Adverts for Islamic investment platform showing burning US banknotes banned
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One advert featured former fighter Khabib Abdulmanapovich surrounded by the flaming banknotes. Adverts for an Islamic investment platform on London’s trains and buses showing US dollar and euro banknotes on fire have been banned. It come after a regulator ruled they were likely to cause serious offence.
![[Muslim preacher Ismail ibn Musa Menk and Russian former professional mixed martial artist Khabib Abdulmanapovich surrounded by the flaming banknotes.]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/07/21/01JH0BMFTYQSTK5R3Z81NAQ1DF.jpg)
The posters for Wahed Invest, seen in September and October on Transport for London (TfL) services, featured images of Muslim preacher Ismail ibn Musa Menk and former professional mixed martial artist Khabib Abdulmanapovich surrounded by the flaming banknotes.
They showed the two men pointing upwards with their index fingers and large text stating “Join the Money Revolution” above Wahed’s logo. Three of the posters showed Mr Menk holding an open briefcase filled with US dollar and euro banknotes on fire, with two of them stating “Withdraw from Exploitation” and “Withdraw from Riba”.
A poster stated: “Charging people to borrow money was once called exploitation. Sadly, that perception has changed and now interest has caused a massive wealth gap, enriching the few while the majority get poorer. Join the growing community moving their money to a fairer system, one that serves you! Download Wahed now. Join the Money Revolution.”.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received 75 complaints that the ads were offensive. The ASA said all the ads showed the words “The United States of America” in flames, and would have been seen by many people, including tourists from the United States and eurozone countries.
