Jesus ‘n’ Mo ‘n’ free speech

John Cleese has made a series of public comments—mostly on X in recent years, plus earlier interviews and tweets—criticizing aspects of Islamic doctrine, certain practices associated with some Muslim communities, and demographic/cultural changes in Britain. These have drawn accusations of Islamophobia from Muslim activists, publications like 5Pillars and Middle East Eye, and groups that have called for his events to be cancelled. He rejects the “Islamophobic” label, calling himself an “Islamosceptic” and arguing that criticizing a religion or culture is not the same as hating its adherents. He frequently contrasts this with the satirical treatment of Christianity in Monty Python’s Life of Brian.

Notable statements that prompted backlash include:

• Claims that the Quran or Islamic teaching is “all about killing infidels,” acquiring power, and imposing Islam, and references to “Koranic demands to kill ‘infidels’” or beheading them. He has asked whether the “Islamic intention to kill all non-Muslims” or “beheading of infidels” has been dropped from the agenda
• A 2026 post stating he particularly dislikes Islam because “it demands child marriage, female genital mutilation, the beating of wives, the killing of infidels, the unending promotion of the worst aspects of the male ego, and a complete refusal to contemplate multiculturalism.” He has listed similar practices (FGM, child marriage, wife-beating, stoning) as reasons he prefers other cultures.
• “Like a bunch of five-year-olds, Muslims just want their own way, and will kill non-Muslims to achieve it.” He has also said some Muslims want “uniculturalism” rather than multiculturalism and show little respect for other traditions.
• Warnings that replacing British/Christian-influenced values with Islamic ones would mean “this will not be Britain any more,” and questions about an “Islamic intent to take over the world.” He has described Muslim beliefs as “attacking British values.”
• Older remarks (2011 and 2019) that London “is no longer an English city” or “not really an English city any more,” which some critics tied to immigration and multiculturalism; London Mayor Sadiq Khan and others called the comments out of touch or worse. Cleese said they were about cultural character (calmer, more polite, less money-oriented) rather than race.
• Comments on free speech and satire: comics hold back from joking about Islam because they risk being killed (referencing Charlie Hebdo and similar cases); a “Life of Muhammad” equivalent to Life of Brian would be life-threatening; and “Islamophobia” is an incorrect term used to frame criticism as irrational fear or racism rather than cultural disagreement. In a 2015 interview he said Muslims living in the West have a right to be ridiculed like anyone else, but he would not mock the Prophet.

These remarks led to protests and a 2026 campaign by Birmingham activists (Deenified) to cancel a Holy Grail screening and Q&A, in which they called him a “hate preacher” spreading “dangerous misinformation” and creating hostility toward Muslims. Cleese responded that many “Islamic folk” have a good sense of humor and irony. He has consistently said he distinguishes ideas and specific doctrines/practices from individual people and notes that he faced no equivalent “Christophobic” label after mocking Christianity.