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{{Short description|American imam}}
'''Abu Usamah at-Thahabi''' (born ] ]) is an ] at ] in ], ].
{{pp-pc1}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Imam
| name = Abu Usamah At-Thahabi
| image =
| caption =
| birth_place = ], United States
| birth_date =
| occupation = Instructor, ]
| era = Modern
| nationality = American
| known_for = Controversial views
| alma_mater = ] ]
| website =
}}


{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
==History==
'''Abu Usamah at-Thahabi''' is an ] at ] in ], England.<ref name=bmail120812>{{cite news|title=Birmingham mosque cleric accused of sexual harassment|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/birmingham-mosque-cleric-accused-of-sexual-231250|access-date=27 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=12 August 2012}}</ref>
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2007}}
Abu Usamah, Khalifah At-Thahabi was born and raised in ], ], the third eldest of 4 children.


An American national,<ref>{{Cite web|title = Outlawed Islamic group recruits near Swedish suicide bomber's Luton home|url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/8211534/Outlawed-Islamic-group-recruits-near-Swedish-suicide-bombers-Luton-home.html|website = Telegraph.co.uk| date=18 December 2010 |access-date = 2015-12-22}}</ref> he converted to ] and studied at the Salafi-oriented ] in ], an Islamic school popular with converts and international students.<ref name=mirror110107>{{cite news|title=Britain's new preachers of hate|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/britains-new-preachers-of-hate-446268|access-date=27 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=11 January 2007}}</ref>
He converted to ] in 1986 and applied to attend the ] as was the practice of many new converts to Islam at that time. He completed his BSc in Usool-Ul-Deen and learned the Arabic language. After his graduation from the University, Abu Usamah went to teach in the UK before returning to the US in 1996 in order to pursue his first position of Imam in ], ]. He was an imam at a mosque in ], ], and ] before he moved to the UK, where he surfaced briefly in ] before moving to Birmingham to take up his place at ].


==Controversy== ==Controversies==
⚫ ===The Undercover Mosque===
Abu Usamah has been accused of preaching messages of hate towards non-Muslims. On ] ], a documentary by ] entitled '']'' was aired attributing to him various comments, such as stating that ] was better than a "million George Bushes and a thousand Tony Blairs," or that non-Muslims were "pathological liars."<ref name=DailyMail>. Daily Mail. ].</ref> Abu Usamah stated in defense that the documentary had quoted him out of context.<ref>. Birmingham Mail. ].</ref><ref name=BBC070808>. BBC News. ]</ref> Following the release of the documentary, nine people were arrested.
During Abu Usamah's tenure at ], he was among a group of preachers whom were the focus of the ] program which was first aired on 15 January 2007 by ]. In the program, Abu Usamah was quoted, among other things, to have said that "Christians and Jews are enemies to Muslims", to have taught that "jihad is coming against the unbelievers", and to have referred to non-Muslims by use of the term "kuffar" which translates to "unbelievers" or people who reject Islam.<ref name=offcom97>{{cite web|url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/46930/issue97.pdf |title=Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin, Issue 97|date=19 November 2007|publisher=Ofcom}}</ref>
The ] investigated the allegations raised by the programme but found no evidence to press charges.<ref>. Channel 4. ].</ref> Furthermore, the ] criticised Channel 4 for "totally distorting" what Abu Usamah and others had said. West Midlands Police have lodged a formal complaint with the regulator and asked the CPS to consider a prosecution against Channel 4 which was denied due to lack of sufficient evidence. Channel 4 have rejected these claims by the West Midlands Police and the CPS.<ref name=BBC070808/><ref>. West Midlands Police. ].</ref>Ofcom said it found no evidence that "Undercover Mosque" had misled its audience.<ref></ref>


The story caused backlash that resulted in 364 viewer complaints to ].<ref name=offcom97/> In addition to this, on 10 August 2017 the ] also raised a formal complaint to ] regarding what it considered to be a "completely distorted" view of the intended message by Abu Usamah and the other preachers.<ref name=offcom97/><ref name=bbc08Aug07>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/6936681.stm|title=Channel 4 distorted mosque programme|date=8 August 2007|publisher=BBC News}}</ref><ref name=c408Aug07>{{cite news|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/arts_entertainment/film_tv/dispatches+reported+to+ofcom/660762.html|title=Dispatches reported to Ofcom|date=8 August 2007|publisher=Channel 4}}</ref> However, upon investigation of the matter Ofcom ruled in favour of Channel 4.<ref name=offcom97/> The West Midlands Police also later apologised for their initial accusation, and offered £100,000 in compensation to Channel 4.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7401704.stm|title=Police apologise over mosque show|date=15 May 2008|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>
The Saltley Gate Peace group, an inter-faith action group based at the Saltley Methodist Church in Birmingham (which includes Muslims and non-Muslims), gave its "undiminished support" for Abu Usamah and Green Lane Mosque and made a press release prior to the airing of the Channel 4 documentary. The press release included the following statements:<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.blackbritain.co.uk/news/details.aspx?i=2359&c=uk&h=Channel+4+accused+of+creating+mischief+over+portrayal+of+Black+Muslim+in+Dispatches+documentary|title=Channel 4 accused of creating mischief over portrayal of Black Muslim in Dispatches documentary}}</ref>


===Other Controversies===
# That Imam Abu Usaamah, one of the preachers featured in the documentary, is acknowledged by the a significant portion of his congregation and the wider interfaith community "to be a peaceful man and is known to promote peace to his congregation", and that he has denounced terrorism.
According to a report by the ], Usamah "advocates holy war in an Islamic state; preaches hatred against non-Muslims; that apostasy and homosexuality are punishable by death; and that women are inferior to men", following an undercover recording of him preaching to his congregation which featured in a ] '']'' episode on radical Islam at British universities.<ref name=CSOreport>{{cite web |url=http://www.socialcohesion.co.uk/files/1292336866_1.pdf |title=Radical Islam on UK Campuses: A Comprehensive List of Extremist Speakers at UK Universities|date=April 2010 |publisher=Centre for Social Cohesion }}</ref> During the documentary, Usamah also praised ],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/radical-cleric-praises-bin-laden-7080142.html|title=Radical cleric praises bin Laden|work=Evening Standard|access-date=2018-04-01|language=en-GB}}</ref> and defended his right to freedom of expression, saying: "If I were to call homosexuals perverted, dirty, filthy dogs who should be murdered, that's my freedom of speech, isn't it?"<ref name=telegraph030110>{{cite news|title=Revealed: the true extent of Islamic radical influence at UCL|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/6924618/Revealed-the-true-extent-of-Islamic-radical-influence-at-UCL.html|access-date=27 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=3 January 2010|author=David Barrett|author2=Patrick Sawer|author3=Sean Rayment}}</ref> Usamah also stated that "He (]) is better than a million George Bushs, he's better than a thousand Tony Blairs."<ref name=mirror110107/>
# That 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
# That the UK branch of Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith are based at the Green Lane mosque and Islamic. The statement explains that Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith is known loosely as ']', and that this school of thought does not promote extremism. However, it concedes that there may be a minority that feel otherwise. Nonetheless it states that those following the Salafi methodology strive to follow the earliest traditions so that their Islam is peaceful and pure.


Usamah was invited to speak at events held by ]'s Islamic Society on 1 February 2008 and 6 September 2009.<ref name=CSOreport/> He was invited to speak at the same venue on 30 November 2009, but the event was cancelled due to pressure from gay rights and anti-extremism campaign groups.<ref name=bbc251109>{{cite news|title='Anti-gay' cleric talk cancelled|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8377437.stm|access-date=27 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=25 November 2009}}</ref> In February 2013, he was invited to speak at the ], but the event was cancelled by the university after threats of violence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.studentrights.org.uk/article/2052/reading_university_cancels_events_after_violent_threats|title=Reading University cancels events after violent threats|publisher=Student Rights|date=27 February 2013|access-date=3 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104213109/http://www.studentrights.org.uk/article/2052/reading_university_cancels_events_after_violent_threats|archive-date=4 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Furthermore, Abu Usamah was known to have openly and consistently opposed terrorist and extreme ] thought from as early as the early 1990s<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/tx/documentaries/innercityislam.shtml|title=Inner City Islam}}</ref> to the extent that the extremist preacher ] had called for the assassination of Abu Usamah.


In 2012, Usamah was accused of sexually harassing Muslim women but a mosque spokesman said: “We have not been contacted by anybody regarding allegations of harassment, sexual or otherwise, against Abu Usamah who remains an employee of the mosque. However we have been made aware of the website and note that it appears unable to back up these serious allegations with any proper proof.”<ref name=bmail120812/>


==See also==
⚫ *]
*]
*]


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{Reflist}}


{{authority control}}
==External links==
* from Halal Tube
*
*
*
*
* . BBC News. ] ].
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Usamah, Abu}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Usamah, Abu}}
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Latest revision as of 15:59, 6 July 2024

American imam

ImamAbu Usamah At-Thahabi
BornNew Jersey, United States
NationalityAmerican
Alma materIslamic University of Medina Category:Islamic University of Madinah alumni
Occupation(s)Instructor, Imam
EraModern
Known forControversial views

Abu Usamah at-Thahabi is an Imam at Green Lane Masjid in Birmingham, England.

An American national, he converted to Islam and studied at the Salafi-oriented University of Madinah in Saudi Arabia, an Islamic school popular with converts and international students.

Controversies

The Undercover Mosque

During Abu Usamah's tenure at Green Lane Masjid, he was among a group of preachers whom were the focus of the Undercover Mosque program which was first aired on 15 January 2007 by Channel 4. In the program, Abu Usamah was quoted, among other things, to have said that "Christians and Jews are enemies to Muslims", to have taught that "jihad is coming against the unbelievers", and to have referred to non-Muslims by use of the term "kuffar" which translates to "unbelievers" or people who reject Islam.

The story caused backlash that resulted in 364 viewer complaints to Ofcom. In addition to this, on 10 August 2017 the West Midlands Police also raised a formal complaint to Ofcom regarding what it considered to be a "completely distorted" view of the intended message by Abu Usamah and the other preachers. However, upon investigation of the matter Ofcom ruled in favour of Channel 4. The West Midlands Police also later apologised for their initial accusation, and offered £100,000 in compensation to Channel 4.

Other Controversies

According to a report by the Centre for Social Cohesion, Usamah "advocates holy war in an Islamic state; preaches hatred against non-Muslims; that apostasy and homosexuality are punishable by death; and that women are inferior to men", following an undercover recording of him preaching to his congregation which featured in a Channel 4 Dispatches episode on radical Islam at British universities. During the documentary, Usamah also praised Osama bin Laden, and defended his right to freedom of expression, saying: "If I were to call homosexuals perverted, dirty, filthy dogs who should be murdered, that's my freedom of speech, isn't it?" Usamah also stated that "He (Osama bin Laden) is better than a million George Bushs, he's better than a thousand Tony Blairs."

Usamah was invited to speak at events held by University College London's Islamic Society on 1 February 2008 and 6 September 2009. He was invited to speak at the same venue on 30 November 2009, but the event was cancelled due to pressure from gay rights and anti-extremism campaign groups. In February 2013, he was invited to speak at the University of Reading, but the event was cancelled by the university after threats of violence.

In 2012, Usamah was accused of sexually harassing Muslim women but a mosque spokesman said: “We have not been contacted by anybody regarding allegations of harassment, sexual or otherwise, against Abu Usamah who remains an employee of the mosque. However we have been made aware of the website and note that it appears unable to back up these serious allegations with any proper proof.”

References

  1. ^ "Birmingham mosque cleric accused of sexual harassment". Birmingham Mail. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  2. "Outlawed Islamic group recruits near Swedish suicide bomber's Luton home". Telegraph.co.uk. 18 December 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Britain's new preachers of hate". Daily Mirror. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  4. ^ "Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin, Issue 97" (PDF). Ofcom. 19 November 2007.
  5. "Channel 4 distorted mosque programme". BBC News. 8 August 2007.
  6. "Dispatches reported to Ofcom". Channel 4. 8 August 2007.
  7. "Police apologise over mosque show". BBC News. 15 May 2008.
  8. ^ "Radical Islam on UK Campuses: A Comprehensive List of Extremist Speakers at UK Universities" (PDF). Centre for Social Cohesion. April 2010.
  9. "Radical cleric praises bin Laden". Evening Standard. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  10. David Barrett; Patrick Sawer; Sean Rayment (3 January 2010). "Revealed: the true extent of Islamic radical influence at UCL". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  11. "'Anti-gay' cleric talk cancelled". BBC News. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  12. "Reading University cancels events after violent threats". Student Rights. 27 February 2013. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
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