Join 350,000+ subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of
The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
#FoxNewsFacts mocks claim that Birmingham is for Muslims only
The funniest Twitter reactions to Fox News pundit's claims that Birmingham is 'totally Muslim'
Twitter users have reacted with incredulity after a TV pundit told Fox News that Birmingham is "totally Muslim" and that groups of religious police now patrol London beating up anyone who is not wearing Islamic dress.
Steven Emerson, who is described as a terrorism expert, appeared as part of Fox News's coverage of the Charlie Hebdo murders.
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 [in] 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."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
The pundit later apologised for his comments which he admitted were "totally in error", but not before the wits of Twitter had mocked him ruthlessly.
Here is a round-up of some of the best and funniest reactions.
One Twitter user thought he could see how the confusion had arisen:
I think Fox News misunderstood when someone in Birmingham said the weather is 14% sunny, 86% shite. #foxnewsfacts http://t.co/nEZCJHSOVa — Brendan Dodds (@BrendanDodds) January 11, 2015
Others agreed with Emerson that Islamic dress had become prevalent across the UK:
Sign up for The Week’s Politics Recap newsletter
Making sense of the week's political news, delivered every Wednesday
Islamic head coverings now prevalent across Britain #foxnewsfacts pic.twitter.com/NchCzCdTm7 — Chris Kennett (@chriskennett) January 12, 2015
And it is not just humans who have picked up the trend:
In birmingham, buildings wear the burqa #foxnewsfacts pic.twitter.com/S7fMfYkUht — Malcolm Coles (@malcolmcoles) January 11, 2015
Others found that burkas have spread from Birmingham to outer space:
Islam's spread into outer space started many years ago, as can be seen by this inter galactic burka. #foxnewsfacts pic.twitter.com/mMRH6aTVXO — Anas Abbas (@Anas_Abbas1) January 12, 2015
Even the Queen got involved:
Legislation passed in Islamified Britain forcing the Queen of England to don a traditional headscarf #FoxNewsFacts pic.twitter.com/yT0CTRTpi8 — Sarah M (@sazza_jay) January 11, 2015
One user felt that the whole business just wasn't cricket:
Terrifying photo of how a typical Muslim from Birmingham guards the city gates against infidels. #foxnewsfacts pic.twitter.com/w1TJt93VEi — Pavilion Opinions (@pavilionopinion) January 11, 2015
Another shared this lesser known Birmingham fact:
Birmingham's Spaghetti Junction is actually made of linguine #FoxNewsFacts — Abigail Edge (@abigailedge) January 12, 2015
One Twitter user felt concerned about what Fox might make of another well-known part of the UK:
For heaven's sake nobody tell #foxnewsfacts about the Black Country — Guy Herbert (@guy_herbert) January 12, 2015
But almost all Brummies were unmoved by Emerson's eventual apology:
The Fox News guy has apologised and called the city of Birmingham 'beautiful'. The guy can't get anything right, can he? #FoxNewsFacts — James Gleave (@jamesgleave1) January 11, 2015
