Mohammed Hegab, more commonly known as Mohammed Hijab, was born on 5 October 1991 in London, England, to Egyptian immigrant parents.[3][4] He has a BA in Politics from Queen Mary University of London , a BA in Arabic and Islamic Sciences from Al-Azhar University in Egypt,[5][6][7] an MA in Islamic Studies from SOAS University of London, an MA in History from Queen Mary University, and an MTh in Applied Theology from the University of Oxford.[8][9] He is currently pursuing a PhD in the Philosophy of Religion at the University of Birmingham.[10][11] Hijab is a co-founder of the Sapience Institute, where he works as a researcher and instructor as well as an Arabic instructor at Cambridge Arabic College.[12][13]
Hijab began uploading content to YouTube on 16 June 2015, starting with a video on Arabic pronunciation.[14] In May 2018, his trainee teaching contract at Harris Academy Rainham in East London was terminated following his attendance at a freedom of speech rally in Whitehall.[3][15]
Public speaking
Mohammed Hijab presents an Islamic critique of liberal values at the Peace Conference Scandinavia 2018
Hijab is known for engaging in public discourse on religion, politics, and social issues through online platforms.[16] He has interviewed and debated well-known figures including academic Norman Finkelstein in 2020, linguist Noam Chomsky in 2021, psychologist Jordan Peterson in 2021 and 2022, and online personality Andrew Tate following his conversion to Islam in 2022.[17][18][19] With Peterson, the discussion focused on interfaith dialogue, interpretations of Islam, and the need for difficult conversations about religion.[20][21] Hijab has also engaged in theological and philosophical debates with Christian apologists like David Wood in 2018, William Lane Craig in 2024, Ayaan Hirsi Ali in 2022, and at an Oxford Forum Debate in 2020.[22][23][24][25]
Hijab's involvement in debates concerning the Israeli–Palestinian conflict has drawn media and political attention. In October 2023, he appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored to discuss the ongoing Gaza war.[26][27] In November 2023, he debated U.S.-based Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, after which Hijab posted a tweet referencing an Israeli soldier in inflammatory terms, prompting Boteach to report the matter to U.S. authorities.[28][29]Watan reported what it called Hijab's “triumph” over Boteach.[30] Around the same time, Hijab told Anadolu Agency that Muslim leaders and populations must show greater resolve in addressing injustices in Gaza, highlighting Türkiye's potential role due to its geopolitical influence. He also accused the U.S. and EU of double standards regarding Israel's actions.[31] In 2024, Hijab had another confrontation on Piers Morgan's show, this time with Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz. The debate escalated when Hijab accused Dershowitz of being a "pervert" on air. Dershowitz threatened legal action for defamation, while Hijab maintained his stance, asserting that he was prepared for a lawsuit.[18]
Some of Hijab's public appearances have faced backlash in Western countries over allegations of promoting extremist rhetoric. In March 2023, a speaking event at Trinity College Dublin, organized by Islamic student groups, was canceled due to security concerns. Critics, including student campaign groups and equality officers, objected to Hijab's association with Andrew Tate and his criticism of feminism and LGBTQ+ rights.[32][33] In Canada, Hijab was scheduled to speak at the "Reviving Roots" conference in Burlington in February 2025, but the event was canceled after local officials, including Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, voiced concerns over hate speech.[34][35] That same month, the Dutch government imposed an entry ban on Hijab ahead of his appearance at the Ramadan Expo in Utrecht, citing concerns about hate speech.[36][37] The ban was overturned by a court in The Hague due to a lack of evidence. During the event, Hijab celebrated the ruling and criticized what he viewed as Western attempts to suppress Islamic voices.[38] In Norway, parliamentarian Kjell Ingolf Ropstad raised concerns about Hijab's speech at an Islam Net event in Oslo, claiming it legitimized violence.[39] Hijab denied the accusations and responded with a detailed rebuttal, accusing Ropstad of defamation and misrepresenting Islamic teachings on martyrdom and suicide.[40]
Public demonstrations
Mohammed Hijab Confronts Opponents in Speakers' Corner Discussion
During a 2021 demonstration in the United Kingdom, Hijab "targeted Jewish passers-by, asking them for their views on Israel".[3]
During the 2022 Leicester unrest, Hijab appeared in a widely circulated video addressing a group of Muslim men in a public area, saying: "[Hindus] believe in reincarnation, what a humiliation and pathetic thing for them to be reincarnated into. Some pathetic, weak, cowardly people like that. I’d rather be an animal, I’d rather be reincarnated as a grasshopper bruv, that’s the truth." The remarks were criticized as disrespectful.[41][3] He also condemned the presence of individuals he described as affiliated with Hindutva ideology, prompting chants from the crowd. Hijab later stated that he did not intend to mock Hindu beliefs and apologized if his comments were perceived that way.[3]He explained that his presence in Leicester, after traveling from London, was intended to help de-escalate tensions and discourage unlawful behavior, particularly among young people who follow his online content.[42][43] On September 18, he posted a photo on Instagram showing himself walking with masked individuals, captioned "Muslim patrol in Leicester," which drew further scrutiny.[3] That same month, The Spectator published an article alleging that Hijab exacerbated tensions, citing previous protests in which he had participated.[44]
Advocacy for Palestinian Rights
In May 2021, Hijab participated in a pro-Palestinian demonstration that passed through Golders Green, a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in northwest London, where he addressed passersby and condemned violence against Palestinians, referencing the Holocaust in his speeches. His remarks were reported to the Metropolitan Police by the Community Security Trust and a local synagogue, raising concerns about antisemitism.[3] The following day, Hijab joined another protest outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington, where he confronted pro-Israeli demonstrators and was filmed making inflammatory comments to police, including threats against dogs belonging to Israeli supporters and referring to Israel as a "terrorist apartheid state." He was also recorded declaring, "We don't care about death. We love death." The demonstration later moved to Speakers' Corner, where some attendees were reported to have chanted antisemitic slogans. In response to rising tensions, Hijab was seen advising the crowd to avoid violence and remain composed, telling them, "Do not provoke violence... If you're going to get excited, go to the gym."[3]
Reception
The Jewish Chronicle described him as a controversial anti-Israel campaigner and criticized the BBC for featuring him in its 2021 documentary on antisemitism.[45] The Campaign Against Antisemitism expressed disapproval, stating, 'It is astonishing that the BBC has tried to portray this man as some kind of champion of coexistence,' while The Jewish Chronicle accused the broadcaster of being arrogant.[45][46] In a separate editorial, the outlet asserted that the BBC had "chosen to lie and pick a fight with Jews."[47]Jewish News labeled a 2021 video in which Hijab urged Jewish individuals on Shabbat to condemn Israel's actions as a direct act of incitement.[48] The Campaign Against Antisemitism also compiled examples of his social media activity in a report titled Who is Mohammed Hijab?[49]The Jerusalem Post reported on his televised debate with Shmuley Boteach, claiming that Hijab made false antisemitic and anti-Zionist claims.[50] The advocacy group StandWithUs labeled him a 'notorious antisemite' and linked his involvement in the 2022 Leicester unrest to accusations of promoting Hinduphobia.[51]
News18 referred to Hijab as a "so-called public speaker" and questioned the contrast between his self-description and his online content, quoting his website while noting that videos circulating on social media reflect a different image.[52]Firstpost characterized him as someone known for holding extremist and antisemitic views.[53][54]OpIndia published a report accusing him of attempting to dismiss the seriousness of Muslim grooming gang cases in the United Kingdom.[55]Asian News International claimed that his past activities align with narratives associated with global jihadist movements.[56]
Lawsuit
In December 2024, Hijab filed a defamation lawsuit against The Spectator and associate editor Douglas Murray, claiming the article falsely portrayed him as inciting unrest and caused reputational and emotional harm.[57][58] In August 2025, Hijab lost in the defamation suit. The judge ruled that Murray's article was “substantially true”, that no "significant harm" was caused to Hijab and that Hijab lied on significant issues.[59][60]
Selected publications
The Double Standard: Media Reactions to Zionist Terror. Sapience Institute. 2023. ISBN979-8870539072.
The Burhān: Arguments for a Necessary Being Inspired by Islamic Thought. Sapience Institute. 2021. ISBN979-8784089939.
The Scientific Deception of the New Atheists. Sapience Institute. 2020. ISBN979-8666393741.
Kalam Cosmological Arguments. Sapience Institute. 2019. ISBN978-1098544027.
↑ Manhom. "محمد حجاب". من هم | بوابة الشخصيات والمؤسسات (in Arabic). Retrieved 9 June 2025.
↑ "مقتطفات من بود كاست Mohammed Hijab". :: جامعة الأزهر | بوابة التعليم الالكتروني والتعليم عن بعد | e-Learning Al-Azhar University (in Arabic). 22 October 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
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