Andrew Tate quotes Quran to claim 'plot' against him after arrest for alleged rape, people trafficking

Controversial social media personality Andrew Tate has quoted from the Quran to claim that there was a "plot" against him following his arrest in Romania on trafficking charges.

Writing on Twitter on Wednesday, Tate quoted verse 30 of Surat Al-Anfal, the eighth sura (or chapter) of the Quran, which according to one translation states: "They plot and plan, and Allah too plans; but the best of planners is Allah."

The verse refers to attempts by pagan Arabs to attack the Prophet Muhammad.

Tate, a former kickboxer, gained a huge following on the internet in 2022, calling himself a "success coach". However, the misogynistic content of his videos resulted in him being banned from numerous platforms.

In one video where Tate talks about feminism, he says women should "shut the f*** up, have kids, sit at home, be quiet and make coffee".

They plot and plan, and Allah too plans; but the best of planners is Allah.

Surah Al-Anfal Ayat 30

— Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) January 3, 2023

The controversial influencer, who holds US and British citizenship, previously spoke of his admiration for Islam and in October last year said that he was converting to the religion.

A video of him praying in a mosque in Dubai was shared hundreds of times on Twitter and Facebook. However, many Muslims expressed concerns about the views Tate was advocating.

Tate's Twitter account was restored after South African billionaire Elon Musk took over the social media platform.

Last month he became embroiled in a Twitter feud with environmental activist Greta Thunberg, boasting to her about the number of cars he owned. Shortly afterwards he was arrested by Romanian authorities on charges of people trafficking, rape, and forming an organised crime group.

Along with three other people, Tate faces charges related to "acts of physical violence and mental coercion" against women who were allegedly forced to perform in pornographic videos.

He is being held for 30 days pending investigations. Earlier this week, Sameera Khan, one of Tate’s supporters, claimed that Afghanistan's ruling Taliban movement had expressed concern for his well-being while in detention.