Green Lane Masjid: Difference between revisions
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Church-based [[Saltley Gate Peace Group]] claims: "As a place of worship, the Green Lane Mosque is not known to promote extremism and the founders and committee of the mosque have always distanced themselves from such extremism." |
Church-based [[Saltley Gate Peace Group]] claims: "As a place of worship, the Green Lane Mosque is not known to promote extremism and the founders and committee of the mosque have always distanced themselves from such extremism." |
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Abu Usamah At-Thahabi defended his comments and released a rebuttal video [http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=5621979422472502457&q=abu_usamah_4] |
Abu Usamah At-Thahabi defended his comments and released a rebuttal video after the airing of the documentary [http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=5621979422472502457&q=abu_usamah_4]. |
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==Address== |
==Address== |
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Revision as of 20:38, 9 June 2007
Green Lane Masjid, commonly referred to as 'Green Lane Mosque', is one of Birmingham's major mosques and the national headquarters of Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith UK.
Background
The mosque is situated at the corner of Green Lane and Little Green Lane, opposite the Birmingham City Football Club, in the Small Heath area of the city.
The mosque and Islamic centre was established in the 1970s in a building formerly used as a grand library and swimming baths.
The information arm of the centre is known as the Call to Islam Daw'ah Centre. Other activities at the Green Lane Masjid include youth recreation and outdoor activities such as camping and field trips, lectures, women's clubs and classes, and conferences.
Personal
The mosque has a committee and administration elected annually. Current Imams at the place of worship include imam Abdul Hadi, imam Zaki Ullah and imam Abu Usamah At-Thahabi.
Controversy
In January 2007, an undercover reporter from Channel Four investigative programme Dispatches secretly filmed talks at the mosque as part of a wider investigation. The documentary showed the mosque was promoting an extreme version Islam. It specifically highlighted comments made by imam Abu At-Thahabi in which he appears to condemn homosexuals and non-Muslims. In his own words he says "take the homosexuals, and throw them off a mountain." He also says "women are deficient, this may be because hormones, but it takes two women as a witness to equal that of a man." He goes on to say by the age of 10, if a female does not wear her hijab, to "hit her."
The mosque responded to the accusations, but not the hatefull teaching caught on camera. Green Lane Masjid spokesperson Khurram Bashir said at the time: "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."
Some religious leaders in Birmingham criticised the documentary (but not the radicals preaching hate), believing it could result in a backlash against the Muslim community.
Dr. Mohammad Naseem of the Birmingham Mosque Trust tried to deflect the criticism by saying: "It is disturbing that Channel Four focuses on these extremists who do exist in all kinds of societies. If you look at areas of the extreme Christian right you will find similar views."
Cllr. Salma Yaqoob said: "I found the programme very disturbing but they [individuals featured in Dispatches] do not reflect what the majority of Muslims feel."
Church-based Saltley Gate Peace Group claims: "As a place of worship, the Green Lane Mosque is not known to promote extremism and the founders and committee of the mosque have always distanced themselves from such extremism."
Abu Usamah At-Thahabi defended his comments and released a rebuttal video after the airing of the documentary [1].
Address
20 Green Lane, Green Lane, Small Heath, Birmingham, B9 5DB, England
External Links
- Green Lane Masjid
- Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith UK
- Channel 4 Dispatches "Undercover Mosque" episode (Google Video)
- Channel 4 Dispatches web page on "Undercover Mosque" episode
- Official written response to documentary (open letter to Hardcash Productions, the chief executive of Channel 4 and Ofcom)
- Official video response to C4 Dispatches from imam Abu Usamah
Reference
- Muslim preacher defends TV comments - Jasbir Authi, Birmingham Mail, Thursday 18 January 2007
- Muslim leaders fear a backlash - Birmingham Mail, January 17 2007
- Brum's extreme Muslims exposed - Birmingham Mail, Tuesday 16 January 2007
- Mosque launches probe after TV claims - Birmingham Mail, Monday 15 January 2007
- Channel 4 accused of creating mischief over portrayal of Black Muslim in Dispatches - Black Britain, Monday 15 January 2007
- Church group backs 'extremist' mosque - Wikinews, Saturday 13 January 2007
- Birmingham mosque leader critical of hate speech - Birmingham Post, Monday 12 January 2007
- Britain's New Preachers of Hate - Bobby Pathak, Daily Mirror, Thursday 11 January 2007
- Revealed: preachers' messages of hate - Jamie Doward, The Observer, Sunday 7 January 2007