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Koran Row Imam Suggested Muslims Could Be Punished for Celebrating Christmas [UK]
The Daily Telegraph (UK) ^ | 3/12/23 | Neil Johnston and Gabriella Swerling

Posted on 03/17/2023 6:37:19 PM PDT by marshmallow

Hafiz Muhammad Mateen Anwar hosted a community meeting over damage to a holy book that led to a schoolboy receiving death threats

An imam involved in the row over a damaged Koran that led to a 14-year-old schoolboy receiving death threats, spoke about punishing Muslims for celebrating Christmas, The Telegraph can reveal.

Imam Hafiz Muhammad Mateen Anwar, of the Jamia Masjid Swafia mosque in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, warned worshippers not to wish others a merry Christmas, described homosexuality as “barbaric” and music as “toxic”, and also made sectarian remarks about more liberal followers of Islam.

The revelations came just days after he hosted a community meeting at the mosque alongside police and council leaders with the mother of an autistic Year 10 schoolboy who pleaded for forgiveness for her son after he brought a Koran into Kettlethorpe High School as a forfeit for losing a Call of Duty video game.

However, the Islamic holy book – which Muslims are taught to handle with respect and care and, in some cases, wash their hands before touching it – was dropped on the floor, causing a small tear on the cover and scuffing to some pages.

'Defend the honour of the Koran'

Imam Anwar appeared on a panel with Chief Insp Andy Thornton and Insp Glen Costello of West Yorkshire Police, two teachers and the boy’s mother, where he told the meeting: “When it comes to the honour of the Koran we will stand and defend the honour of the Koran no matter what it takes.”

However, sources alarmed at what they described as “a session for ritual humiliation and threatening language” have now shared with The Telegraph evidence that they said showed the imam had preached “harsh social separatism”. Experts have also criticised the police for failing to do their.......

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Islam; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: donatefreerepublic

1 posted on 03/17/2023 6:37:19 PM PDT by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow

I agree with this worshipper of Allah.

I would also agree a Christian should not be in the middle of Ramadan, or doin’ “the Haj” or whatever it is where Muslims go to worship the Blackrock of Capitalism, or is it the black rock in Mecca?


2 posted on 03/17/2023 9:16:40 PM PDT by Glad2bnuts ("People who didn't take take the Jab have -0- regrets, those who did may be SADS.)
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