With a Quran in hand: The Muslim woman who replaced Keir Starmer in the British Parliament

Sagal Abdi-Wali, a Muslim MP of Somali origin, was sworn into the British House of Commons holding a Quran, after being elected to replace former Prime Minister Keir Starmer in his seat. The swearing-in footage sparked criticism on social media amid concerns over the growing influence of Islam in the country.

Sagal Abdi-Wali, 43, a Muslim MP of Somali origin, was sworn in yesterday (Monday, October 12, 2026) to the British House of Commons holding a Quran. Abdi-Wali was elected to replace former Prime Minister Keir Starmer in his seat for the Holborn and St Pancras constituency in London, after winning the by-election last Thursday with 12,292 votes (about 45%), defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski who received 8,928 votes. Abdi-Wali arrived in the UK from Somalia as a refugee at age seven, and in May became the first Black woman to chair the Camden Borough Council. Footage of her swearing-in while holding a Quran sparked criticism on social media, with some viewers seeing it as evidence of the growing influence of Islam in Britain. The article quotes Zia Yusuf of the Reform UK party, who criticized her candidacy for the Labour Party on the grounds that she was born in Somalia.