Abul Taher
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Women preachers are urging followers at one of Britain’s most influential mosques to kill homosexuals and view all non-Muslims as “vile”, according to a television documentary.
The London Central Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre, known as the Regent’s Park Mosque, is one of the most respected centres for moderate Islam in western Europe.
However, an undercover investigation by the Channel 4 Dispatches programme has found extremist preachers have held study circles there and are teaching followers a hardline version of the faith followed in Saudi Arabia, known as Wahhabism.
The documentary, to be broadcast tomorrow, is a follow-up to Undercover Mosque, which investigated a number of mosques and was made by the same team more than a year ago. That resulted in an investigation by West Midlands Police, who accused the makers of distorting sermons and inflaming tensions. Officers took no action against extremist preachers whose words were broadcast. Ofcom rejected the complaint and the force had to apologise to Channel 4. It agreed at the High Court to pay £100,000 for libel.
In the new documentary, a female reporter infiltrated women’s study circles. In one, a preacher using the name Umm Amira told followers: “We are not going to be like animals . . . or to be like the homosexuals, God save us from that, you understand? We have to take the judgment, the judgment is to kill them.”
Umm Amira is recorded as saying converts from Islam should also be killed. “He is Muslim and he gets out of Islam, he doesn’t want any more. What are we going to do? We kill him, kill, kill.”
In another study circle, Umm Amira describes Christians as “vile”. Another preacher, Umm Saleem, tells her congregation not to take British citizenship or become friends with nonMuslims.
In the programme, Ahmed Al-Dubayan, the mosque’s director, said the women were not authorised by the mosque.
The preachers could not be reached this weekend, but Umm Saleem told Channel 4: “We are not blind followers of any government or any clerics.
We criticise other religions, just as other religions criticise Islam . . . we encourage integration into society.”
The Muslim Council of Britain, of which the mosque is an affiliate, said: “Some of the statements are deeply offensive . . . [but] it would be very wrong, and quite unfair, to smear the whole centre.”
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I am shocked at some of the apologists that have been allowed to comment on this story. I am disgusted that no lessons have been learned and that this vile doctrine of hatred is still being preached with impunity. When are our lily-livered authorities going to clamp down on these preachers of hate?
Tim, Newbury, England
Incitement to murder has been illegal in this country for a long time (and for good reason). Why aren't the police investigating this? I fear there is something very worrying going on here.
Jim, London, UK
Those of you that say there is no moderate islam. I used to think that too. And I have just returned from a 2 month working trip in Pakistan and I've learned a lot. There are moderate forms of Islam. The people of Pakistan are more polite, more friendlier than most of the British.
David, London,
I am significantly more alarmed at the extremist right-wing rhetoric of these commenters than the erroneous views of a minority of Muslims. There is a combination of fear....
Mark, Doncaster
If that really is your view then clearly you know nothing of Wahabism. I've spent time in the middle east.
Richard, London,
"in the programme, Ahmed Al-Dubayan, the mosques director, said the women were not authorised by the mosque."
The answer is simple. Only permit people to preach/teach if they are authorised. The mosque needs to vet people.
And the British Government back it up with new laws.
Richard, London,
If they hate us and our way of life so much, why are they in the UK? The majority of muslims in the UK are peaceful and going about their own business but these extremists should leave if our way of life is so repulsive to them.
Catherine, London, UK
I am significantly more alarmed at the extremist right-wing rhetoric of these commenters than the erroneous views of a minority of Muslims. There is a combination of fear, anger and prejudice on show that is not dissimilar to European attitudes to the Jewish Diaspora prior to Nazism.
Mark, Doncaster,
Strange how the police were so keen to prosecute the BNP when they were secretly filmed by the BBC, even though the BNP were only stating factual information, as shown in the court case and its subsequent collapse.
Sedgwick Morrison, London, UK
Those female preachers may have visited Iraq and Afghanistan and found out exactly what western christian "democray" had done to Mulim countries/people. The death and destruction of hundreds of thousands of women and children byy Christian army may have created anger inside their hearts and minds.
jayil, london, uk
I cannot write that the pseudo Christians are preaching anything differently than the pseudo-Musilms. It seems to be all about hate and exclusion and mindless obedience. Some folks just don't have enough going on upstairs to run their own lives. They hardly seem human.
James, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Nominal, non-practising, Moslems may well be 'moderate', but any Moslem who genuinely believes what is in the Koran cannot be. It is as simple as that. If you doubt what I say then just read it for yourselves.
John Bull, London,
". . we encourage integration into society.
I think most reasonable people reading this article would not see this sentiment coming through.
Des, Edinburgh,
Do these people belong to/promote a religion or a fascist political movement masquerading as one?
60 yrs ago we fought against a similar movement that wanted to dominate the world with its ideology, and was prepared to kill and bully any dissenters. These use terrorist and 5th coulmn strategies
tony, guildford, UK
I can hardly wait for the deafening silence from the left regarding this matter. They prefer to attack softer targets. ie The family and fathers.
john smith, London, UK
How many times do I have to say this before the faithful will believe me?
It would be a much better world without religion.
alan, germany,
A religion of peace Islam is not. There is no "extreme" Islam. There is no "moderate" Islam. It's just "Islam". Period.
Moreover, it is high time to reveal Islam for what it is and rip off its sheep's mask to expose the frothing wolf's jaws that lurk behind.
Then actually deal with it.
David, London, UK
Having read the thread and then the subsequent comments it surprises me how narrow minded some people are about the way sermons are preached
To all intents and purposes such sermons are the creations of the preacher they are not reading from text
if you put a wet dog on a carpet.the carpet gets wet!
SB, Sheffield, UK
I guess their are moderate insofar as they allow women to speak in the mosque, not just men.
Otherwise, it is the same murderous faith we hear from al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
Greg, Houston, TX, USA
European women need to have on average six children each in order to prevent a muslim majority in Europe in their life time. Either they are going to respond to higher muslim fertility or they better accept a muslim future for their daughters.
keith b, wigan, uk
If true - close them down now !!!!!!
ian payne, WALSALL,
When will the government act ?
What a future for a once great nation
Tony T, Harpenden, UK
Why does nobody talk about the role that Saudi Arabia have played in promoting its form of Islam around the world.
It's a fact that Muslims in this country have been given money in order to conform with the Wahabi definition of Islam. I recently saw a covered wife, walking 3 metres behind hubby!
Graham, St. Albans, uk
The "religion of peace" strikes again.
Sarah, london ,
When are we in the West going to learn? Islam preaches as part of its creed that all other religions are so inferior to Islam that the followers must do all they can to get rid of them. There is no such thing as a radical Muslim. If they follow the religion faithfully, they all are. No arguments!
B J Deller, Marbella, Spain
You in the UK had better wake up. These people are not your friends, and they have no desire to live in peace with you. As a gay man here in America, I am prepared for these potential murderers: I'll take a lot of them with me before I go. And I won't be alone. Unlike you, we have guns.
Scott, San Francisco, USA