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| An American<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|accessdate = 2015-12-22}}</ref> national, he converted to ] and studied at the ] 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|accessdate=27 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=11 January 2007}}</ref> | An American<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|accessdate = 2015-12-22}}</ref> national, he converted to ] and studied at the ] 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|accessdate=27 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=11 January 2007}}</ref> | ||
| ==Controversies== | |||
| ===The Undercover Mosque=== | |||
| 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 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> | |||
| ===Other Controversies=== | |||
| 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 |work= |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|accessdate=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/> | |||
| 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|accessdate=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|accessdate=3 July 2013}}</ref> | |||
| 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/> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 00:10, 9 January 2020
| ImamAbu Usamah At-Thahabi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1964 (age 60–61) New Jersey, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Islamic University of Medina Category:Islamic University of Madinah alumni |
| Occupation(s) | Instructor, Imam |
| Era | Modern |
| Known for | Islamic Studies |
| Website | www.sheikhabuusamah.com |
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 University of Madinah in Saudi Arabia, an Islamic school popular with converts and international students.
References
- "Birmingham mosque cleric accused of sexual harassment". Birmingham Mail. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
- "Outlawed Islamic group recruits near Swedish suicide bomber's Luton home". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- "Britain's new preachers of hate". Daily Mirror. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
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