Helal Abbas on Imams Turning Against Him, Community Betrayal & Losing Power Overnight... (EP:95)

Send Money to Bangladesh with Zero Fees!Use promo code “KSR” and get a £20 bonus! (FOR FIRST TIME USERS ONLY)✅ To claim your bonus, download the Taptap Send app using this link:https://taptapsend.onelink.me/Lrab/KSRWhen prompted to “Add promo code,” enter “KSR” and press ‘Enter’.*Taptap Send UK Limited is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011, Firm Reference Number 900842, for the issuing of electronic money.00:00 – Intro01:48 – The moment Helal starts telling his side03:02 – Growing up around racism in 70s East London06:40 – His journey into politics and earning trust09:25 – Representing a Muslim community in a hostile system12:55 – The Imam of Mecca rumour: what actually happened15:20 – The pressure of public image and misinformation17:43 – “100 imams signed a statement against me”21:10 – The mosques told people not to vote for him24:30 – Confronted in public: how the rumour spread26:35 – How it felt to lose everything overnight30:02 – What he regrets — and what he stands by32:40 – Why younger leaders stay silent35:20 – Lessons on courage and community loyalty38:10 – “They erased me from the story”39:25 – His message to those who turned on him40:50 – What legacy means after public rejection41:55 – Final thoughts: healing, loss, and moving forwardWhat do you do when the same mosques you helped build… turn their back on you?In this episode, we sit down with Helal Abbas — a man who spent his life serving his community, becoming the Mayor and Council Leader of Tower Hamlets. He shares the raw and painful story of how rumours, mosque politics, and pressure from within led to his public downfall.He talks about the early days — fighting racists in the streets in the 70s, organising communities, building trust. And then, just as quickly, how it all started to fall apart. A rumour spreads. 100 imams sign a statement against him. Mosques tell people not to vote. And the support he spent decades building disappears almost overnight.This conversation is about more than politics. It’s about belonging, betrayal, and what happens when your own community turns on you.#podcast #london #ukpodcast #business #entrepreneur 🔗 Useful Links: https://bit.ly/41ntoEO💻 Website: https://kazirahman.co.uk/Follow KSR ⬇️🔘 LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3v7wq3K🔘 Instagram: https://bit.ly/46Wf4Ed🔘 TikTok: https://bit.ly/4aqeQIr🔘 Twitter: https://bit.ly/3tiC7eQ🔘 Facebook: https://bit.ly/41lFePLd