countries. It is completely inappropriate that the UK should take a different approach to our European partners, particularly given our firm commitment to tackling extremism and preventing divisive rhetoric from taking root in our communities.”
His concerns are shared by many in the local area. Teesside, Darlington, and Hartlepool are communities built on strong, traditional values—hardworking people who do not tolerate hatred, division, or extremism. They say “allowing Hoblos to take the stage in their region is not just an insult to those values; it is a potential risk to public safety.”
Who is Mohamed Hoblos?
Hoblos, a preacher with a significant online following, has gained notoriety for his hardline interpretations of Islam and extreme statements. In one of his most infamous rants, he declared that “any person who misses one Salah (prayer) for no reason is worse than a murderer, a rapist, a terrorist, and a paedophile in the eyes of Allah.”
Such inflammatory language is precisely why he has been barred from entering Germany and the Netherlands. European officials rightly recognised the potential dangers of giving Hoblos a platform. And yet, in Britain, the government appears content to turn a blind eye.
A Test for Yvette Cooper
For Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, this is more than just a decision about one man’s entry into the country. It is a litmus test of her commitment to tackling extremism. Labour keeps pledging to crack down on hate speech and keep Britain’s streets safe, yet nothing seems to get done. Now this is a chance for the Home Secretary to prove that these promises are more than just words.
Ben Houchen has made it clear what needs to be done: “I am calling on you, as Home Secretary, to intervene as a matter of urgency and ensure that Mohamed Hoblos is prevented from entering the UK,” he wrote.
The time to act is now.
Allowing Hoblos to speak in Middlesbrough would not just be a mistake; it would be a “dereliction of duty” says Houston. It would send a message that Britain is soft on extremism while our European partners stand firm. The communities of Teesside, Darlington, and Hartlepool deserve better. They deserve to know their government is on their side.
The question now is simple: Will Yvette Cooper rise to the challenge? Or will Britain become a safe haven for the very extremism we claim to oppose?
Time is running out. The clock is ticking. And Middlesbrough is watching.
