Raheem Kassam

Kassam was born in the Hammersmith Hospital in White City, West London. His parents were Tanzanian Muslim immigrants of Indian origin from Hillingdon.{{cite news|last=Bush|first=Stephen|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2016/10/rise-raheem-kassam-nigel-farage-s-back-room-boy|title=The rise of Raheem Kassam, Nigel Farage's back-room boy|work=New Statesman|date=25 October 2016|access-date=28 October 2016|archive-date=28 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028022331/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2016/10/rise-raheem-kassam-nigel-farage-s-back-room-boy|url-status=live}} He was raised an Ismaili Shia Muslim but wrote in 2016 that he had not been a practising Muslim for over a decade. Kassam was formerly an atheist, stating that Christopher Hitchens' rejection of religious faith ("religions are versions of the same untruth") inspired him.{{cite news|url=http://www.thecommentator.com/article/741/thank_you_mr_hitchens|title=Thank you, Mr. Hitchens|publisher=The Commentator|date=16 December 2011|first=Raheem|last=Kassam|access-date=24 October 2016|archive-date=24 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024085618/http://www.thecommentator.com/article/741/thank_you_mr_hitchens|url-status=live}} He now identifies as a Christian.{{Cite web |last=Kassam |first=Raheem |date=Jan 5, 2025 |title=I'm a Christian. You sound gay. |url=https://x.com/RaheemKassam/status/1875911018846785772 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250105222246/https://x.com/RaheemKassam/status/1875911018846785772 |archive-date=January 5, 2025 |access-date=Jan 5, 2025}} Kassam was educated at Bishopshalt School, a state comprehensive school in Uxbridge and the independent{{cite web | url=https://www.isc.co.uk/schools/england/london-area/london-borough-of-hillingdon/uxbridge/st-helens-college | title=St Helen's College }} St Helen's College, Hillingdon, and then studied politics at the University of Westminster.{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/rainbow-tories-the-geek-the-fundraiser-and-the-tanzanian-immigrants-son-6450892.html|title=Rainbow Tories: The geek, the fundraiser and the Tanzanian immigrant's son|work=The Evening Standard|date=6 October 2011|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-date=15 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615032425/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/rainbow-tories-the-geek-the-fundraiser-and-the-tanzanian-immigrants-son-6450892.html|url-status=live}}

Kassam briefly worked for the American financial services firm Lehman Brothers before it went bankrupt in 2008.{{Cite journal|last=Littler|first=Jo|date=2019|title=Normcore Plutocrats in Gold Elevators|url=https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/20377/1/Littler%20Normcore%20plutocrats%20in%20gold%20elevators%20article%20PDF.pdf|journal=Cultural Politics|language=en|volume=15|issue=1|pages=15–28|doi=10.1215/17432197-7289458|s2cid=146020455 |issn=1743-2197|via=}}

Kassam was a national executive board member of the youth movement Conservative Future and director of campus anti-extremism group Student Rights, and campaigned against the London School of Economics for accepting money from Gaddafi's Libya; the university's director Howard Davies would later resign when new revelations revealed the extent of the institution's relationship with the Gaddafi regime.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/mar/03/lse-director-resigns-gaddafi-scandal|title=LSE head quits over Gaddafi scandal|last1=Vasagar|first1=Jeevan|date=3 March 2011|last2=Syal|first2=Rajeev|newspaper= The Guardian |language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=16 January 2017|archive-date=6 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106174229/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/mar/03/lse-director-resigns-gaddafi-scandal|url-status=live}} In a 2011 interview, Kassam named his idols as Michael Gove, Margaret Thatcher and Barry Goldwater, and spoke of his admiration for the United States' free markets. He has called his former university, the University of Westminster, a "hotbed of radical Islam", citing the fact that Jihadi John was at his campus as evidence.{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/raheem-kassam-ukip|title=Raheem Kassam: Meet The Right-Wing Ex-Muslim Who Wants To Save UKIP|date=28 October 2016 |publisher=BuzzFeed|access-date=1 October 2018|archive-date=1 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001142424/https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/raheem-kassam-ukip|url-status=live}}

In 2011, Kassam was employed as campaigns director at the Henry Jackson Society, a neoconservative foreign policy think-tank.{{Cite web|title=Rainbow Tories: The geek, the fundraiser and the Tanzanian immigrant's|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/rainbow-tories-the-geek-the-fundraiser-and-the-tanzanian-immigrants-son-6450892.html|date=6 October 2011|website=Evening Standard|language=en|access-date=7 May 2020|archive-date=27 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027103726/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/rainbow-tories-the-geek-the-fundraiser-and-the-tanzanian-immigrants-son-6450892.html|url-status=live}}

Kassam managed electoral campaigns in the UK and US, and was Executive Editor of The Commentator blogging platform, but left the organisation after falling out with the founding editor, Robin Shepherd, who described Kassam as "a danger to British democracy, and the rule of law".{{Cite web|title=Raheem Kassam: Meet The Right-Wing Ex-Muslim Who Wants To Save UKIP|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/raheem-kassam-ukip|last=Waterson|first=Jim|website=BuzzFeed|date=28 October 2016 |language=en|access-date=7 May 2020|archive-date=8 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708154245/https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/raheem-kassam-ukip|url-status=live}} He has been a member of conservative think tanks such as the Bow Group, the neoconservative Henry Jackson Society, the Gatestone Institute and the Middle East Forum, and was involved in an attempted foundation of the UK version of the Tea Party movement.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/1qkQlgzGsTmVDg1JR5BRwhx/raheem-kassam|title=Raheem Kassam|publisher=BBC Three|access-date=20 October 2016|archive-date=13 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613165302/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/1qkQlgzGsTmVDg1JR5BRwhx/raheem-kassam|url-status=live}} Kassam was a supporter of the controversial Young Britons' Foundation, described by its founder as a "conservative madrasa" which later shut down due to allegations of misconduct against director Mark Clarke.{{Cite web|title=Raheem Kassam: If you want to see what a Conservative conference should really look like, you should have been in Washington last week|url=https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2011/02/raheem-kassam-if-you-want-to-see-what-a-conservative-conference-should-really-look-like-you-should-h.html|website=Conservative Home|date=19 February 2011 |language=en-US|access-date=7 May 2020|archive-date=8 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108075820/https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2011/02/raheem-kassam-if-you-want-to-see-what-a-conservative-conference-should-really-look-like-you-should-h.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Barnes|first=Hannah|date=12 December 2015|title=Tory 'madrasa': Facts and fiction|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-35075948|access-date=7 May 2020|archive-date=8 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508104048/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-35075948|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Radicalised Tories ready to take on Labour's big guns|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/mar/06/radicalised-tories-young-britons-foundation|date=6 March 2010|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=7 May 2020|archive-date=8 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108224704/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/mar/06/radicalised-tories-young-britons-foundation|url-status=live}} He and James Delingpole set up the London edition of the American far-right news outlet Breitbart News. Kassam left Breitbart in May 2018.{{cite web | last1=Gray | first1=Rosie | title=Breitbart's Raheem Kassam Is Out | url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/05/a-top-bannon-ally-leaves-_breitbart_/561050/ | date=23 May 2018 | work=The Atlantic | access-date=8 June 2018 | archive-date=12 June 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143202/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/05/a-top-bannon-ally-leaves-_breitbart_/561050/ | url-status=live }}

In June 2018, Kassam helped organise and held a speech at a 10,000-people strong "Free Tommy" demonstration in London in support of counter-jihad activist Tommy Robinson.{{cite journal|title=Donald Trump, the anti-Muslim far right and the new conservative revolution|first=Ed|last=Pertwee|year=2020|journal=Ethnic and Racial Studies|volume=43|issue=16 |pages=211–230|doi=10.1080/01419870.2020.1749688|s2cid=218843237 |doi-access=free}}

In 2018, Kassam joined the Institut des sciences sociales, économiques et politiques (Institute of Social, Economic and Political Sciences), founded by politicians in the far-right{{Cite news|last=Bisserbe|first=Stacy Meichtry and Noemie|date=20 August 2015|title=Le Pen Family Drama Splits France's Far Right National Front Party|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-family-drama-splits-far-right-in-france-1440029252|access-date=7 May 2020|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=4 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804051659/https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-family-drama-splits-far-right-in-france-1440029252|url-status=live}} National Front Marion Maréchal-Le Pen and Thibaut Monnier, in Lyon, France.{{cite web|title=L'école de Marion Maréchal: du business et de la culture (très à droite)|url=http://www.lepoint.fr/politique/l-ecole-de-marion-marechal-du-business-et-de-la-culture-tres-a-droite-22-06-2018-2229684_20.php|author=Catherine Lagrange|website=lepoint.fr|language=fr|date=22 June 2018|access-date=22 July 2018|archive-date=26 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726130031/http://www.lepoint.fr/politique/l-ecole-de-marion-marechal-du-business-et-de-la-culture-tres-a-droite-22-06-2018-2229684_20.php|url-status=live}}

In March 2019, Kassam and lawyer Will Chamberlain purchased Human Events, a conservative American digital-only publication, from Salem Media Group for $300,000.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/03/01/breitbart-alum-resuscitate-human-events/|title=Breitbart alum to resuscitate Human Events|last1=Wemple|first1=Erik|date=1 March 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=17 May 2019|archive-date=22 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422062726/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/03/01/breitbart-alum-resuscitate-human-events/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/conservative-censorship-on-social-media-has-become-an-all-out-assault-human-events-global-editor-in-chief-raheem-kassam|title=Why conservative censorship on social media has become an all-out assault|last1=Manfredi|first1=Lucas|date=8 May 2019 |publisher=Fox News|access-date=28 May 2019|archive-date=28 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528035819/https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/conservative-censorship-on-social-media-has-become-an-all-out-assault-human-events-global-editor-in-chief-raheem-kassam|url-status=live}} Kassam became Global editor-in-chief of Human Events when it was re-launched on 1 May.{{cite web|url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/333455/salem-media-group-acquires-conservative-site-pj-me.html|title=Salem Media Group Acquires Conservative Site PJ Media|last=Guaglione|first=Sara|date=20 March 2019|publisher=MediaPost|access-date=1 June 2019|archive-date=1 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601201340/https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/333455/salem-media-group-acquires-conservative-site-pj-me.html|url-status=live}} Human Events announced that Kassam would be leaving the outlet on 8 August.{{Cite web|url=https://humanevents.com/2019/08/08/human-events-announces-changes-to-leadership-team/|title=Human Events Announces Changes to Leadership Team|first=Human|last=Events|date=9 August 2019|website=Human Events|access-date=19 September 2019|archive-date=5 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905191822/https://humanevents.com/2019/08/08/human-events-announces-changes-to-leadership-team/|url-status=live}}

In July 2019, the Australian Labor Party called for Kassam to be banned from entering the country. Shadow Home Affairs Minister Senator Kristina Keneally said, "We should not allow career bigots — a person who spreads hate speech about Muslims, about women, about gay and lesbian people — to enter our country with the express intent of undermining equity and equality."{{Cite web|title=Labor calls for right-winger Raheem Kassam to be banned from entering country|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-31/labor-calls-for-right-winger-to-be-banned-from-the-country/11369066|date=30 July 2019|publisher=ABC|language=en-AU|access-date=5 May 2020|archive-date=2 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802142922/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-31/labor-calls-for-right-winger-to-be-banned-from-the-country/11369066|url-status=live}}

In October 2019, Kassam began co-hosting War Room: Impeachment, a daily radio show and podcast with Steve Bannon, to nudge the White House and its allies into taking a more focused and aggressive posture to counteract the impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump.{{Cite news|last=Peters|first=Jeremy W.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/23/us/politics/steve-bannon-trump-war-room-radio.html|title=Steve Bannon Has Some Impeachment Advice for Trump|date=24 October 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=22 November 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=21 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121084355/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/23/us/politics/steve-bannon-trump-war-room-radio.html|url-status=live}}

While ballots were being counted in the 2020 election, Kassam promoted claims by Donald Trump intended to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election.{{Cite news|last1=Browning|first1=Kellen|last2=Decker|first2=Ben|last3=Silver|first3=Jacob|date=4 November 2020|title=Twitter Clamped Down on Trump, but Army of Accounts Spread His Message|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/technology/trump-twitter-account.html|access-date=5 November 2020|issn=0362-4331}}

Kassam has described himself as a nationalist.{{cite web|title=Raheem Kassam: Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/RaheemKassam/status/1254112222734934019|author=Raheem Kassam|website=Twitter|language=en|date=25 April 2020|access-date=7 May 2020|publication-date=25 April 2020|archive-date=4 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504054123/https://twitter.com/RaheemKassam/status/1254112222734934019|url-status=live}} Kassam's politics have frequently been described as far-right by mainstream commentators and sources.{{Cite news|last=Ross|first=Kaz|url=https://theconversation.com/who-is-raheem-kassam-calls-to-ban-the-far-right-speaker-blur-line-between-free-speech-and-hate-speech-121309|title=Who is Raheem Kassam? Calls to ban the far-right speaker blur line between free speech and hate speech|date=1 August 2019|work=The Conversation|access-date=7 May 2020|language=en-AU|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519154013/https://theconversation.com/who-is-raheem-kassam-calls-to-ban-the-far-right-speaker-blur-line-between-free-speech-and-hate-speech-121309|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Dearden|first=Lizzie|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-bbc-radio-4-rahem-kassam-breitbart-london-edl-court-appeal-a8474391.html|title=Tommy Robinson: BBC accused of giving former Breitbart London editor 'platform to spout bile'|date=2 August 2020|work=The Independent|access-date=7 May 2020|language=en-UK|archive-date=9 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609060547/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-bbc-radio-4-rahem-kassam-breitbart-london-edl-court-appeal-a8474391.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Hyge|first=Mariana|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/lostinshowbiz/2018/aug/02/dark-stars-far-right-bask-glory-tommy-robinson|title=The dark stars of the far right compete to bask in the glory of Tommy Robinson|date=2 August 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=7 May 2020|language=en-UK|archive-date=21 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621044452/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/lostinshowbiz/2018/aug/02/dark-stars-far-right-bask-glory-tommy-robinson|url-status=live}} He has also been described by media and academic sources as a figure in the alt-right.{{Cite web|title=Are these the faces of London's young 'alt-right'?|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/esmagazine/these-are-the-faces-of-londons-young-altright-a3477731.html|date=2 March 2017|website=Evening Standard|language=en|access-date=7 May 2020|archive-date=8 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508012621/https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/esmagazine/these-are-the-faces-of-londons-young-altright-a3477731.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=What Happened When I Trolled an Alt Right Hero|url=https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/aevagg/raheem-kassam-twitter-alt-right-breitbart|last=Kesvani|first=Hussein|date=16 December 2016|website=Vice|language=en|access-date=7 May 2020|archive-date=29 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529235729/https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/aevagg/raheem-kassam-twitter-alt-right-breitbart|url-status=live}} When running for leader in 2016, Kassam supported the repeal of a ban on former members of the National Front and British National Party white nationalist parties from joining UKIP.{{Cite news|last=Ross|first=Kaz|url=https://theconversation.com/who-is-raheem-kassam-calls-to-ban-the-far-right-speaker-blur-line-between-free-speech-and-hate-speech-121309|title=Who is Raheem Kassam? Calls to ban the far-right speaker blur line between free speech and hate speech|date=1 August 2019|work=The Conversation|access-date=7 May 2020|language=en-AU|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519154013/https://theconversation.com/who-is-raheem-kassam-calls-to-ban-the-far-right-speaker-blur-line-between-free-speech-and-hate-speech-121309|url-status=live}}

Kassam has described Islam as a "fascistic and totalitarian ideology",{{Cite news|last=McDonald|first=Karl|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/raheem-kassam-tommy-robinson-bbc-509100|title=Raheem Kassam calls Islam a 'fascistic ideology' on BBC as he defends Tommy Robinson's EDL threat|date=2 August 2018|work=Inews.co.uk|access-date=7 May 2020|language=en|archive-date=17 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417075804/https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/raheem-kassam-tommy-robinson-bbc-509100|url-status=live}} described the Quran as "fundamentally evil",{{Cite news|last=Ross|first=Kaz|url=https://theconversation.com/who-is-raheem-kassam-calls-to-ban-the-far-right-speaker-blur-line-between-free-speech-and-hate-speech-121309|title=Who is Raheem Kassam? Calls to ban the far-right speaker blur line between free speech and hate speech|date=1 August 2019|work=The Conversation|access-date=7 May 2020|language=en-AU|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519154013/https://theconversation.com/who-is-raheem-kassam-calls-to-ban-the-far-right-speaker-blur-line-between-free-speech-and-hate-speech-121309|url-status=live}} stated that "we are at war with Shari'a"{{Cite web|title=FACTSHEET: RAHEEM KASSAM: Are these the faces of London's young 'alt-right'?|url=https://bridge.georgetown.edu/research/factsheet-raheem-kassam/|date=25 March 2019|website=Bridge: A Georgetown University Initiative|language=en|access-date=7 May 2020|archive-date=14 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514055319/https://bridge.georgetown.edu/research/factsheet-raheem-kassam/|url-status=live}} and has supported curbing Muslim immigration to the United Kingdom.{{Cite news|last=Ross|first=Kaz|url=https://theconversation.com/who-is-raheem-kassam-calls-to-ban-the-far-right-speaker-blur-line-between-free-speech-and-hate-speech-121309|title=Who is Raheem Kassam? Calls to ban the far-right speaker blur line between free speech and hate speech|date=1 August 2019|work=The Conversation|access-date=7 May 2020|language=en-AU|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519154013/https://theconversation.com/who-is-raheem-kassam-calls-to-ban-the-far-right-speaker-blur-line-between-free-speech-and-hate-speech-121309|url-status=live}} He has been described as a part of the counter-jihad movement.{{cite book|url=https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/files/192414854/Aked_Jones_Miller_Counterjihad_report_2019.pdf|last1=Aked|first1=H.|last2=Jones|first2=M.|last3=Miller|first3=D.|year=2019|title=Islamophobia in Europe: How governments are enabling the far-right 'counter-jihad' movement|series=Public Interest Investigations|publisher=University of Bristol|pages=23, 53, 61|isbn=9780957027497|hdl=1983/cd525157-683a-493b-b27f-9a5ffbca312c|hdl-access=free}}

Kassam's political and media strategies have been described as "shock and awful" tactics.{{cite web|title=Breitbart: A rightwing plot to shape Europe's future|url=https://www.hopenothate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/breitbart-report-2017-03.pdf|author=Nick Lowles|website=Hope Not Hate|language=en|date=25 April 2020|access-date=7 May 2020|publication-date=25 March 2017|archive-date=1 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801160803/http://hopenothate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/breitbart-report-2017-03.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite book |last= Goodin|first= Matthew|date=November 2015|title=UKIP, Inside the Campaign to Redraw the Map of British Politics|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=241|isbn=9780191054808}} Kassam has been a persistent critic of Labour Party Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, accusing him of turning the city into a "shithole"{{Cite news|last=Jacobs|first=Ben|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jan/13/steve-bannon-new-faces-hard-right|title=After Bannon: the new faces of the hard right|date=13 January 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=7 May 2020|language=en-us|archive-date=13 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613050807/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jan/13/steve-bannon-new-faces-hard-right|url-status=live}} and having links to terrorism and extremism.{{cite news |last1=Kassam |first1=Raheem |title=If Farrakhan is Banned, Why Aren't Snoop Dogg and Sadiq Khan? |url=https://humanevents.com/2019/05/04/if-farrakhan-is-banned-why-arent-snoop-dogg-and-sadiq-khan/ |access-date=27 September 2020 |work=Human Events |date=4 May 2019}}

Following his period with the Conservative Party, Kassam became a UK Independence Party voter in late 2013, joined the party early in the following year, and soon became Nigel Farage's senior adviser.

After the resignation of Diane James as UKIP leader in October 2016, Kassam launched a campaign to become the new leader. On announcing his bid, he stated that he wanted to "stop infighting within UKIP", "address the deep cultural and social divides in this country", and "to become the real opposition and put this feckless Labour Party to bed."{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37590285|title=Raheem Kassam on UKIP fighting and leadership contest|work=BBC News|date=7 October 2016|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=31 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031233635/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37590285|url-status=live}}{{cite news|work=The Herald|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14784098.Steven_Woolfe_and_Raheem_Kassam_throw_hats_in_ring_for_UKip_leadership/|title=Steven Woolfe and Raheem Kassam throw hats in ring for UKip leadership|date=5 October 2016|access-date=13 October 2016|archive-date=14 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014061009/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14784098.Steven_Woolfe_and_Raheem_Kassam_throw_hats_in_ring_for_UKip_leadership/|url-status=live}} His campaign slogan was "Make UKIP great again".{{cite news|last=Mason|first=Rowena|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/05/ukip-leadership-contest-steven-woolfe-raheem-kassam-paul-nuttall-suzanne-evans-lisa-duffy|title=Ukip leadership contest: five likely contenders to succeed Diane James|work=The Guardian|date=5 October 2016|access-date=20 October 2016|archive-date=17 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017164002/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/05/ukip-leadership-contest-steven-woolfe-raheem-kassam-paul-nuttall-suzanne-evans-lisa-duffy|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/168017/ukip-leadership-candidate-steven-woolfe-quits-party-following-conference-altercation-furore.aspx|title=Ukip leadership candidate Steven Woolfe quits party following conference altercation furore|work=Chester and District Standard|date=18 October 2016|access-date=20 October 2016|archive-date=20 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020124106/http://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/168017/ukip-leadership-candidate-steven-woolfe-quits-party-following-conference-altercation-furore.aspx|url-status=live}} In an interview with Evan Davis on the BBC's Newsnight, Kassam announced his intentions to resolve UKIP's "existential crisis" and pledged to increase UKIP's membership to 100,000.

Kassam's activity on social media has attracted negative attention. In June 2016 he posted a tweet (later deleted) suggesting First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon should have her "mouth taped shut. And her legs, so she can't reproduce".{{cite news|last=Merrick|first=Rob|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-at-war-again-as-two-more-leadership-candidates-put-themselves-forward-a7376851.html|title=Ukip at war again as two more leadership candidates put themselves forward|work=The Independent|date=24 October 2016|access-date=28 October 2016|archive-date=30 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030041958/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-at-war-again-as-two-more-leadership-candidates-put-themselves-forward-a7376851.html|url-status=live}} After being criticised by the Scottish National Party MP Stewart McDonald on Twitter, Kassam replied that he would not be lectured to by a "National Socialist party".{{cite news|last=Allegretti|first=Aubrey|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/raheem-kassam-ukip-leadership-election-twitter-deleted_uk_580cf387e4b056572d82f392|title=Ukip Leadership Contender Raheem Kassam Sparks Outrage For History Of Controversial Twitter Posts|work=The Huffington Post|date=23 October 2016|access-date=28 October 2016|archive-date=27 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027155546/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/raheem-kassam-ukip-leadership-election-twitter-deleted_uk_580cf387e4b056572d82f392|url-status=live}} He later apologised.{{cite news|last1=McGrath|first1=Hannah|last2=Fisher|first2=Lucy|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/abusive-tweets-were-a-silly-joke-says-ukip-contender-pgwlwwd2z|title=Abusive tweets were a silly joke, says Ukip contender|work=The Times|date=25 October 2016|access-date=28 October 2016|archive-date=29 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029044623/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/abusive-tweets-were-a-silly-joke-says-ukip-contender-pgwlwwd2z|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}} He has tweeted in the past that Suzanne Evans, a candidate in the second 2016 UKIP leadership election, should "fuck off for good",{{cite news|last=Bennett|first=Asa|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/24/nigel-farage-is-ukips-tony-blair-after-historic-success-it-is-te/|title=Nigel Farage is Ukip's Tony Blair. After historic success, it is tearing itself apart over his legacy|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 October 2016|access-date=28 October 2016|archive-date=27 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027015452/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/24/nigel-farage-is-ukips-tony-blair-after-historic-success-it-is-te/|url-status=live}} and questioned whether Labour MP Angela Eagle attended a "special needs class".

After Evans said on The Andrew Marr Show that her "far right" and "toxic" rival would take the party away from the interests of ordinary people, Kassam questioned Evans' leadership capabilities and asserted that she had made "smears" against him. Farage repudiated Evans' comments about Kassam shortly afterwards.{{cite news|last=Keste|first=Georgie|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/ukip-hopeful-too-right-wing-says-rival-bx8s56rd7|title=Ukip hopeful too right wing, says rival|work=The Times|date=24 October 2016|access-date=31 October 2016|archive-date=1 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101101758/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ukip-hopeful-too-right-wing-says-rival-bx8s56rd7|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}}{{cite news|last=Black|first=Will|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/will-black/raheem-kassam-ukip-leadership_b_12614780.html|title=If Raheem Kassam Is The Best UKIP Can Offer, It's Screwed|work=The Huffington Post|date=25 October 2016|access-date=28 October 2016|archive-date=27 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027133408/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/will-black/raheem-kassam-ukip-leadership_b_12614780.html|url-status=live}}

At the launch of his leadership campaign, Kassam called for a national referendum on the right of women in the UK to wear the niqāb, claimed then-U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump does not hold anti-Muslim opinions, and cast doubt on the multiple claims of sexual assault made against Trump.{{cite web|last=Walker|first=Peter|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/28/ukip-leadership-candidate-raheem-kassam-donald-trump-niqab-referendum?utm_term|title=Ukip leadership candidate defends Trump and calls for niqab referendum|work=The Guardian|date=28 October 2016|access-date=28 October 2016|archive-date=29 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029044022/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/28/ukip-leadership-candidate-raheem-kassam-donald-trump-niqab-referendum?utm_term|url-status=live}} He also labelled his movement as Faragist and quipped that he was the "Faragest of the Faragists".{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37799679|title='Farage-ist' Raheem Kassam launches UKIP leadership bid|date=28 October 2016|website=BBC News|access-date=19 June 2017|archive-date=31 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031220521/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37799679|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ukip-leadership-contender-launches-bid-as-faragest-of-the-faragists_uk_58134b51e4b04660a438f6a2?ir=UK+Politics|title=Ukip Leadership Contender Launches Bid As 'Faragest Of The Faragists'|work=The Huffington Post|date=28 October 2016|access-date=29 October 2016|archive-date=15 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815061049/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ukip-leadership-contender-launches-bid-as-faragest-of-the-faragists_uk_58134b51e4b04660a438f6a2?ir=UK+Politics|url-status=live}} Kassam gained the personal support of Arron Banks, the principal funder of UKIP.{{cite news|last1=Kenber|first1=Billy|last2=Fisher|first2=Lucy|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/ukip-contender-is-quick-to-show-his-bitter-credentials-5vwx96t2j|title=Ukip contender is quick to show his bitter credentials|work=The Times|date=29 October 2016|access-date=31 October 2016|archive-date=31 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031212112/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ukip-contender-is-quick-to-show-his-bitter-credentials-5vwx96t2j|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}}

Kassam "suspended", or withdrew, from the leadership contest on 31 October 2016, a few hours before nominations closed.{{cite news|last=Fisher|first=Lucy|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/ukip-leadership-contender-launches-bid-on-friday-quits-on-monday-7f3lp6rwl|title=Ukip leadership contender launches bid on Friday — quits on Monday|work=The Times|date=31 October 2016|access-date=31 October 2016|archive-date=31 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031212041/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/ukip-leadership-contender-launches-bid-on-friday-quits-on-monday-7f3lp6rwl|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}} Having concluded that he had only a slight chance of winning, citing insufficient funds, he criticised the media attention he received and was critical of what he claimed was media intimidation of his parents.{{Cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/10/31/raheem-kassam-pulls-out-of-leadership-race-for-ukip-6224774/|title=Raheem Kassam pulls out of leadership race for Ukip|first=Richard |last=Hartley-Parkinson|date=31 October 2016|website=Metro|access-date=22 December 2016|archive-date=23 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223063953/http://metro.co.uk/2016/10/31/raheem-kassam-pulls-out-of-leadership-race-for-ukip-6224774/|url-status=live}} He also questioned the fairness of a UKIP ballot.{{cite news|last=Mason|first=Rowena|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/31/raheem-kassam-pulls-out-of-ukip-leadership-contest|title=Raheem Kassam pulls out of Ukip leadership contest|work=The Guardian|date=31 October 2016|access-date=31 October 2016|archive-date=31 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031215047/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/31/raheem-kassam-pulls-out-of-ukip-leadership-contest|url-status=live}} "When Times journalists show up at my elderly parents' house, intimidating them, I draw the line," he said.{{cite news|last1=Hurfurt|first1=Jake|last2=Pells|first2=Rachael|title=Oxford University students called 'inbred' by ex-Ukip leadership candidate|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/oxford-university-students-called-inbred-rahem-kassam-ex-ukip-leadership-candidate-a7391911.html|access-date=14 August 2017|work=The Independent|date=1 November 2016|archive-date=15 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815032335/http://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/oxford-university-students-called-inbred-rahem-kassam-ex-ukip-leadership-candidate-a7391911.html|url-status=live}}

In his October 2016 Newsnight interview, Kassam suggested that Donald Trump would be a better President of the United States than Hillary Clinton.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37691920|title=Raheem Kassam: UKIP is in an 'existential crisis'|work=BBC News|date=18 October 2016|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=1 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101175210/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37691920|url-status=live}} A few days after the result of the American presidential election was announced, Kassam accompanied Farage when the former UKIP-leader was the first British politician to meet President-elect Trump, at Trump Tower.{{cite news|title=Nigel Farage becomes first UK politician to meet Donald Trump|url=http://news.sky.com/story/nigel-farage-pm-must-mend-fences-after-rude-trump-comments-10654947|access-date=14 November 2016|publisher=Sky News|date=13 November 2016|archive-date=13 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113133512/http://news.sky.com/story/nigel-farage-pm-must-mend-fences-after-rude-trump-comments-10654947|url-status=live}}

In January 2018, Kassam received media coverage for stating during a Sky News interview that London had become "a shithole" under Mayor Sadiq Khan, intentionally mirroring similar alleged comments U.S. President Trump made on immigration shortly before.{{cite web |title=Raheem Kassam Blasts Sky News, Sadiq Khan Over 'Shithole London' |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DNlpArv0IY8 |website=YouTube| date=14 January 2018 }}{{cite news |last=Jacobs |first=Ben |title=After Bannon: the new faces of the hard right |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jan/13/steve-bannon-new-faces-hard-right |url-status=live |newspaper=The Guardian |date=13 January 2018 |access-date=14 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113230546/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jan/13/steve-bannon-new-faces-hard-right |archive-date=13 January 2018}}{{cite news |last=Jonathan |first=Robert |title=London Is A 'S***hole,' Breitbart London Editor Raheem Kassam Claims [Video] |url=https://www.inquisitr.com/4736149/london-is-a-shole-breitbart-london-editor-raheem-kassam/ |url-status=live |work=Inquisitr |date=14 January 2018 |access-date=14 January 2018 |archive-date=15 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115015246/https://www.inquisitr.com/4736149/london-is-a-shole-breitbart-london-editor-raheem-kassam/}}

In December 2019, Kassam became editor-in-chief of The National Pulse, an American news website on the political right.

Kassam recommended Nigel Farage to remove party chair Zia Yusuf in order to end in-fighting between Farage and one of his colleagues Rupert Lowe. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-zia-yusuf-reform-b2715088.html

On 14 August 2017, Kassam published his book No Go Zones: How Sharia Law Is Coming to a Neighborhood Near You with Nigel Farage writing the foreword to the book.{{cite book |last=Kassam |first=Raheem |title=No Go Zones: How Sharia Law Is Coming to a Neighborhood Near You |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Regnery Publishing |date=2017 |isbn=9781621576808}} Kassam and the idea of dangerous "no-go areas" for non-Muslims in European cities has been linked to the concept of "Eurabia".{{cite news |title=After European terror strikes, "Eurabia" fears soar |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/after-european-terror-strikes-eurabia-fears-soar/ |publisher=CBS News |date=6 March 2015}} On 19 April 2018, Kassam self-published Enoch Was Right: 'Rivers of Blood' 50 Years On, in which he argues that the vision of politician Enoch Powell's anti-immigration Rivers of Blood speech has been realised.{{cite book |last=Kassam |first=Raheem |date=2018 |title=Enoch Was Right: 'Rivers of Blood' 50 Years On|publisher=Self-published |isbn=978-1980818823}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Raheem Kassam}}

{{wikiquote}}

• [https://m.youtube.com/user/raheemkassam Raheem Kassam's channel] on YouTube
• {{IMDb name|nm9059415}}
• [https://player.fm/series/the-buck-sexton-show/raheem-kassam-rocks-the-freedom-hut Raheem Kassam] on the Buck Sexton Show

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kassam, Raheem}}

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