Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Singh’s Dining in Hammersmith, west London, on Friday evening, demanding the closure of the Sikh-owned Indian restaurant that openly advertises it does not serve halal meat.
The demonstration took place outside the premises on Fulham Palace Road, formerly known as Rangrez. A large crowd, predominantly men, waved Palestinian flags and chanted “Allahu Akbar,” “Shame on you,” “Free Palestine,” and “Shut them down.” One speaker with a microphone referred to the owner as a “scumbag,” prompting further chants calling for the business to be closed.
A sign on the restaurant front reads “Proudly we don’t sell Halal.” Owner Harman Singh Kapoor, who is Sikh, has said the establishment serves jhatka meat in accordance with his religious beliefs rather than halal. Metropolitan Police officers formed a line to keep the protesters at bay.
Private security guards were also present; reports indicate they were arranged with the support of comedian John Cleese, who has previously backed the restaurant.
Kapoor was not at the restaurant during the protest. He was arrested at his home earlier on Friday on suspicion of possession and distribution of an extreme image, according to a Metropolitan Police spokesperson. He was taken into custody, leaving his wife and family to face the crowd. In a statement posted online, Kapoor said he had been “desperately asking the Metropolitan Police for help, protection and assurances” regarding his family’s safety in the days leading up to the protest.
He described the situation as involving ongoing harassment and intimidation linked to the restaurant’s menu policy.
Kapoor has claimed for months that he and his family have faced death threats, threats of violence, and other harassment connected to the non-halal stance. These remain his allegations; police have not publicly confirmed specific details of such threats in relation to the Friday gathering, and no physical violence was reported during the protest itself.
Critics of Kapoor have pointed to his social media activity as a contributing factor. He has posted images of himself holding bacon with the caption “Behold. Bacon can save Western countries” and filmed pork on sale at Harrods. He has also made comments about Islam, halal slaughter, and the situation in Gaza that opponents have described as inflammatory. Some protesters and commentators have framed the demonstration as opposition to those remarks as well as the restaurant’s meat policy.
The dispute is not new. The restaurant and its owner have been involved in similar confrontations and online campaigns for months, including an earlier gathering in March when Kapoor was also detained by police. He has previously accused authorities of failing to protect his family and business.
Singh’s Dining remains open. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest but have not released further details. Kapoor has said he intends to continue operating while seeking greater protection for his family.