Posted on 09/07/2009 2:11:10 PM PDT by knighthawk
A GROUP of controversial Muslim clerics funded by Colonel Gaddafi are set to make appearances at three Midland Mosques.
Eleven preachers sponsored by the World Islamic Call Society (Wics), which was founded, led and paid for by the Libyan leader, will be holding events in Birmingham, Leicester and Nottingham during Ramadan.
The speeches come just a month after the release of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbasset Ali Al Megrahi caused a storm between Britain and the US when he returned to a hero’s welcome in Tripoli. And in a recent speech, Colonel Gaddafi said that the aim of Wics was to convert the whole of Europe to Islam.
He said: “This religion shall overcome all other religions before it. Their time has gone. It is his promise, Allah shall prevail this religion over the rest.
“There are tens of millions of Muslims in the European continent and the number is on the increase. The number of indigenous Europeans is falling drastically.
“This is the clear indication that the European continent will be converted to Islam. Europe will one day be a Muslim continent.”
Wics has built a moderate reputation in recent years, organising meetings between prominent Muslims and religious figures including the Pope.
But question marks remain over links between the organisation and money-laundering, following the international freeze on Libya’s assets after Megrahi’s bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in December 1988.
Last night a source close to the tour said the Wics visit would glorify Colonel Gaddafi, rather than Islam.
“There is no such thing as independent Imams in the Middle East and North Africa,” the source said.
“If these men are leading prayers while having their pay cheques paid by a dictator, you can be sure that they will be using this opportunity to praise him and push his agenda.”
Wics has been given the approval of the Government, with the British ambassador to Libya holding a plush farewell reception for the imams in Tripoli before they flew to the UK last week.
In a speech at the reception the ambassador praised Wics for forging links between Libya and the UK and even apologised for the difficulties the imams had experienced applying for UK visas for the visit.
But Birmingham MP Khalid Mahmood last night raised concerns over the Wics visit.
“We’ve got a lot of good work being done by organisations in Birmingham celebrating the diversity of our communities,” he said.
“We don’t need imported groups like this, funded by people like Colonel Gaddafi.
“If he is really interested in doing something positive he should work with the community groups we already have, instead of coming over and trying to convert people.”
Wics say their Imams will visit Mosques across Britain with a message of peace and integration, leading Ramadan prayers in Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, Birmingham, Leicester, Glasgow, Cardiff and Swansea.
Ping
Brits continue to commit slow suicide.
Is there such a thing as a non-controversial Kadaffi cleric?
Did I sleep late and miss the war that Britain lost to Libya?
He is just grabbing a piece of disintegrating, undefended UK while he can...the more Islamic turf he can hold, the better for him.
What I want to know is why is he only a Colonel?
Flt-Lieutenant Gerry Rawlings (in charge of Ghana for many years) was even more modest in the matter of rank....
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