British right-wing activist Laurence Fox attended an Oxford Union debate arguing that the West should be suspicious of Islam, saying he required security to attend the event after heckling and hostility from protesters.
Fox, an English actor and the founder of the right-wing populist Reclaim Party, has been a vocal critic of Islamic influence in the UK.
“I needed a security team to attend and we were spat at, bullied and heckled by a baying mob,” Fox wrote in a post on X. “But I will not give up on free speech. I will not submit.”
The Oxford event, titled “This House Believes the West is Right to be Suspicious of Islam,” featured Fox alongside activist Tommy Robinson. The pair argued in favor of the motion.
The debate drew controversy ahead of the event, with leaders and activists criticizing the Oxford Union’s decision to host these individuals. During his opening remarks, Fox said his criticism was directed at Islamic beliefs rather than individual Muslims, saying he has Muslim family members whom he loves “deeply.” he argued that Islam does not recognize a separation of church and state and that Islam means “submission.” Fox argued that non-believers are given the options between submitting, paying the jizya tax, or war.
Fox has previously faced criticisms for his comments about Islam. In 2024, he posted on X how major cities in the UK were led by Muslim mayors and claimed that Muslims were receiving “special treatment.” He also posted last year that “Islam is not your friend if you believe in free speech, family and British culture.”
Robinson also argued that the West has legitimate reasons to be suspicious of Islam, pointing to disagreements between Islamic legal systems and Western social norms, particularly the treatment of homosexuality. Robinson said he wanted the debate to find areas of common ground but argued that Islam itself defines the terms of that common ground.
"Islam says it wants common ground, but the common ground must be Islam,” he said.
Robinson has been a prominent figure in UK debates over immigration and Islam. He has led demonstrations opposing mass immigration and has critizied the government’s failures to address rapid cultural change due to demographic changes.
Fox, an English actor and the founder of the right-wing populist Reclaim Party, has been a vocal critic of Islamic influence in the UK.
“I needed a security team to attend and we were spat at, bullied and heckled by a baying mob,” Fox wrote in a post on X. “But I will not give up on free speech. I will not submit.”
The Oxford event, titled “This House Believes the West is Right to be Suspicious of Islam,” featured Fox alongside activist Tommy Robinson. The pair argued in favor of the motion.
The debate drew controversy ahead of the event, with leaders and activists criticizing the Oxford Union’s decision to host these individuals. During his opening remarks, Fox said his criticism was directed at Islamic beliefs rather than individual Muslims, saying he has Muslim family members whom he loves “deeply.” he argued that Islam does not recognize a separation of church and state and that Islam means “submission.” Fox argued that non-believers are given the options between submitting, paying the jizya tax, or war.
Fox has previously faced criticisms for his comments about Islam. In 2024, he posted on X how major cities in the UK were led by Muslim mayors and claimed that Muslims were receiving “special treatment.” He also posted last year that “Islam is not your friend if you believe in free speech, family and British culture.”
Robinson also argued that the West has legitimate reasons to be suspicious of Islam, pointing to disagreements between Islamic legal systems and Western social norms, particularly the treatment of homosexuality. Robinson said he wanted the debate to find areas of common ground but argued that Islam itself defines the terms of that common ground.
"Islam says it wants common ground, but the common ground must be Islam,” he said.
Robinson has been a prominent figure in UK debates over immigration and Islam. He has led demonstrations opposing mass immigration and has critizied the government’s failures to address rapid cultural change due to demographic changes.
