‘Out of context’: Muslim group in Hong Kong condemns UK far-right party for sharing MTR brawl video

A Muslim organisation based in Hong Kong has condemned a British far-right group for sharing a video of a brawl on a train in the city as part of its anti-immigrant “propaganda” ahead of the UK election on June 8.

The Muslim Council of Hong Kong has accused Britain First of “childish behaviour” after the UK nationalist party promoted a YouTube video which it claimed showed Muslims fighting with Hong Kong passengers on a train.

The clip called “Hong Kong: Muslim Migrants Harass Citizens – They Fight Back” was posted on Britain First’s website on Saturday and promoted on Twitter by deputy leader Jayda Fransen.

The 90-second footage was originally shared by YouTube user NrxZionistLibertarian in February, attracting more than 600,000 views and thousands of anti-Muslim comments.

It shows at least three non-ethnic Chinese men quarrelling with a Hong Kong family of eight on an MTR train, before the parties involved exchanged blows, both inside the carriage and later on the platform. The non-ethnic Chinese men were eventually driven out of the carriage.

The Post has contacted Hong Kong police to verify the circumstances of the video and the outcome of the fight.

According to media reports, a fight occurred at East Tsim Sha Tsui station on February 1, with police arresting three brothers aged 17, 19 and 24 for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Britain Firstshares similar videos as part of its campaigns, with little to no explanation.

Muslim Council founder Adeel Malik said the group used such videos “out of context”.

“It’s propaganda; it’s amazing the lengths these guys go to fit their political agenda,” he said. “It is not the first time, they keep doing this with different videos and messages taken out of context. It is so sad that they continue with this childish behaviour.”

There are an estimated 300,000 Muslims in Hong Kong. Malik, a 32-year-old teacher who was born in Hong Kong, said it was wrong for the group to misrepresent events in order to “incite hatred” and “scare people”.

“They share it without verifying it,” he said. “This sort of thing is happening all over the world but particularly in the UK ... But it is good to see there are more people waking up to their twisted ideology.”

Britain First leader Paul Golding and his deputy Fransen were arrested earlier this week on suspicion of inciting racial hatred.

Last week, the group called for Britons to “rise up” and “take back their country” following the devastating terrorist attack in Manchester.

The Post has contacted Britain First for comment.