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Peer tasked with establishing an official Islamophobia definition reported to parliamentary watchdog after hosting an ‘extremist’ in Parliament

Max Thompson

29 November 2025

It has been another difficult week for the government in its quest to introduce an official definition of “Islamophobia”.

On Tuesday, The Times revealed that Baroness Gohir — a Muslim peer and one of five members of the working group tasked with establishing the official definition — recently hosted a Parliamentary event attended by an individual who had previously held a “watch party” celebrating Iran’s ballistic missile attacks on Israel.

Haleem Kherallah, founder of the Palestinian restaurant Shakeshuka in Marylebone, London, hosted the event in June. Videos posted on social media show him and diners cheering as scenes of Iranian missiles striking Tel Aviv and Haifa were broadcast around the restaurant. The attacks killed 28 Israelis.

Among those filmed was former civil servant and anti-Israel activist Anika Zahir, who was heard exclaiming: “Isn’t that beautiful, that’s gorgeous,” before leading a chorus of “Hip hip hooray.” Another diner compared the scenes to being “better than November fireworks.”

Baroness Gohir acknowledged that she hosted the Parliamentary reception on 12 November in the House of Lords but said it had been organised by Waw Creative Arts, a Muslim-led charity that celebrates the diversity of Muslims in public life. The charity has previously worked with the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan. The Baroness stated that she was not responsible for selecting the guest list.

Heidi Bachram, whose husband lost family members in the Hamas attacks of 7 October, has written to Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg calling for disciplinary action against Baroness Gohir. In her letter, she urged improvements to the vetting procedures for individuals invited to events within Parliament hosted by parliamentarians. 

Bachram wrote: “By not thoroughly vetting Waw, the baroness has made it appear that the House endorses this film and those featured in it, including Mr Kherallah. Given his behaviour and views, this is hurtful and harmful to the Jewish and Israeli community in the UK at a time when antisemitism and xenophobia have exploded, and even become deadly.

“As someone who has lost family members to extremist Islamist terrorism, this is particularly destabilising. My husband’s cousin, Tsachi Idan, was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, and murdered in captivity. His daughter Maayan was murdered in front of the family. Seeing one of the highest institutions in the land legitimise this kind of person is extremely distressing.

“I hope that action can be taken and vetting processes improved to avoid such a situation occurring again.”

This is yet another scandal to hit the already controversial working group.