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Shakeel Afsar confronted Kim Leadbeater on Friday as she campaigned to become the next MP in her late sister’s former Yorkshire seat of Batley and Spen. Despite not being from the constituency, Mr Afsar told the Labour candidate: “The British Kashmiris have seen through the Labour lies.

“We’ve seen how members of Parliament have forced LGBT indoctrination on children.”

She retorted: “You know what I’m not going to stand for – you shouting at me – an innocent woman who has put herself forward for public life.

“This is my community. Don’t come here and shout at me in the street. The Muslim community of Batley and Spen deserve better than this.”

It has since emerged that Mr Afsar – who describes himself as an entrepreneur and landlord on Twitter – was one of the lead protestors in the controversial Anderton Park Primary School protests.

Parents repeatedly picketed outside the Birmingham school over its decision to teach kids about LGBT relationships.

Many wrongly claimed that the school was “promoting homosexuality”.

The vast majority of the protestors were Muslim and said that the lessons on same-sex relationships contradicted their religious beliefs.

When the number of protesters swelled to more than 200 on some days – and people started visiting from out of the area – the school’s headteacher and Birmingham City Council applied for an injunction.

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This was granted and made permanent in November 2019.

In court documents Mr Afsar was named as the lead protestor – despite not having children who went to the school.

During the course of the protests – which spanned much of 2019 – Mr Afsar and fellow protestor Amir Ahmed appeared alongside Ms Hopkins.

On June 2 of that year, Ms Hopkins – who has openly criticised Islam – stood alongside them smiling.

Sharing the image on Twitter, Ms Hopkins – who has since been booted off the platform – tweeted: “So gracious of @shakeelafsar7, and his family to invite me into their home, during their Eid celebrations – to discuss the issues with LGBT teaching at #AndertonParkPrimarySchool.”

Mr Afsar retweeted Ms Hopkins and said: “We as a community will Remain Tolerant of ANYONE even if we Totallt [sic] Disagree & we will Learn to CO EXSIST [sic].”

His account was also later suspended by Twitter.

Appealing alongside the media personality – who once compared migrants with cockroaches – sparked anger at the time.

One user tweeted: “Seriously, Shakeel. Katie is beyond redemption and is using you as a pawn. Don’t ally with the intolerant to fight intolerance – doesn’t work that way.”

Another said: “This is so, so, so embarrassing for you.”

Meanwhile a third wrote: “Wreaks of narcissism & self promotion.

“If you really cared about protecting Muslim kids you wouldn’t invite someone who calls them vermin into your home.

“ON EID! This whole thing is just about you and your ego. So insulting.”

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