DAR AL HARB - U.K.: MOSQUE LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO EXTREMIST PREACHINGS

Mosque launches probe after TV claims
Jan 15 2007
By Jasbir Authi

LEADERS from a Birmingham mosque have launched an inquiry into claims they allowed an extremist preacher to practise there.

Green Lane Mosque, in Small Heath, which caters for thousands of worshippers, will be featured in a Channel Four Dispatches documentary to be screened tonight.

Undercover reporters spent four months filming one of their main speakers Abu Usamah allegedly spewing vitriolic hatred against Christians, Jews, homosexuals and women during services.

Khurram Bashir, an executive member of the mosque, said it had launched an urgent investigation into Abu Usamah's visit and his alleged remarks.

Mr Bashir said: "I think the media is looking for a hate figure, especially after Finsbury Park."

He was referring to the mosque in London where controversial cleric Abu Hamza preached extremist sermons to worshippers.

He was eventually jailed for inciting racial hatred.

But Mr Bashir said leaders at Green Lane were anxious to see the programme.

"Our reputation is at stake," he said. "We are a national organisation working for the good of the community. We do not take responsibility for his remarks, he is responsible for himself."

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Brum's extreme Muslims exposed
Jan 16 2007
By Jasbir Authi & Steve Swingler, Birmingham Mail

HARDLINE preachers delivering messages of hate and intolerance to Birmingham's Muslim community have been exposed in a shocking investigation.

Undercover footage of hate-filled sermons condemning Jews, homosexuals and other nonbelievers and calling for British democracy to be torn down and replaced by an Islamic state, were broadcast by the Despatches programme on Channel 4.

Last night's chilling documentary saw undercover reporters spend months secretly filming a notorious preacher at the Green Lane Mosque in Small Heath. They also filmed lectures at the Jamia Mosque in Sparkbrook.

The preachers filmed in the documentary were said to be followers of the hardline Wahhabisim branch of Islam which originates from Saudi Arabia.

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Visiting Cleric Abu Usamah was filmed at Green Lane calling Jews and Christians "enemies" to Muslims and condemned the 'kuffaar' - the name given to non-believers.

Although he said he did not agree with Osama Bin Laden's murderous actions, he said he was better "than a million George Bushs, he's better than a thousand Tony Blairs," because he is a Muslim.

Abu Usamah, an Afro-American convert to Islam, said: "If I were to call homosexuals perverted, dirty, filthy dogs who should be murdered, that's my freedom of speech, isn't it?"

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He said: "They will fight in the cause of Allah. I encourage all of you to be from among them, to begin to cultivate ourselves for the time that is approaching - where the tables are going to turn and the Muslims are going to be in the position of being uppermost in strength."

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Mr Ahmed said: "It is deeply alarming that a few sentences have been taken out of context in order to create the impression that our institution is a hotbed of fanaticism. We have nothing to hide."

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Pertinent Links:

1) Mosque launches probe after TV claims

2) Links to the 3 part video here

3) Brum's extreme Muslims exposed