Mohammed Hijab

Mohamed Nabil Hegab (born 5 October 1991), commonly known as Mohammed Hijab, is a British Islamic preacher and YouTuber.

Early life Mohamed Nabil Hegab was born on 5 October 1991 in London, England, to Egyptian immigrant parents. an MA in Islamic Studies from SOAS University of London, an MA in history from Queen Mary University, and an MTh in Applied Theology from the University of Oxford. He is currently pursuing a PhD in the Philosophy of Religion at the University of Birmingham.

Hijab began uploading content to YouTube on 16 June 2015, starting with a video on Arabic pronunciation. In May 2018, his trainee teaching contract at Harris Academy Rainham in East London was terminated following his attendance at a freedom of speech rally in Whitehall.

Public speaking

Hijab is known for engaging in public discourse on religion, politics, and social issues through online platforms. He has interviewed and debated well-known figures including academic Norman Finkelstein in 2020, linguist Noam Chomsky in 2021, psychologist Jordan Peterson in 2021 and 2022, and online personality Andrew Tate following his conversion to Islam in 2022. In November 2023, he debated U.S.-based Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, after which Hijab posted a tweet referencing an Israeli soldier in inflammatory terms, prompting Boteach to report the matter to U.S. authorities. Watan reported what it called Hijab's "triumph" over Boteach. Around the same time, Hijab told Anadolu Agency that Muslim leaders and populations must show greater resolve in addressing injustices in Gaza, highlighting Türkiye's potential role due to its geopolitical influence. He also accused the U.S. and EU of double standards regarding Israel's actions. In 2024, Hijab had another confrontation on Piers Morgan's show, this time with Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz. The debate intensified when Hijab referred to Dershowitz as a "pervert" during the broadcast. Dershowitz responded by threatening legal action for defamation, while Hijab stated that he was ready to face a lawsuit.

Some of Hijab's public appearances have faced backlash in Western countries over allegations of promoting extremist rhetoric. In March 2023, a speaking event at Trinity College Dublin, organized by Islamic student groups, was canceled due to security concerns. Critics, including student campaign groups and equality officers, objected to Hijab's association with Andrew Tate and his criticism of feminism and LGBTQ+ rights. In Canada, Hijab was scheduled to speak at the "Reviving Roots" conference in Burlington in February 2025. Still, the event was canceled after local officials, including Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, voiced concerns over hate speech. That same month, the Dutch government imposed an entry ban on Hijab ahead of his appearance at the Ramadan Expo in Utrecht, citing concerns about hate speech. The ban was overturned by a court in The Hague due to a lack of evidence. During the event, Hijab celebrated the ruling and criticized what he viewed as Western attempts to suppress Islamic voices. In Norway, parliamentarian Kjell Ingolf Ropstad raised concerns about Hijab's speech at an Islam Net event in Oslo, claiming it legitimized violence. Hijab denied the accusations and responded with a detailed rebuttal, accusing Ropstad of defamation and misrepresenting Islamic teachings on martyrdom and suicide.

Public demonstrations Mohammed Hijab debating with people in Speakers' Corner DiscussionDuring a 2021 demonstration in the United Kingdom, Hijab "targeted Jewish passers-by, asking them for their views on Israel". On September 18, he posted a photo on Instagram showing himself walking with masked individuals, captioned "Muslim patrol in Leicester," which drew further scrutiny. In August 2025 a British judge ruled that the article was substantially true. The Campaign Against Antisemitism expressed disapproval, stating, "It is astonishing that the BBC has tried to portray this man as some kind of champion of coexistence", while The Jewish Chronicle accused the broadcaster of being arrogant. In a separate editorial, the outlet asserted that the BBC had "chosen to lie and pick a fight with Jews." Jewish News labeled a 2021 video in which Hijab urged Jewish individuals on Shabbat to condemn Israel's actions as a direct act of incitement. The Campaign Against Antisemitism also compiled examples of his social media activity in a report titled Who is Mohammed Hijab? The Jerusalem Post reported on his televised debate with Shmuley Boteach, claiming that Hijab made false antisemitic and anti-Zionist claims.

According to Javed Hashmi, a Harvard University scholar of Islamic studies, Hijab belongs to a group of Muslim male influencers known as akh right bros, a reference to the alt-right, who position themselves against Western values and promote a version of Islam characterized by misogyny.

Litigation In December 2024, Hijab filed a defamation lawsuit against The Spectator and associate editor Douglas Murray, claiming the article falsely portrayed him as inciting unrest and causing reputational and emotional harm. In August 2025, Hijab lost the defamation suit. The judge ruled that Murray's article was "substantially true", that no "significant harm" was caused to Hijab, and that Hijab lied on significant issues.

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