Photo: Flickr

Social media in Britain has exploded over comments by a so-called terrorism expert on
Fox News that the UK city of Birmingham has become a “totally Muslim” city and a “no-go zone” for non-Muslims.

Self-proclaimed expert Steven Emerson also said that gangs of religious police in parts of London beat up people who are not wearing Islamic clothes.

Emerson later apologised for his comments, which he admitted were “totally in error” and he was described by British PM David Cameron as a “complete idiot”.

Emerson appeared as part of coverage of the recent series of murders in Paris, including the attack on the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

He said: “In Britain, it’s not just no-go zones, there are actual cities like Birmingham that are totally Muslim where non-Muslims just simply don’t go in.

“And, parts of London, there are actually Muslim religious police that actually beat and actually wound seriously anyone who doesn’t dress according to religious Muslim attire.”

According to census data, around 850,000 non-Muslims live in Birmingham, accounting for approximately 80% of the near 1.1 million population of Britain’s second largest city.

Emerson’s claims drew both criticism and ridicule, with some hilarious results.

Some of the witty and mocking tweets tagged with the hashtag #foxnewsfacts included:

• “Birmingham is entirely populated by Muslims. Unlike nearby Wolverhampton, which is entirely populated by wolves.#foxnewsfacts”

•  “Dundee is entirely populated by badgers disguised as humans who have fled the countryside to avoid the government cull.#foxnewsfacts”

•  “Due to Sharia law, Birmingham is now called “Birming.#foxnewsfacts”

•  “Cornwall is an actual wall, made of corn.#foxnewsfacts”

•  “Every resident of York is called Keith; Stoke-on-Trent only appears once every 100 years.#foxnewsfacts”

•  “Sheffield is now illegal, having outlawed itself in 1989.#foxnewsfacts”

•  “Everyone in Aberdeen goes to work on a space hopper. Everyone. Even the king of Scotland.#foxnewsfacts”

•  “In Yorkshire, you can be hung for treason for serving a meal without gravy.#foxnewsfacts”

•  “Liverpool is a largely underground city, and the police force is overwhelmingly staffed by badgers. #foxnewsfacts”

•  “Left unattended for 9 months, a Cadburys Creme Egg will eventually hatch into a fully grown Cadbury.#foxnewsfacts”

Laurie Nowell
AMES Senior Journalist