Sharon Osbourne has announced she is considering running for Birmingham City Council in a ward where a convicted terrorist who stated Muslims should not befriend Jews or Christians has been selected as a candidate despite previously working on government counter-extremism programmes.
Shahid Butt, 60, who served time in a Yemeni prison in 1999 after being convicted for involvement in a terrorist conspiracy targeting the British consulate and other locations, told a YouTube interviewer in 2025: “Allah says in the Koran do not take the Jews or Christians as your friends and protectors.”
When challenged on this statement, he claimed he was quoting the Koran, noted his work with local churches, and insisted he was “not antisemitic as I believe Jews are my cousins.”
Despite his terror conviction and recent controversial remarks, Butt subsequently worked within the Home Office Prevent scheme and held a position on the West Midlands Anti-Terrorism Steering Committee before his candidacy was announced last week by Ahmed Yakoob, founder of the Independent Candidate Alliance.
Sharon Osbourne, widow of Birmingham rock legend Ozzie Osbourne who died last July after more than 40 years of marriage, stated she is serious about challenging for the Sparkhill seat in May’s local elections.
Osbourne, whose father was music promoter Don Arden (born Harry Levy), responded to footage of Butt by stating: “This has nothing to do with racism. I think I’m gonna move to Birmingham and put my name down for the ballot to be on the council.” She later confirmed: “I’m serious.”
Butt emerged as a prominent voice opposing last year’s Maccabi Tel Aviv fixture against Aston Villa in Birmingham. He called on “every local Muslim” to protest the match but cautioned against bringing knives, guns or machetes. He also suggested protesters need not conceal their faces “unless you’ve got a bit of a sensitive job or whatever and you’re worried about the repercussions or whatever.”
Yakoob, who selected Butt as the Alliance candidate, contested Birmingham Ladywood in 2024 against Shabana Mahmood, receiving 12,137 votes to her 15,558. Mahmood has since been appointed Home Secretary, whilst Yakoob is scheduled to stand trial in 2027 over money laundering allegations.
Sparkhill ward, where approximately 70% of residents are Muslim, currently has two Labour councillors. Rashad Mahmood was amongst more than 250 Muslim Labour councillors who signed a 2024 letter urging the government to suspend arms sales to Israel until international humanitarian law is observed. Nicky Brennan announced last year she would contest a different ward instead.
Butt returned to Britain in 2003 following his release from Yemeni custody and has since maintained a presence in Birmingham’s political and community landscape despite his criminal past.
The May council elections will determine whether Osbourne follows through on her stated intention to challenge Butt for the seat, or whether other candidates emerge to contest the ward.
