Politics in Birmingham is set to get a lot more attention as Shahid Butt, a man with a deeply controversial past, announces his bid for the city council.
At 60, Butt is aiming to stand in Sparkhill during the upcoming May elections, claiming his goal is to “unify the people” and push back against the far right.
However, his candidacy is already stirring debate across the city.
A Past Marked by Terrorism Conviction
Butt’s criminal record is extraordinary and troubling.
He was jailed in Yemen in 1999 after prosecutors accused him of plotting attacks on Western targets, including the British consulate in Aden, an Anglican church, and a Swiss-owned hotel.
At the time, he was 33 and had already spent his early life moving from Pakistan to Birmingham with his family.
The court sentenced him to five years for associating with armed groups, plotting murder and destruction, and possessing weapons.
The case was part of a larger operation involving eight Britons and two Algerians linked to Islamist militants in Yemen.
During the trial, it emerged that Butt and others were allegedly sent to Yemen by Abu Hamza, the notorious one-eyed, hook-handed preacher now serving a life sentence in the U.S. for terrorism.
The group reportedly trained under Zein al-Abidine al-Mihdar, who was later executed for his role in the 1998 kidnapping of 16 Western tourists, in which four hostages were killed during a rescue attempt.
Despite claims by Butt and his co-defendants that they were tortured into confessing, the court dismissed these allegations and upheld the evidence presented by prosecutors.
Butt served his full sentence and returned to the UK under official escort in December 2003.
There’s no record that his conviction was ever overturned.
Early Life, Militancy, and Activism
Before his Yemen conviction, Butt was a founding member of the Lynx gang, a group involved in violent clashes with far-right groups in Birmingham, which landed him in prison.
In the early 1990s, he traveled to Bosnia as an aid worker before joining the Bosnian army as a foreign fighter.
He also spent time in Afghanistan and Kashmir prior to his deployment to Yemen.
Since returning to the UK, Butt has taken part in educational talks and public discussions on radicalization and extremism, presenting his past experiences as cautionary tales.
Now, he hopes his “colourful life” lends credibility to his political ambitions, portraying himself as a man who has faced both extremes of life and survived.
Political Allies and Independent Campaign
Butt is running under the Independent Candidate Alliance (ICA), supported by Birmingham solicitor Akhmed Yakoob and activist Shakeel Afsar.
The ICA, formed in early 2025, focuses on backing independent candidates for local issues.
Yakoob, often dubbed the “TikTok lawyer” for his social media presence, has political ambitions and legal troubles alike.
He previously ran for West Midlands Mayor in 2024, finishing third, and later stood as an independent parliamentary candidate, narrowly losing in Birmingham Ladywood.
Yakoob is currently facing money laundering charges, with a trial scheduled for 2027.
Afsar has also been politically active, standing in Hall Green and Moseley in past elections and leading protests against LGBT-inclusive teaching at local schools.
All three have publicly supported Palestinian causes and have engaged in protests, including those targeting Maccabi Tel Aviv fans during a football match in Birmingham.
Controversial Public Statements
Butt has not shied away from controversy.
During a protest against visiting football fans, he urged Muslims to “stand up” and warned of physical retaliation against perceived provocations.
In a TikTok video promoting his candidacy, Yakoob highlighted Butt’s long history of activism, from fighting far-right skinheads on Birmingham streets to participating in conflict zones abroad, portraying him as a protector of the oppressed.
Butt defended his statements in interviews, acknowledging that he sometimes says things he may later regret but emphasizing his humanity and authenticity.
He insisted he has “no love” for Zionism but denied being racist, framing his candidacy as an effort to unite and empower his local community.
Election Rules and Eligibility
According to local council rules, anyone sentenced to prison for three months or more can be barred from standing—but only if the sentence was served within the five years leading up to the election.
Butt’s convictions fall well outside this timeframe, meaning he is legally eligible to run despite his past.
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