Trans activists heckle and abuse ex-Labour councillor during debate on single-sex spaces

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A Green councillor praised the demonstrators following the incident in a video posted on social media

Trans activists have heckled and abused an ex-Labour councillor during a debate on single-sex spaces before forcing her to leave the chamber amid safety concerns.

Emina Ibrahim encountered a group of trans rights activists yesterday as she attended a cabinet meeting at Haringey council over a petition guaranteeing single-sex spaces for victims of domestic violence.

The former Labour councillor was heckled by the group as she and two other petitioners entered George Meehan House in north London.

After concerns were raised over the delegation's safety, they were escorted out of the back of the building.

Ms Ibrahim, 50, who served as Labour councillor in Haringey for 12 years, presented the petition to the Green-run council, recalling her experience as a child living in a domestic abuse household.

She urged the council to reflect the Supreme Court ruling on single-sex spaces, including by making sure spaces are available to those who are victims of domestic violence.

Speaking to the Telegraph, she said: "There was lots of shouting. There was lots of use of the word 'Terf' [trans-exclusionary radical feminist]. It was clearly audible while we were inside the chamber – there were probably about 20 to 25 people outside."

Following the ordeal, a senior Green Party councillor praised the pro-trans demonstrators on social media.

In her three-minute speech, Ms Ibrahim said as a child, she had been placed in temporary accommodation after she, her mother and sister escaped domestic abuse.

She said: "We were there alongside other women and girls, sharing facilities in circumstances where privacy and security were extremely limited.

"I remember women and girls having to stand guard at bathroom doors for one another, simply to protect our collective dignity.

"Single-sex provision isn’t an incidental feature of VAWG [violence against women and girls] services.

"For many women, it is an essential part of feeling safe enough to disclose what has happened to them, to rebuild trust, and to begin recovering from trauma."

Tehseen Khan, a Green Party councillor and cabinet member, praised trans activists on social media the day after the meeting.

He thanked protesters from the Dyke Project, who describe themselves as "a London-based trans and cis dyke collective fighting for trans liberation."

Mr Khan said in a video on social media: "I want to also say a big thanks to the residents that both came to support us inside the chamber, but also demonstrated outside with the Dyke project.

"Your solidarity means so much and it's people like you that make me proud to be a resident of Haringey and also to represent the people of Haringey."

In the same clip, Mr Khan, who also works as a GP, said "trans women are particularly likely to suffer with domestic violence and abuse", adding: "By being more inclusive, we are trying to make sure that our services are responsive and that they cater to the needs of all our residents."

Ms Ibrahim said following the incident the Green councillors "did not even ask me any questions" and instead "just sat there blankly" showing "no curiosity whatsoever".

She said she and the two women who accompanied her to the meeting "did not feel comfortable leaving through the front door, and the security agreed with us, so they had to escort us through the back exit".

Green councillors in Haringey have faced criticism from other Labour figures over their failure to guarantee single-sex spaces for domestic abuse victims, who are overwhelmingly women.

Tracy Gilbert, MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, said: "There is nothing progressive in threatening the safety of women standing up for single sex VAWG services.

"Thank you to Emina Ibrahim and the many women across the UK making this argument. Women's rights were hard-fought-for and they will be defended."

Peray Ahmet, a former leader of Haringey council, added: "Haringey's lead on Health and Social Care (NHS doctor by day) cannot say the word WOMAN. He refers to us as 'CIS'."

Ms Ibrahim lost her council seat in May, when Haringey became a Green-led administration following 55 years of Labour control.

In 2025, she had recommended the council review its violence against women and girls policies to ensure they complied with the Supreme Court ruling on single-sex spaces.

However, she said the scrutiny process was repeatedly delayed after the chairman of the relevant committee lost his own seat.

A week before Tuesday's meeting, the council's cabinet published its formal response, which Ms Ibrahim said failed to commit to protecting single-sex provisions.

She had three days before the meeting to submit a deputation allowing residents to raise local concerns, requiring at least 10 signatures from local people.

The deputation ultimately gathered 42 signatures, which Ms Ibrahim described as "unprecedented".