Anti-Syria War Protest Slammed For 'Targeting Stella Creasy's House, Because She Has No Children To Upset'

Anti-War Protesters Branded Misogynistic After Targeting 'Childless' Stella Creasy

An anti-war demonstration has suffered a huge backlash over claims it targeted the home of Stella Creasy, with one person saying this was ok because she had "no children to upset".

Demonstrators opposing the RAF bombing Islamic State in Syria marched through Walthamstow, Creasy's east London constituency, on Tuesday night.

A photo published of the demonstration claimed the image showed protesters gathered outside the MP's home, though it is unclear whether the route actually passed her constituency home.

The picture triggered a backlash after it was posted to a pro-refugee rights Facebook group, where commenters said they were "appalled" by the action.

Diane Abbott, a left-wing MP and one of Jeremy Corbyn's staunchest allies in parliament, called protesting outside someone's home "a step too far".

Commentator Dan Hodges said it was clear "a number of protesters" thought they were marching by Creasy's home, regardless of whether they actually did.

Journalist and feminist campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez tweeted the Facebook post, asking: "What the hell is this?"

She called the pro-protest comment "misogynistic", which she said was "in ascendency" on the Left at the moment.

Abbott, a staunch opponent of air strikes, said it was "intimidation".

Creasy is one reportedly among the 80 or so MPs who have yet to decide how to vote on the motion for airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria.

MP John Woodcock called it "appalling" and said Corbyn had been "whipping up" tension for telling MPs they had "no hiding place" on the issue of Syria.

Paul S Jakubovic, who posted the picture and claimed it was outside Creasy's house on Facebook, defended it on the grounds Creasy "has no children to upset".

One woman wrote in response: "I'm completely appalled that people think it's ok to demo outside someone's home. How can MPs operate in such a climate? This site seems to have forgotten what it's about so I'm off."

Jakubovic replied: "The MP herself hasn't complained about this peaceful protest.

"Now, if you are so easily upset by this very minor inconvenience, allowing that to deflect you from 1) assisting refugees, and 2) helping stop the creation of yet more refugees (not to mention dead civilians) by the proposed bombing, then, with all due resect, we might be better off without you."

Responding to someone else, he said: "This was a peaceful protest, about which the MP in question has never complained. So, on what basis do you call it 'bullying'?

"As far as the wider movement is concerned, do you suppose that warmongers are going to listen to prayers and candle-lit vigils? These demonstrations have visibly shifted public opinion."

The Facebook post was later deleted. Jakubovic had not responded to a request for comment as this story went live.

The demonstrators marched from the Queen's Road mosque to the Walthamstow Labour Party office in Orford Road. A police spokeswoman described it as "peaceful".

One person said the photo Jakubovic posted to Facebook showed the start of the demonstration outside the mosque, not outside her home.

One of the organisers of the demonstration denied it targeted Creasy's home but said she did not know the MP's address.

Creasy has not commented on the demonstration.

Last night, the former candidate for Labour deputy leader posted to Facebook to say she "still not satisfied" the case for bombing Syria had been made.

She wrote: "Today has made me want to listen to the debate tomorrow as still not satisfied with the answers have been getting –it's why I’ve been sharing these updates to give you all a sense of what we’ve been talking about and mulling over because it isn’t a simple decision, however much people wish otherwise."

Her engagement with debate around Syria won her support on Twitter. Anthony Painter, the director policy and strategy at the Royal Society of Arts, said her "thoughtful" approach "couldn't stand in starker contrast with the mob".

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