14 October 2026 | 10:40 CAT
2-minute read

Muhammad Patel recounts details of the incident at Ahsan Store, reveals previous threat over Palestinian flag and calls for community action.

An incident involving a Palestinian flag displayed outside a Norwood shop has raised concerns about intimidation directed at those who openly express solidarity with Palestine.

Muhammad Patel, owner of Ahsan Store, spoke to Radio Islam International after a video showing a confrontation over the flag circulated widely on social media.

Patel said he was inside the shop packing Salaam Cola, a Palestinian beverage, when a man entered and questioned him about the flag displayed outside. The man said the flag offended him and accused him of wanting to kill him because it was on display.

Patel said the attack appeared to be an attempt to provoke a fight, but he chose not to respond aggressively.

“I was a bit shaken up initially, but alhamdulillah I’m okay,” he said.

The Palestinian flag has reportedly been displayed outside the shop for at least four years. However, Patel revealed that the latest confrontation was not the first incident involving hostility towards the flag.

About a month earlier, another man threatened a staff member at the store, demanding that the flag be removed. Patel said the incident was reported to Norwood police, but no further action had followed at the time of the interview.

The shop owner said he was considering reopening the earlier case alongside pursuing the latest incident.

The incidents have prompted questions about whether hostility towards visible expressions of support for Palestine is more widespread than publicly documented.

Patel said that, although his experience of the broader Norwood community had generally been positive, he believed similar incidents were taking place in the area.

He referred to messages he had received about other alleged confrontations involving people in Norwood Mall and on the street. He suggested that some incidents might never become public because those affected did not record or speak about them.

“It’s not generally like that. But there are quite a number of isolated incidents that are happening,” he said.

Patell added that members of both Muslim and non-Muslim community groups had offered support following the confrontation at his store. He said the shop’s security cameras had captured the incident and maintained that there had been no provocation from his side.

For Patel, the response should extend beyond condemnation on social media. He urged people to take practical steps when confronted with injustice, including reporting incidents to the police and following up on cases rather than allowing them to fall away.

He said that individuals might not be able to address every injustice, but everyone could contribute in some way. He also warned against assuming that incidents would have no consequences if those responsible believed their targets would remain passive.

Patel raised particular concern about what could happen if someone less able to defend themselves were confronted in a similar situation.

The shop owner said the experience had reinforced the importance of community solidarity and taking action against intimidation. His message was that support for Palestine should not be limited to words, but should include standing alongside those who face hostility for expressing it.

Watch or listen to the full interview with Muhammad Patel on Sabaahul Muslim, presented by Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.