An Afghan national seeking asylum in Britain has appeared in court accused of threatening to murder Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in a video posted on social media last year.
Fayaz Khan, 26, is standing trial after allegedly making the threats in a TikTok video published in October. The defendant, who uses the name Mada Pasa on the platform, has pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded in custody following his appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court.
Khan appeared in the dock wearing grey prison tracksuit and trainers, his face, neck and hand tattoos clearly visible to those present. He spoke only to confirm his identity and required the assistance of an Afghan translator throughout the proceedings.
The prosecution outlined the sequence of events that led to the charges. On October 12, Nigel Farage posted a YouTube video featuring a compilation of TikTok clips attributed to Mada Pasa. The footage documented Khan’s journey from Stockholm, Sweden, to the United Kingdom aboard a small boat used to cross the Channel.
Amongst the clips shown in Farage’s video, one particularly concerning image depicted someone holding a pistol. The Reform UK leader’s decision to highlight these videos appeared designed to draw attention to Khan’s illegal entry into Britain and his social media activity.
Three days later, according to prosecutor Peter Ratcliff, Khan responded directly to Farage’s YouTube video with his own TikTok post. It is this October 15 video that forms the basis of the criminal charges, with prosecutors alleging it contained an explicit threat to kill the politician.
In the video, Khan addressed Farage directly using crude language. “English man Nigel, you do not know me, don’t talk s**t about me. I come to England because I want to marry your sister,” Khan said in the clip.
He then made what prosecutors describe as threatening gestures whilst saying: “I want to come to England to go pop pop pop.” The defendant was seen making gun signals with his hand and appeared to head-bash the screen in an aggressive manner.
Nigel Farage gave evidence in court, describing his reaction to seeing the video for the first time. The veteran politician told the jury he found the footage “pretty chilling” and took the apparent threats seriously given the context.
“Given his proximity to guns, I was genuinely, genuinely worried,” Farage testified. He explained that his interpretation of Khan’s words and actions left him in no doubt about the intended message.
I understood that he was coming to England and he was going to shoot me,” the Reform UK leader said, making clear he perceived the video as a direct threat to his life rather than empty bluster or provocative posturing.
Farage also addressed Khan’s reference to wanting to “marry” his sister, describing the comment as revealing of the defendant’s character. “It was perfectly clear this was a deeply misogynistic individual,” he told the court.
The defence attempted to suggest the video might have been intended as a joke or provocative content typical of social media rather than a genuine threat. However, Farage firmly rejected this interpretation when questioned.
“Absolutely not,” he responded when asked if he thought Khan was joking, leaving the jury in no doubt that he took the threats seriously and believed they represented a real danger.
The case highlights the complex issues surrounding social media threats, asylum seekers who enter Britain illegally, and the security of public figures in an age of easily accessible platforms. Khan’s journey from Sweden to the UK on a small boat raises questions about how he was able to make the crossing and why he chose to document it so publicly.
The presence of firearms imagery in Khan’s social media content has added weight to the prosecution’s case. Whilst possession of a gun in the videos does not necessarily mean Khan had access to weapons in the UK, it contributed to Farage’s assessment that the threats should be taken seriously.
Khan’s use of the TikTok platform to document his illegal Channel crossing and subsequently respond to criticism from a prominent politician demonstrates the increasingly public nature of illegal migration. Many asylum seekers and economic migrants now share details of their journeys on social media, sometimes appearing to celebrate successful crossings.
For Farage, a long-time campaigner against illegal immigration who has made Channel crossings a central political issue, the alleged threats represent an occupational hazard of his high-profile stance. The Reform UK leader has previously faced security concerns due to his controversial views on immigration and Brexit.
The trial continues as the jury weighs the prosecution’s claim that Khan made genuine threats to kill against the defence’s apparent suggestion that the video was less serious than it appeared. The verdict will determine whether Khan’s TikTok activity crossed the line from provocative social media content into criminal threatening behaviour.
Khan remains in custody as the legal proceedings unfold. If convicted, he faces potential imprisonment and almost certain deportation from the United Kingdom, ending his asylum claim in the most serious circumstances possible.
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Image Credit:
“European Elections 2019 – Vote Nigel Farage (EFDD, UK)” — licensed under CC BY 2.0
