Hundreds of protesters gathered outside an Indian restaurant in west London, demanding its closure over the owner’s decision not to serve Halal food.
Singh’s Dining, formerly known as Rangrez, drew a large crowd outside its Hammersmith premises on Friday evening. Metropolitan Police officers formed a line to keep the protesters away from the entrance.
Behind the officers were private security guards reportedly hired by Fawlty Towers actor John Cleese, who has previously voiced his support for the restaurant.
A handwritten sign on the restaurant’s frontage reads: ‘Proudly we don’t sell Halal.’
Singh’s Dining is a short walk from the upmarket Hammersmith Grove, where acclaimed actor Ralph Fiennes and comedian Bill Bailey are among the residents.
Critics have accused the restaurant’s Sikh owner, Harman Singh Kapoor, of making social media remarks about Muslims, Halal meat and the conflict in Gaza.
Kapoor, however, says he and his family have received hundreds of death threats, along with what he describes as ‘harassment, intimidation and threats of violence’, because he refuses to sell Halal meat.
He also says the restaurant has suffered financially after protesters called for a boycott.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Singh’s Dining in west London, demanding the restaurant close over its Sikh owner’s decision not to serve Halal food
Private security guards reportedly hired by Fawlty Towers actor John Cleese stood behind police officers outside the restaurant
Kapoor’s wife, Khushi, held up a sign thanking John Cleese for providing security
Pictured: Sikh restaurateur Harman Singh Kapoor
Kapoor claims he repeatedly and ‘desperately’ sought help from the Metropolitan Police but has not received additional protection.
In a further development, Kapoor was arrested at his west London home just hours before the protest, leaving his wife, Khushi, to face the crowd outside the restaurant.
The restaurateur confirmed on social media that his arrest was believed to be connected to a post referring to Islam.
Footage from the demonstration showed Khushi holding a sign against the restaurant window thanking the Monty Python comedian. It stated: ‘John Cleese is paying to defend this restaurant – because Met Police won’t.’
In a separate video, she looked into the camera and said: ‘Thank you John Cleese, thank you for supporting us, thank you for sending security.’
Outside, a large and noisy crowd, made up mostly of men, could be heard shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’, ‘Shame on you’ and ‘Free Palestine’ while waving Palestinian flags.
Another video shared on social media showed a man with a microphone asking the crowd: ‘What do we want with this scumbag over here?’
The protesters then responded: ‘Shut them down!’
Kapoor has faced criticism not only over his decision not to serve Halal food but also over social media posts, including photographs of him holding strips of bacon, which Muslims are prohibited from eating.
One accompanying caption says: ‘Behold. Bacon can save Western countries.’
In another post, he filmed a meat counter and wrote: ‘Top quality pork on sale at Harrods.’
Kapoor has also referred to threats he says he received from ‘Islamists’ and has claimed on several occasions that eggs were thrown at the restaurant’s windows.
After his arrest on Friday, the business owner posted a video showing him with police officers before he was placed in a police car.
He wrote: ‘For days, I have been desperately asking the Metropolitan Police for help, protection and assurances regarding the safety of my family and our business.
‘Despite repeatedly contacting the Met Police and raising serious concerns, I was arrested at my own home this morning and am now in police custody.
‘What makes this situation even more frightening is that I am in handcuffs while my family is left outside, facing serious safety concerns on the day of the planned protest.
‘This protest is not simply about our business selling non-halal food. It is also about the harassment, intimidation and threats of violence that my family and I say we have been experiencing.
‘We have been asking for protection because we fear for our family’s safety. We want to live peacefully, run our business and exercise our rights without fear of being targeted, harassed or harmed.’
Police officers held back the mostly male crowd, which could be heard shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’, ‘Shame on you’ and ‘Free Palestine’ while waving Palestinian flags
He added: ‘No family should have to live in fear. No one should face intimidation or threats because of the food their business chooses to sell.
‘We are asking for safety, justice, equality and the right to live and work peacefully. Our family’s safety must come first.’
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told the Daily Mail: ‘A 54-year-old man was arrested on Friday, 13 November, on suspicion of possession and distribution of an extreme image.
‘He was taken into police custody, where he remains.’