Hundreds of people protested outside a west London restaurant after its Sikh owner refused to sell halal food, with police forming a line between the crowd and the premises.
Singh’s Dining, formerly known as Rangrez, in Hammersmith was the focus of the demonstration on Friday night. A sign written on the shop front declared: ‘Proudly we don’t sell Halal.’
Private security guards were positioned behind Metropolitan Police officers and were reportedly hired by actor John Cleese, who has previously voiced support for the restaurant.
The protest followed criticism of restaurateur Harman Singh Kapoor, including allegations that he had made social media comments about Muslims, halal meat and the conflict in Gaza.
Mr Kapoor has said that he and his family have received hundreds of death threats and faced what he described as ‘harassment, intimidation and threats of violence’ because of the restaurant’s policy. He has also claimed that calls for a boycott have damaged the business financially.
His wife, Khushi, was left to deal with the demonstration after Mr Kapoor was arrested at his west London home hours before it began.
In a video posted after his arrest, Mr Kapoor said he had repeatedly asked the Metropolitan Police for protection for his family and business. He said he was taken into custody while his family remained outside during the planned protest.
Police said a 54-year-old man was arrested on Friday 13 November on suspicion of possessing and distributing an extreme image. He remained in custody, according to a force spokesperson.
Mr Kapoor said the dispute was not simply about the restaurant selling non-halal food, but also about the threats and intimidation he said his family had experienced.
‘We want to live peacefully, run our business and exercise our rights without fear of being targeted, harassed or harmed,’ he said.
Video footage from outside the restaurant showed a predominantly male crowd shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’, ‘Shame on you’ and ‘Free Palestine’, while some protesters waved Palestinian flags.
In another clip, a man using a microphone asked the crowd what they wanted to happen to Mr Kapoor. The protesters replied: ‘Shut them down!’
Khushi held a sign at the restaurant window thanking Mr Cleese for providing security. It said: ‘John Cleese is paying to defend this restaurant – because Met Police won’t.’
She later said: ‘Thank you John Cleese, thank you for supporting us, thank you for sending security.’
Mr Kapoor has also attracted criticism for social media posts showing him holding bacon, which Muslims are prohibited from eating. One accompanying caption read: ‘Behold. Bacon can save Western countries.’
He has separately referred to threats from ‘Islamists’ and claimed that eggs had been thrown at the restaurant’s windows.
