The Party’s Over with Tasnime Akunjee

Until recently, lawyer Tasnime Akunjee was standing to be an MP in the British Westminster Parliament - standing in the seat of Bethnal Green and Stephney. I say until recently, because in order to prevent a split vote he did the honourable thing and stood down - sparking praise across the country. In Britain’s 4 million strong Muslim community, Tasnime’s behaviour is a model for how we should act - in unison to achieve our ends rather than for our individual ambitions.
Tasnime is a criminal defence lawyer specialising in terrorism. He has defended high profile clients including Shamima Begüm and Jamal Hejazi - who bankrupted Tommy Robinson.
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#thethinkingmuslimpodcast episode 154
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
1:44 - Why he stepped down?
7:45 - Splitting vote
10:00 - Rushnara Ali
13:38 - Ceasefire motion
14:44 - Rushnara’s Calculation
16:41 - Starmer and Labour
19:57 - Muslims that still support Labour
23:06 - The Party System and Independents
27:14 - The Independent Movement
31:17 - Mosque Extensions
33:40 - Engaging with Parties
35:00 - Being at the table
37:04 - Will you support Ajmal Masroor
40:34 - His unity model

[@TheThinkingMuslim]

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[@criticalThinkerLad]

Muslims dont think they obey their book lie to yourself not me

[@sidkings]

Akunjee was the better candidate. He should not have stepped aside.

[@Mohammed-ej5ix]

Better candidate but less popular than Ajmal Masroor.

[@sidkings]

@@Mohammed-ej5ix I don't think Ajmals going to do as well as he thinks. But I guess we'll see.

[@Mohammed-ej5ix]

@@sidkingshe won’t win. But I don’t think Tasnime could get enough votes in such a short timeframe to beat Rushanara. Ajmal is likely to get more votes than Tasnime would have.

[@sidkings]

@@Mohammed-ej5ix Ajmal had tried and failed in the past. His track record isn't good, plus switching partys etc. Smacks of opportunism. Akunjee stepping aside doesn't necessarily translate to votes for Ajmal as a fair few people dislike him for whatever reason.

[@AbuMiqdamAlAfriki]

Akunjee was most definitely the more moral, upright and honourable option. Him just stepping down in of itself is a mark of why he should have had the position. Ajmal isn't the guy. But thats the dirt that comes with politics.

[@alib7489]

Jazakallah Khair. Its a crying shame this brother had to step down. He was tailor-made for it

[@mkdon101]

💯. He been working for it since Jan but the clout chasing fool ajmal couldn't bare to see him potentially win😊

[@zmh786]

Yeah instead the freshy imam wanted to chase glory

[@Zakg24]

Nothing but love and respect for this honourable brother ❤

[@CineRanter]

Akunjee is a very intelligent and admirable man

[@devilhunter1555]

Yes IsA we only see good of him

[@zak992]

What a sacrifice for a broader cause so proud of our brother tasnim, this should not be the end we need people like him to step forward who can guide and mould the independent candidates in future elections, inshallah this movement is just taking off, we are sick of the double standards of the main parties who are beholden to their big donors and a small country in the mid east and will always appease them rather than listening to us the people and our needs

[@user-dp4sj8jz8c]

Tasnime was excellent, this was a really good podcast. You can see Tasnime is honest and cares about the Palestinians, it's a shame he is not standing for elections.

[@kb7202]

Akunjee is the better candidate. Shame he stepped down but says a lot about his values as a person.

[@SamuelSR-ld6hf]

Very important and timely message for MP candidates to set aside their egos and unite around ONE effective candidate to end the genocide and advocate for the Muslim community

[@DHClips325]

Great move brother, may you be rewarded!

[@mtt4368]

Wish he hadn’t have to step down. Prefer him to ajmal. Time will come god willing.

[@devilhunter1555]

He had to to unite the community plus he said Muhammad's approach to unseat rushnara is more likely to succeed. He honors the dead of gaza. IsA he will stand again

[@peacenow6618]

May Allah Accept your works, and make it a means of acceptance and Guidance for the Ummah!

[@talwaar007]

Ajmal Masroor is a clown and a repeat failure. He will fail again and shamelessly stand again in the future. Tasnime was by far the better candidate.

[@gambon4u]

Selfish Ajmal Mansoor maybe suddenly standing as an independent, but the reality is , its more of the same, another self appointed uncle spurred on & indirectly encouraged by the establishment. We need folk who can calmly articulate on a professional level like Mr Akunji addressing real issues. Ajmal Mansoor lacks the abovementioned, at best he'll get you an extension for the mosque or carpark with the odd brief interview on Good Morning Britain & GB News where they bring him on , not to interview, but to mock making a mockery of himself & the communities he claims to represent.

[@UAP786]

Wow. Now that’s a scathing attack if ever I saw one.

[@talwaar007]

@@UAP786 But a completely truthful one. I wholeheartedly agree with it.

[@talwaar007]

100% correct.

[@4Li4LiB4NG4Li]

Is this the time for arguing? Everyone should stop pitting against each other and be constructive instead of destructive. This kind of 'tit for tat' mentality has to stop in our communities... this is what's been holding us back for generations.. the jealousy, envy, hatred etc etc. Let's listen to each other and help each other, please!

[@talwaar007]

@@4Li4LiB4NG4LiWhat’s holding us back is a pathetic tribal mentality where you back “your family/tribe/friend” regardless of how competent or upright they are. I have no doubt that those who backed Ajmal Masroor did so not on the basis of any impartial analysis of his merits relative to brother Tasnime but because “he’s our friend”. When we start making decisions on the basis of merit rather than with the village biradari mentality then we might get somewhere. Listen to Tasnime here and then ask yourself if Ajmal is even remotely close to his level of education or if he has the ability to articulate well thought out cogent arguments in an extemporaneous manner. Ajmal comes across a clown.

[@Staytrue-ix6gr]

Tasnime has dignity, honour and self respect and stood up for what is right and has gained even more respect

[@FarooqAhmedorthoinsummary]

Excellent episode and I hope Tasnime will engage in political commentary more

[@hardworkingwoman3780]

Another amazing mind and individual. Thank you for bringing us this interview. I pray the message of Unity carries and wins come the end of voting on 4th July 🙏❤️

[@shus5787]

In bham hall green, we have 2 muslim independents standing against waste of space labour MP Tahir Ali. This will split the vote against genocide Labour.

[@Googleuser-si6xb]

I guess you don't know about the third Independent standing. Ridiculous, split the vote and let labour back in.

[@shus5787]

@Googleuser-si6xb yes,the muslim vote I believe proposed a straw poll to see which independent candidate was most popular, apparently one of the independent candidates refused to take part, Shakeel Afsar is the most well known and popular independent when compared to the others, but they are not willing to stand aside

[@devianadkar7969]

They should all stand down and let shakeel stand. I'm disgusted by this self serving of Muslims trying to gain personal wealth and success of the back of dead Palestinians. We have the same issue in Slough but one is the workers party candidate and my vote is for him. The other guy should graciously St down but I don't think he will because gaza has become an easy way of getting votes.

[@wackypeace1135]

I have you in my prayers, my brother Tasmine.

[@AJ-bm2kh]

He should have continued running and the others should have stepped down

[@Mohammed-ej5ix]

Don’t think so. The fact that Ajmal Masroor decided to stand after Tasnime announced he was standing suggests that Masroor would not have stood down.

[@zmh786]

@@Mohammed-ej5ixselfish freshy masroor shouldn’t of clout chased

[@redman6790]

Ajmal is a career politician, lets be real. Tasnime is a far greater fit for this new movement of Muslim principled politicians that we are demanding in this Genocidal era. No longer is "being Muslim" the category for our vote. However, having said that we must pick our battles and brother Tasnime sacrificed. I still want Rushanara Ali gone of course so will settle for Ajmal win inshaaAllah. Mark my words, Brother Tasnime is destined for something even greater inshaaAllah. This MP role seems too small for him. What a great individual, may Allah bless him

[@AbuMiqdamAlAfriki]

Agreed 100% my brother, In Sha Allah, Amin!

[@sofbash]

Well done for stepping aside, but I think he now needs to help the remaining candidate in all the areas where he thinks he has a weakness, for the sake of the greater good.

[@Sr68720]

Don't forget, labour are planting independents to split the vote.

[@devianadkar7969]

I think that maybe the case in Slough.

[@AbuTaher-tb7xf]

Would like to see this brother back in politics someday. We need more people with integrity in British politics.

[@atif50]

The whole system is corrupt

[@CineRanter]

Lol great title

[@devilhunter1555]

Oh cine ranter, how about do a review of Arab made movies and muslim made movies like the movie Bilal animated movie kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaO1hZqNaNl4qJosi=6rinMlX-BqKhs4He

[@robtecau4963]

This guy is just much better than Ajmal. Ajmal tried already in 2017 and got fewer than 4000 votes compared to Labour who got over 40000.

[@Miftahuddin82]

You have to consider the Corbyn factor. Many people joined and voted labour because of Corbyn bhai. This time around it will be much closer like the 2015 ed Miliband or like 2005 when Galloway won inshallah

[@thewisetzar5363]

I don't how one can still support Labour

[@Paula-bm6bi]

Unfair to say ‘eventually’ Apsana Begum supported Palestine and Gaza. She spoke out very early on at the demos, despite Labour Party policy.

[@wikdwizz]

Tasnim was the best candidate for the post. He shouldn't have given up his candidacy for Azmal Masroor who is known for political flipflops and represents politics of the bygone era

[@uksultan3920]

We must never forget what he did

[@user-iu4dq6wm1t]

It takes a real man to swallow his ego and sacrifice for the greater causes all the more so in this case where Tasnime genuinely feels he is the stronger candidate but is prioritising unity

[@shus5787]

Well done

[@peacenow6618]

جزاک اللہ خیرا

[@Not-eclair]

Very intelligent.

[@soph1986]

Dignified people did d same which he did as he exactly know how titeknit hole is for Muslim representatives these days… wish he would declare his party somewhere else across uk where ppl would select him for his honesty n drligence n upright stances for innocents … RESPECT ✊

[@Faylasoofe-kaa]

The greatest illusion of all time is to make people believe that they are free and that their rulers whom shape up their societies constantly progressing in freedom!! However I'm delighted to see that people are awakening to the reality.

[@klich44]

Wisdom emanating in every direction from this man. Ajmal masroor is a donut but hope he wins

[@mkdon101]

Ajmal is a disgrace

[@sofiagold4255]

Wow what a dignified articulate and intelligent man Akunjee seems to be. This man should have been put forward instead of Ajmal. Ajmal failed before and no doubt won't do anything for the community. Akunjee is right, it's the older generation who are still likely to vote for Rushanara again. Rushanara hasn't done anything useful for them, yet they still kept voting for her.

[@-WalkWithMe2025]

Alhamdulillah, interesting information... :)

[@mohammedabdirrahmanrubblei9141]

It would have been a challenging matter for this brother to defend anything that is significant against the big 2 parties in the chambers of the houses of the Parliament. He would have been slaughtered just because he had, as a criminal defence lawyer, represented Ms Begum ...my calculation is that it serves well for him to step away for the independent vote to stand tall. I thank him, he's a dignified human being.

[@facilitator999]

Martyr

[@AndrewGora]

The organisation called the Muslim vote as Craig Murray a candidate for the Worker's party pointed out contradicted their explicit position of opposing all pro genocide mps specifically Labour ones. But in Blackburn where Murray is standing they opposed him and supported an "independent " whose campaign Manager was Jack Straws political agent. Straw was Tony Blairs foreign secretary. And this Muslim independent claims to be pro Palestinian ! Further the Muslim vote organisation stated some Labour mps are worth backing and the criteria for this ! Presumably because they are just Muslim no matter what their views on Gaza. The Muslim vote organisation gives credence to Farages claims that Muslims are backward and should take the journey back to that wonderful country everyone wants to live in - Pakistan !

[@ashaqhussain6902]

The Muslim Vote has changed their position on supporting pro-Palestine Labour Party candidates. After a backlash. The independent guy in Blackburn was chosen after a hustings I believe. Although Craig Murray would have been better.

[@AndrewGora]

@@ashaqhussain6902 I think the Muslim vote organisation is not wholely concerned with the plight of the Palestinian people but rather they are sectarian and want to advance just Muslims irrespective of their views. Such behaviour I nor any unprejudiced British person would welcome.

[@devianadkar7969]

Don't trust them. Support Galloways party where you can. They are literally suggesting independents where there is a workers party candidate and therefore making our votes diluted and nonsensical. We should all be pushing for Galloway to at least have some sizeable presence in parliament.

[@Organic_Body_Transformer]

I saw Rushnara at a friend's wedding once. She looked at us noticing that we notice her, but didn't even bother to say hello or even a smile. Not a great constituency MP then.

[@AbuMiqdamAlAfriki]

The funny thing is Akunjee was the only candidate going up against rushnara and then every other power hungry opportunist joins the show to ruin the race. Even though Akunjee doesn't live in the Borough himself from what I am aware of everybody who has two seeing eyes knows he was the best candidate for the race. This is another reason why democracy don't work and never will. Massive massive shame fo the Muslims and the Borough on this one.

[@OnePathNet]

Sadakta

[@sebwah]

Similar situation in Blackburn and other constituencies. Labour dirty tricks?

[@ni3467]

Well thats not supporting if ur gna say that. U need support him fully since u done. Dont waste it

[@RayOfHope8]

🌹🌹🌹❤️❤️❤️🤲🤲🤲🤲

[@nomad7060]

Good man, but he would have known masroor would have wanted to stand even back in Jan. May Allah grant Jannat regardless.

[@mateenzaki]

We need to hear Ajmal Masroor's point of view presented on this channel next.

[@AbuTaher-tb7xf]

It’s up on 5 Pillars podcast

[@bloodyandsweaty]

He (ajmal) sounds like a Chinese wind up toy. Imagine him chiming up in HOP

[@sofiagold4255]

Ajmal did respond, on the 5 pillars podcast. He talked alot of rubbish and kept repeating that over 70% of the tower hamlets population know him. He has nothing to offer really, as Dilly did keep asking him. It's a shame that Tasnime stepped down.

[@4Li4LiB4NG4Li]

Let's not get stuck. Lets Unite. Lets Move forward. Together we'll be stronger. Lets leave the " tit for tat" mentality behind. Inshallah

[@10forthebigguy]

The thinking Muslim? Thats a big oxymoron if a Muslim starts thinking then he becomes an ex Muslim!!

[@mtsheikh1147]

Who said that😂

[@nawaz8855]

Labour friends of isreal party

[@andrewgoldman9019]

:)

[@ninenine2598]

These are some clueless people on the planet