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Former US President Donald Trump has intensified false claims about London, alleging a move towards sharia law under Mayor Sadiq Khan, despite clear evidence debunking such assertions and denials from authorities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
In his UN General Assembly speech on 23 September 2025, former President Donald Trump criticised London under Mayor Sadiq Khan, claiming the city had been “so changed” and was moving towards “sharia law.” Trump labelled Khan a “terrible, terrible mayor” and suggested that London was “in a different country” because of these changes. However, there is no evidence to support Trump’s assertions, and his comments appear to echo longstanding rightwing conspiracy theories.<\/p>\n
Sadiq Khan, a progressive member of the Labour Party, has never advocated for the introduction of sharia law in London. The term “sharia law” generally refers to Islamic legal systems practised in countries like Saudi Arabia or under Taliban control in Afghanistan, where strict religious codes and harsh punishments are applied. In the UK, including London, sharia councils exist but only in an advisory capacity, dealing mostly with personal and religious matters within Muslim communities. Their rulings have no legal standing, as confirmed by the UK Parliament\u2019s House of Commons library and officials from both Labour and Conservative governments. The mayor’s office has consistently denied false claims that Khan is attempting to implement sharia law in London.<\/p>\n
Misleading rightwing memes and social media posts have circulated for years, falsely attributing quotes and policies to Khan about introducing sharia law. For example, a 2020 viral post misspelling “sharia” as “shakira” claimed it was being trialled in several London boroughs\u2014but this was debunked by Khan’s office. Similarly, fact-checking organisations such as Reuters and Snopes have disproven fabricated images and quotes suggesting that Londoners are fleeing the city or that Khan prioritises benefits exclusively for Muslims. These pieces of misinformation aim to stoke division and fear but lack any factual basis.<\/p>\n
Trump’s repeated attacks on Khan date back to 2015 when Khan publicly condemned Trump\u2019s Muslim travel ban proposal. The hostility intensified after the London Bridge terror attack in 2017, when Trump criticised Khan’s handling of the situation. The mayor\u2019s office also allowed the 2019 state visit to be marked by the flight of the now-iconic “Trump baby” blimp, a symbol of local protest.<\/p>\n
Despite Trump’s claims that crime in London is “through the roof,” official statistics from Khan\u2019s administration indicate an annual drop in theft, robbery, and burglary. The suggestion that London’s governance has deteriorated under Khan contradicts data and reflects more the personal and political tensions between the two figures.<\/p>\n
While the notion of London “going to sharia law” plays into far-right fears and conspiracy theories, the reality is much more nuanced. Sharia councils in the UK provide community support rather than enforce legal codes, operating parallel to British law. Khan himself is known for promoting diversity and inclusion in London, emphasising the city’s multicultural identity rather than any religious legal imposition. The spread of disinformation about Khan and sharia law reflects broader issues around politicisation of Islamophobia and misinformation in public discourse.<\/p>\n