Mariam Elsayeh speaks out after Israeli smear and Reform Party harassment
In an exclusive interview, Elsayeh recounts how her defence of Palestine turned into a struggle for survival — detailing the intimidation, threats, and official inaction that now cast a shadow over press freedom in Britain.
For nearly two years, journalist Mariam Elsayeh has lived under the weight of an unrelenting campaign of intimidation — one that began with verbal and physical assaults during pro-Palestine demonstrations and escalated into a sprawling online smear effort that reached the walls of her own home.
Elsayeh, an elected member of the National Union of Journalists’ (NUJ) Ethics Council, no longer works as freely as she once did; the spaces where she reported with confidence have turned into zones of scrutiny and fear.
A recent report by Skyline International for Human Rights, published on 8 October 2025, described the harassment she faces as “systematic, alarming, and a direct threat to her safety and to press freedom in the United Kingdom.” The report pointed to an escalating pattern of intimidation and stalking involving figures from the far-right and the Reform UK party.
From the Streets to the Digital Sphere: A Multi-Layered Harassment
The report documents a string of incidents, the most notable occurring in October 2023, when Elsayeh was punched in the face and kicked while covering a protest outside the Israeli Embassy in London.
According to Skyline, a Reform UK politician — a former parliamentary candidate — deliberately photographed her press badge in what she saw as an act of intimidation. He would later appear repeatedly at public events she attended, creating a pattern of unwanted pursuit that spanned two years.
On 6 September 2025, the intimidation reached its peak when the same politician reportedly turned to her on camera and said, “You’re done.”
Just weeks earlier, one of Tommy Robinson’s far-right supporters had attempted to pull off her hijab during a vigil held by the NUJ, accusing her of “supporting Hamas.”
Meanwhile, the attacks migrated online. On 2 September 2025, the pro-Israel outlet Honest Reporting published a defamatory article branding her a “rabid anti-Israel activist” and “terror apologist.”
The piece spread rapidly across social media platforms — X, Facebook, and Threads — unleashing a torrent of racist abuse, incitement, and explicit death threats.
Al Arab in UK Exclusive: When Home Turns into an Interrogation Room
Speaking exclusively to Al Arab in UK, Elsayeh describes the aftermath of the campaign in deeply personal terms:
“I had to stop working for a while after the Israeli article caused panic throughout my family. It was harder on us than the attempts to tear off my hijab in the street, because this time it went beyond a random hate incident. I was shocked to see my pictures and accounts published on Israeli websites.”
She continues:
“The police came to our home to take statements and check on us. Under UK procedures, my children were referred to social services, and we were placed under the Victim and Witness Support Unit. But having police and social workers around your children — even if it’s meant to protect you — feels painful and unnatural. I don’t understand why my children have to live surrounded by this level of security.”
Despite filing official complaints, she says the police later closed the investigation, claiming the threats “did not meet the threshold of a criminal offence,” even though most of them were documented and directly targeted her online.
The Harassment Continues: A Politician Still in View
Elsayeh says the same politician continues to appear near her at events:
“The last time I saw him was on 6 September, and I reported it to the police. He still tries to send signals or gestures on camera, often surrounded by groups that pressure or monitor me closely.”
She remains under the supervision of the Victim and Witness Support Unit, and although the NUJ informed her that some police stations have designated officers to protect journalists, she admits the ongoing stress makes it difficult to maintain those contacts.
Community Solidarity Amid Institutional Silence
Despite everything, Elsayeh says the solidarity she received from her community helped her endure:
“There’s been remarkable community support, and we’re deeply grateful to every group and individual who stood by us. But our daily life hasn’t fully returned to normal, even with all that support.”
The NUJ has promised to cover part of the financial losses she incurred, but Elsayeh insists the real damage cannot be measured in money — it is the loss of peace and stability that once defined her family’s life.
An Escalation Against Free Voices
“In September alone, we witnessed a horrifying escalation against journalists and activists — especially Muslims and people of colour,” Elsayeh tells AUK.
“The attacks were both physical and digital: threats, stalking, defamation. But despite everything, we are determined to continue. These incidents will not silence us — they will not break us.”
She adds that she and fellow NUJ members are preparing new petitions through the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Women’s Conference to demand better protection for journalists and accountability for those fuelling hate campaigns.
“We will keep defending Gaza and Palestine with all our strength, and we’ll continue to confront the fascist networks spreading extremism across Europe. Their attempts will not divide us.”
A Call for Reflection
What happened to Mariam Elsayeh is not an isolated incident, but a mirror of the growing hostility toward free voices in Britain — especially when those voices speak for Palestine.
When a journalist is targeted simply for doing her job, a deeper question arises: what remains of press freedom when the journalist must fear stepping into the street?
While official institutions remain largely silent, civil society continues to speak out — reminding us that today’s struggle is not only over the streets and headlines, but over the very narrative of truth itself.
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