A Muslim woman from Grimsby has spoken out after a video of her rescuing a stranded seagull was misrepresented by far-right groups, who claimed she was harming the bird. Nora Mubarak posted a video of the rescue, which showed her carefully catching the infant seagull and later returning it to its relieved mother.
The video was shared by far-right leaders, including Oliver Freeston and Tommy Robinson, who added their own inflammatory comments. Freeston shared the video on Facebook with the caption 'Grimsby in 2026', while Robinson wrote that it showed 'invaders catching and killing gulls in broad daylight in Modern England'. The video has been viewed at least 3 million times.
Mubarak says she now fears for her safety and the safety of other women in traditional Islamic dress in Grimsby. She reports being stared at, verbally abused, and called 'barbaric' and 'savage' when she goes out in public. Mubarak believes the backlash is due to her appearance and clothing.
Mubarak explained that she had been trying to help the seagull, which was stranded on the ground and unable to fly back to its nest. She said she didn't want to leave the bird, and was focused on calming it down and returning it to its mother. Mubarak expressed concern that the people who shared the video lied about her actions and manipulated the narrative.
Mubarak also criticized Tommy Robinson for not deleting his post despite being corrected. She believes he is 'corrupted' and motivated by a desire to stir division and hatred towards Muslims and immigrants. Mubarak thinks this kind of rhetoric distracts from real social issues and that racism is getting worse.
The seagull was safely reunited with its mother, thanks to Mubarak's actions and the help of a kind neighbor. Mubarak expressed joy that the bird was safe and emphasized her love and respect for animals, saying that they are beautiful and deserving of respect.
