Shahid Butt, convicted in Yemen in 1999 and sentenced to five years for involvement in an alleged terror plot, is standing for the Sparkhill ward in the Birmingham City Council elections on May 7. Butt denies the conviction, saying his confession was coerced and evidence was planted. His past and recent social media posts around a high-profile football fixture have provoked controversy and led to debate over public safety, community cohesion and the political landscape in Birmingham.
Convicted in Yemen, Now a Local Candidate: Shahid Butt Runs for Birmingham Council Amid Tensions
Convicted terrorist who plotted consulate, church bombings to run in UK election
A Muslim activist who served a prison sentence after a foreign conviction is standing for local office in Birmingham as the city prepares for closely watched council elections. Shahid Butt has launched a campaign for the Sparkhill ward on the Independent Candidates Alliance ticket ahead of the May 7 Birmingham City Council vote.
Shahid Butt is pictured in 1999 after being detained in Yemen on suspicion of terrorism.(Getty Images)
Background
Butt was convicted by a Yemeni court in 1999 and sentenced to five years after being found guilty of forming an armed gang and conspiring to bomb the British consulate in Aden, an Anglican church and a Swiss-owned hotel in Yemen, according to reporting by The Daily Telegraph. Yemeni prosecutors said the cell had links to the extremist preacher Abu Hamza.
A member of the public holds a protest sign which reads "Football Shouldn't Cover Up Genocide" outside the stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Aston Villa FC and Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC at Villa Park on November 06, 2025 in Birmingham, England.
Butt denies the charges. He has told reporters that his confession was coerced through torture and that evidence was planted, allegations reported by The Daily Telegraph. These claims have not been adjudicated in the U.K., and Butt’s account contrasts with the Yemeni conviction.
Local supporters and pro-Palestine activists protest at Villa Park against the presence of Masccabi Tel Aviv who they say should be banned by FIFA along with all Israeli teams because of human rights violations on Nov. 6, 2025 in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Candidacy And Local Context
Standing for the newly formed Independent Candidates Alliance, Butt will contest Sparkhill — a ward the Telegraph reported as having a large British Pakistani community. The Independent Candidates Alliance, founded by local activists Akhmed Yakoob and Shakeel Afsar, says it plans to field candidates in around 20 wards across Birmingham. Both founders previously campaigned on pro-Gaza platforms in the 2024 general election.
A fan is escorted away by members of the police as she holds the national flag of Israel outside the stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Aston Villa FC and Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC at Villa Park on November 06, 2025 in Birmingham, England.
Controversy Over Social Media And Protests
Butt drew attention in recent months for social media posts and protest activity linked to a November football fixture between Aston Villa and Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv. According to Birmingham Live, Butt urged Muslims nationwide to travel to Birmingham to show solidarity with Palestinians and to prevent the visiting supporters from, in his words, "desecrating" the city; he reportedly called the visiting fans "IDF babykillers." Authorities later barred Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from the match, citing security concerns after large-scale protests were planned.
'Muslims are not pacifists. If somebody comes into your face, you knock his teeth out — that's my message to the youth.'
The cited remark, recorded in a video at a related protest, has been described by critics as rhetoric that crosses into endorsement of violence. Supporters of Butt have framed his remarks as political expression amid rising tensions over foreign policy and identity politics.
Reaction And Political Implications
Commentators and researchers say Butt’s candidacy highlights broader strains in Birmingham, a city with one of the U.K.'s largest Muslim populations. Emma Schubart of the Henry Jackson Society warned the developments could reshape local political dynamics and erode Labour’s dominance in some wards, according to press reports. Other local voices emphasize the need for debate on public safety, community cohesion and whether individuals with contentious pasts should seek public office.
This article draws on reporting from The Daily Telegraph and Birmingham Live. Where possible, allegations and characterizations are attributed to their original sources.
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