18/01/25
Musk’s Dangerous Misinformation and the Challenge from Mohammad Hijab
Elon Musk has come under widespread criticism for amplifying misleading claims about so-called “Muslim grooming gangs” in the UK. His X account, which boasts 212.7 million followers, has been accused of giving a platform to some of the most discredited and fringe right-wing media outlets, intensifying narratives that have raised concerns within the British Muslim community.
Among the leading voices to challenge Musk’s narrative is British academic and social commentator Mohammad Hijab. With millions of subscribers across his social media platforms and tens of millions of views, Hijab has forcefully disputed Musk’s claims, citing robust evidence from academic and official sources, including Ministry of Justice statistics that contradict Musk’s assertions.
Beginning on 3rd January 2025, Hijab engaged in an unrelenting fact-checking effort, calling out Musk’s use of his platform to push what he describes as far-right narratives. He challenged Musk to a face-to-face debate, directly confronting him over his support for figures such as Tommy Robinson, who has been convicted for contempt of court and other offenses.
As part of his response, Hijab argued that Musk’s framing of the grooming gang issue has exacerbated tensions within British society and contributed to narratives that critics say fuel anti-Muslim sentiment.
Hijab Exposes a Sinister Threat Linked to Musk
In a shocking development, Hijab revealed on 16 January 2025 that he had received a threatening message from a mutual acquaintance, whom he claims is connected to Musk. According to Hijab, the message warned him to halt his criticism or risk being falsely implicated in a criminal act he didn’t commit.
Recounting the exchange in a YouTube video, Hijab described how the warning came via WhatsApp, where he claims he was told that if he continued to challenge Musk publicly, he would “be gone.” While the precise intent behind the message remains unclear, Hijab interpreted it as a veiled threat, particularly given the implication of fabricated criminal charges.
Hijab disclosed that part of the conversation took place using the ‘Onetime Secret’ function, a feature that allows messages to disappear after a single view. He suggested that this may have been an attempt to ensure the warning left no trace. However, Hijab anticipated this and took screenshots of the entire exchange before the messages vanished.
Hijab’s Defiant Response: ‘That’s the Difference Between Me and You, Elon Musk’
In his video response to the threats, Hijab categorically rejected any notion that he would be intimidated or silenced, making it clear that his faith in Allah and reliance on truth made him unshakable in the face of pressure. Addressing Musk directly, he declared:
“I’m not going to be rattled by things like this because we believe in Allah and we believe in which is the[…] reliance and the trust of God. And that’s the difference between me and you, Elon Musk. I’m going to put it very clearly—what makes us superior to what you have.” (Hijab, 2025)
This bold statement underscores that Hijab’s confidence does not stem from material power or influence, but from a deep-rooted belief in divine justice and the supremacy of truth.
Rather than retreating in the face of intimidation, Hijab turned the threat into a moment of defiance, making it crystal clear that no amount of money, political clout, or online influence could ever shake his conviction.
This public stand now places Musk under even greater scrutiny—not just for the widely criticised claims he has promoted, but also for the serious concerns raised about the threats Hijab has reported receiving.
Concerns Over Musk’s Influence and His Platforming of the Far-Right
This controversy surrounding Hijab comes in the wider context of growing concerns over Musk’s use of his platform to amplify divisive narratives and controversial figures. His promotion of Tommy Robinson and repeated emphasis on the grooming gang issue have led critics to question whether his engagement in these topics is about seeking justice or stoking division.
Critics argue that Musk’s emphasis on grooming gangs has contributed to narratives that unfairly stigmatize the British Muslim community, rather than focusing on justice. The real statistics paint a very different picture from the claims Musk has promoted:
Despite these facts, Musk has continued to promote a narrative that aligns with far-right talking points and has been widely disputed by experts.
Elon Musk’s Pattern of Silencing Critics – A History of Intimidation
Elon Musk styles himself as a free speech absolutist, yet he has faced multiple accusations of deploying private investigators, surveillance, and intimidation tactics against his critics. A Tortoise Media investigation has highlighted concerning parallels between Musk’s past actions and the threats now facing Mohammad Hijab (Tortoise Media, 2024).
Vernon Unsworth: Targeted After Challenging Musk
In 2018, British cave diver Vernon Unsworth played a crucial role in rescuing 12 Thai children trapped in a flooded cave. After he dismissed Musk’s highly publicized offer to send a “kid-sized submarine” as a publicity stunt, Musk tweeted an insult calling him a ‘pedo guy’. Unsworth later sued Musk for defamation but lost the case in a U.S. court.
According to Tortoise Media, Musk’s team allegedly hired two separate private investigation firms to gather information on Unsworth. One investigator, James Howard-Higgins, reportedly proposed intrusive methods, including:
Additionally, another firm, Orion, was reportedly tasked with finding damaging material on Unsworth. One of Unsworth’s friends was allegedly misled by Orion, being told that the firm was working on his behalf, when in reality, evidence suggests the ultimate client was Musk (Tortoise Media, 2024).
Unsworth has since publicly demanded transparency:
“Musk needs to reveal exactly what surveillance he used on me: which firms, and what methods.”
Tesla Whistleblowers: Surveillance and Retaliation
Musk has also been accused of targeting whistleblowers within Tesla, allegedly using private investigators to monitor them.
While Tesla has denied any wrongdoing, these allegations have raised concerns about how critics and whistleblowers are treated within Musk’s companies.
Amber Heard: Allegations of Surveillance by Musk’s Team
Reports also indicate that Musk’s team allegedly hired a private investigation firm in Australia to monitor actress Amber Heard while she was filming Aquaman in 2017.
However, an investigative journalist who spoke to him remained skeptical:
“My personal belief is that [Musk] definitely sent it. Knowing how fast and loose he can be with online communication.” (Tortoise Media, 2024).
A Pattern of Intimidation?
These cases, as reported by Tortoise Media, suggest a consistent pattern where Musk or his associates have allegedly used surveillance, intimidation, and private investigators against critics, whistleblowers, and even former partners. While Musk denies wrongdoing, these allegations raise serious questions about his real stance on free speech and the extent of his influence over those who challenge him.
A Turning Point: The Pushback Against Musk’s Disinformation Machine
Mohammad Hijab’s courageous stand has now placed Elon Musk’s actions under an intense spotlight, exposing both the widely criticised narratives he has amplified and the reported threats that have raised concerns over attempts to suppress dissent.
The alleged threat against Hijab is not an isolated incident—it follows a pattern of allegations that Musk and his associates have been linked to cases of intimidation, surveillance, and reputational attacks against critics.
Whether it be a cave diver, a Tesla whistleblower, or his own former partners, Musk has faced multiple accusations of retaliating against critics, with reports alleging links to private investigators, intrusive surveillance, and online attacks.
This raises urgent and fundamental questions:
This is no longer just a battle of words—it is a struggle for truth, justice, and the integrity of public discourse itself. And perhaps the most pressing question of all:
Who will be next?
Hijab, M. (2025) Elon Musk Has Threatened Me? [YouTube video]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iDsE2MhN7I.
Home Office (2020) Group-based child sexual exploitation: characteristics of offending. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/group-based-child-sexual-exploitation-characteristics-of-offending.
Department of Justice (2023) Statistics on child sexual exploitation and grooming gangs in the UK. Available at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/grooming-gangs-ethnicities-how-many-statistics-data-dpx2bfrts.
Tortoise Media (2024) Elon Musk has a thing for private eyes. Available at: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/2024/10/08/elon-musk-has-a-thing-for-private-eyes.
The Times (2023) Grooming gangs: statistics on ethnicity and criminal cases. Available at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/grooming-gangs-ethnicities-how-many-statistics-data-dpx2bfrts.
BBC News (2023) UK Government report on child exploitation: findings and response. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65174096.
Sky News (2023) Child sex abuse and grooming gangs: what the data reveals. Available at: https://news.sky.com/story/child-sex-abuse-and-grooming-gangs-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-from-the-data-13285420.
