Storm over extremist preachers
By Gemma Meredith
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Lesbian and gay students have condemned City’s Islamic Society for hosting an extreme Islamist preacher at a campus event.
Abu Usamah spoke at the Islamic Society’s charity fundraising event “The People of Paradise and Hellfire” on Wednesday 4 November. He is notorious for his appearance in a Channel 4 documentary two years ago making inflammatory comments about homosexuals, women, non-Muslims and those who have left the faith.
The film recorded him saying: “Do you practice homosexuality with men? Take that homosexual man and throw him off the mountain.” On Muslims who leave the faith he said: “If the Imam wants to crucify him, he should crucify him. The person is put up on the wood and he’s left there to bleed to death for three days.”
He also claimed on the record that women were inferior to men: “Allah has created the woman, even if she has a PhD, deficient. Her intellect is incomplete. Deficient. She may be suffering from hormones that will make her emotional. It takes two witnesses of a woman to equal the one witness of the man.”
The City University Lesbian, Gay , Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Society released a statement on Usamah’s appearance, saying: “Providing publicity for extremists who preach hate risks not just freedom of speech, but all human rights, democracy and ultimately, the well-being of students at City University.
“We strongly oppose the decision to invite extremist Abu Usamah to speak at one of the largest lecture theatres at City University. Inviting such a controversial extremist who has previously expressed offensive views about homosexuals, women and non-Muslims to our university campus is morally and ethically wrong.
“Events such as this, led by a speaker who shares generally immoral views including homophobia, is likely to lead to an already increasing rise in hate crime in London.”
Usamah avoided controversy at the City event, delivering a moderate speech. Although he condemned killing in the name of jihad (holy war), he also said: “Jihad is from our religion. We will not renounce our religion.”
It is not only Usumah’s appearance that has caused concern. The opening speaker, Murthadah Khan, was also caught on the Undercover Mosque documentary calling Jews and Christians “enemies” and “filthy”. Publicity for the event said: “Bring all your friends; Muslims, kuffaar.” Kuffaar is a derogatory term for non-Muslims.
The Inquirer offered an interview to the Islamic Society, which declined to comment. Acting vice-chancellor Julius Weinberg was also unavailable for comment.
Marcus Mikely, vice-president of communications and publications for City students’ union, said: “The university has no right to stop this from happening as the event was based around charity, not his views on other subjects. If the union had received complaints prior to the event, we would have looked into it.”
This is not the first time the Islamic Society has courted controversy. In April it invited Anwar al-Awlaki to address a meeting via video link from Yemen.
Al-Awlaki, an American, has been accused by the US Government of encouraging “terrorist acts” via the internet. He was interviewed by the FBI after the 9/11 attacks, when he was accused of serving as a spiritual adviser to two of the terrorists. He recently had communication with Major Nidal Hassan, the US soldier who killed 13 people at the Fort Hood army base. He has described Hassan as “a hero”.
In April the university officials intervened, warning the society that broadcasting al-Awlaki’s speech would break university rules. The university’s official code of practice on freedom of speech says: “We will guarantee by policy and action the right of free speech within the university community unless the exercise of such a right can be shown to lead to or increase significantly the probability of the discrimination of individuals or groups, harm to individuals or groups within the university, or the university or the community within which the university is located.”
See what The Inquirer says – Fran Singh’s editorial comment
Well done and thanks to the University’s LGBT Society. Too often, in situations like this people bury their head in the sand and are frightened to speak out in case they are accused of “racism” or “Islamophobia”. The LGBT society should be praised for their brave stance.
There is nothing racist about condemning this man’s vile, disgusting and evil views which have no place in a secular democracy. What he’s said is 100 times worse than Nick Griffin, who although a vile bigot has never called for people to be killed – and yet we have the “United Against Fascist” folk picketing him but apparently doing nothing about this preacher of hate. (Is it because he’s not white?)
The mistake that some other members of the left make in the “multicultural” idealogy is that all cultures are equal – they are not, and they have to accept that while diversity is good, it is NOT good to allow/tolerate/promote parts of cultures that are preaching stone-age, barbaric religious laws against women, gay people, non-believers etc – beliefs we evolved from centuries ago.
Should we celebrate the Iranian Islamist government’s “culture” of hanging gay teenagers and rape victims? Or this week’s stoning to death in Somalia of a woman who committed adultery? (her male lover “only” received lashes, btw)
This Islamist idealogy is fascist, hateful & poisonous and MUST be condemned from ALL quarters – right wing or left wing, gay or straight, white or non-white. And yes, muslim or non-muslim – if “mainstream” muslims oppose views like this they should ensure they express this by refusing to attend events, conferences etc that play host to barbaric nutters like this guy.
I studied at City. I’m Muslim. I’m proud of Gemma and I’m disgusted that the man was even considered let alone invited.
I lived in Egypt for 3 years, and ‘kuffar’ is not derogatory… It is just the plural of the word meaning non-believer. And if i am not mistaken, Murtadha Khan launched legal action against Dispatches, and won… So be accurate with your facts otherwise you are just misleading people.
As for Abu Usamah, the Crown Prosecution Service criticised Channel 4 for “totally distorting” what he had said. West Midlands Police lodged a formal complaint with the regulator and asked the CPS to consider a prosecution against Channel 4, so once again, check your facts before writing an article that was clearly written with little thought or research.
As for the term kuffar, after much research, some believed it to be derogatory, and it frequently is used in this manner. Especially in instances when people as those invited use it. Search around online and you get a taste of how it is often used.
Channel 4 actually took action against the police and won.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7268816.stm
The CPS complaint was thrown out and a formal apology made to Channel 4 on 15 May 2008 when the matter came to the High Court.
In the meantime before the case was won by Channel 4 Usamah continued to defend his comments publicly, back-tracking, and claiming it was purely bad journalism and editing.
http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/news/tm_headline=&method=full&objectid=18495204&siteid=50002-name_page.html
However, after examination of the raw footage this was proved in court, untrue, and his comments, caught on camera, were proved to be in the context they appeared on tape.
West Midlands Police and the Crown Prosecution Service apologised to the makers of the documentary for accusing them of distortion and agreed to a payment of £100,000 of which they donated the money awarded in damages to charity.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/may/15/channel4.television1
I believe, as editor of the Inquirer, this article was researched, and in fact, your comment was not.
I’m Jewish and I find being called “filthy” extremely offensive. I think its disgusting that my student fees are being used to bring racists and homophobes to city university. Well done city inquirer for exposing this.
A Message to All Homosexual Muslims and to those Muslims who find it acceptable!
O Muslims why have chosen your whims and desires over the commandments of ALLAH? Why do you compromise your faith for some worldly benefit or to seek the pleasure of people/society when this world is temporary and an enjoyment of self delusion? Why have you became like the Christians and Jews who blatantly change their laws in order gain some benefit in this world? Who allow homosexuality as acceptable when their own books clearly have condemned it as sinful, shameful act!?
I weep over those who are gay/lesbian and yet claim to be a Muslim! I weep over those Muslims who find immorality acceptable while picking and choosing Islam according to their desires! I weep over those who exchange guidance for falsehood. Those who say homosexuality is acceptable when it is clearly forbidden are truly rebellious and disobedient! Have you not pondered over the destruction of the people of LUT?! Do you not remember their crime or have you deliberately become deaf, dumb and blind?
I fear for you all a day where there will be no refuge, no intercessor, no protector against Allah! Where your human rights will mean nothing! A day where you cannot depend on others, where even your own mother will abandon you!
Those whom you call extremist, those whom you slander, abuse; simply because they fear Allah and his punishment and hope for his mercy, speaking the truth and seeking no worldly benefit! Know that they are just like the Prophet Muhammad SAW and His Companions! They too were persecuted because they choose to submit to Allah not to the people! Ponder over what happened in the end when Allah made Muhammad SAW and the victorious!
Know this, that if non believers were to pressurise the Muslims to compromise their religion and accept homosexuality, fornication, alcoholism, interest and only one Muslim stands up against it, know that I and those who fear Allah will join that one person even if the whole world turns against us. Verily Allah is with those who are patient, calling to goodness and truth and calling people to worship him and him alone.
O Muslims who suffer from the illness of homosexuality and try their best to rid of its disease, who hate their inclinations towards the opposite sex and try to obey Allah to the best of their ability know that you have Muslims to support you and help you out of your illness! Know that Allah will never abandon those who love and fear Allah. Your illness is a test and trial so be patient and do not give into your desires or the desires of others and indeed you will be successful!
But those who openly declare and accept their homosexuality, their illness, those who care not for the commandment of Allah know that day of judgement is near!
O Muslims fear Allah as he should be feared, and die not except in the state of Islam! Know that if your are obedient you will be rewarded for your deeds big or small; but for those who are disobedient know that the punishment in the hereafter is a certainty. So enjoy your respite and time on Earth verily Allah will be THE JUDGE of all our matters, he is the Disposer of Affairs, the Just!
please before you speak about Islam, get some sound knowledge.
Your article is full of incorrect statements, especially the Kaafir, which really means someone who conceals, meaning concealing the religion of Islam, so every non-Muslim is technically a Kaafir, put in the best term possible.
Amazing that in the 21st century western world, with all our freedoms, all our knowlege gained through science/astronomy/biology, all the evidence for evolution and the age of the earth, we still have people who believe all this and dedicate their life to what was written in a book thousands of years ago.
Bob? What other incorrect statements? I addressed the Kuffaar issue before and am happy to deal with any queries.
“Amazing that in the 21st century western world, with all our freedoms, all our knowlege gained through science/astronomy/biology, all the evidence for evolution and the age of the earth, we still have people who believe all this and dedicate their life to what was written in a book thousands of years ago.”
You seem to be mistaken.
Muslims do not follow a written book. If you knew enough about what you judge by, then you would know that the Quran was REVEALED through the Angel Gabriel to the Last Prophet, it was never written initially. It was only written many years later so as to preserve the sacred words. These words are a guideline for mankind, so why wouldnt ‘these people’ live their lives by it? There are worst things one could live their lives by!
If you do not beleive in the same thing as others, it doesnt mean you judge them in such a demeaning manner.
If you were to READ the Quran you would also find, as the Torah and Old Testament also showed, many prophecies and FACTS about the world.
Read it. Then come back.
Learn about the RELIGION OF ISLAM, not the MEDIA INTERPRETATION OF ISLAM, then come back.
Asking for respect requires one gives it too.
“Islamophobia is terrorism”?! No, suicide bombers blowing up buses full of innocent people is terrorism.
Speaking out against racists, homophobes, misogynists, anti-semites – that’s not terrorism, that’s defending our way of life; tolerance, liberty and acceptance. Critics of extreme Islamic fundamentalists will not be silenced.
“If you do not beleive in the same thing as others, it doesnt mean you judge them in such a demeaning manner.” I agree entirely, but perhaps that message should be directed at Abu Usamah instead.
[...] http://cityinquirer.com/?p=1156 [...]
UCL should be deeply ashamed of their decision to invite this ‘individual’ to their campus. It is a huge blemish on the reputation of an otherwise excellent university. This is not about LGBT, it is about Human Rights in general! Absolutely appalling not only for the decision to allow an extremist a platform but also for giving them priority over the wishes of the poor students who are the essence UCL!! Shame on you! I hope this is reflected in your admissions.
The students (i.e. ESSENCE of UCL) are the ones who invited the speaker in the first place.
With every person, you will find those who like them and you will find others who dislike them. Abu Usamah ath-Thahabi is no exception to this. Just because the ones who dislike him do not want him to have a platform, it does not mean that the ones who like him have to be deprived of his presence.
If you don’t like the speaker, don’t go to the event. Stop complaining and get a life.
The Islamic Society of City University are holding an event on Wednesday the 9th of December addressing the articles and comments written by the City Inquirer. Invited speakers will explain the Muslims beliefs regarding the homosexual and his punishment in this life and the next, women being “deficient,” Christians and Jews spending eternity in the Hell-Fire along with principles and foundations that all Muslims adhere to. All journalists are more than welcome to attend.
http://cityisoc.com/upcoming-event/general-events/
Abdullaah
Abdullaah, thank you for the invitation, the Inquirer will indeed attend and we look forward to contributing to the discussion.
“Invited speakers will explain the Muslims beliefs regarding the homosexual and his punishment in this life and the next, women being “deficient,” Christians and Jews spending eternity in the Hell-Fire along with principles and foundations that all Muslims adhere to.”
Well at least it’s nothing controversial.
:/
A message to the City Inquirer from the Islamic Society of City University.
http://cityisoc.com/3702-words-to-be-written-in-gold
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Thunder Thiefs
The Times got the glory this month for the Inquirer's January splash revealing the cost, well in excess of £500,000, of removing former vice-chancellor Malcolm Gillies:
January - the Inquirer
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