Birmingham diners clash over Islam and immigration at Itihaas

Amrit, 32, an immigration solicitor, and Jon, 67, who runs a small IT support company, ate together at Itihaas in Birmingham and spent the evening debating immigration and Islam.

They said they got on well and talked until closing; Amrit ate a butter paneer with extra paneer, rice and naans, while Jon had lamb, poppadoms, rice and a spinach dish. The conversation moved from personal anecdotes to politics and communities.

The main disagreement centred on Islam and immigration. Jon said Muslims wanted to take over and repeatedly used the phrase "I bring receipts", which Amrit said he did not present; he also raised grooming gangs and argued you would not see that with Sikhs or Hindus. Amrit countered that abuse and grooming have appeared across different communities and, as an immigration solicitor, said many clients come to escape persecution and later work in services such as the NHS. Jon claimed some MPs had sought government funding for an airport in Pakistan — a claim that was, according to the report, quickly debunked by news outlets.

They also clashed over Tommy Robinson: Amrit called him a criminal, while Jon said he supported him. Amrit said she valued listening across the divide and might meet Jon for coffee again though she would avoid discussing Islam; Jon said the encounter confirmed his view of the typical Guardian reader.

Key Topics

Culture, Itihaas, Birmingham, Islam, Immigration, Tommy Robinson