LONDON A 25-second video in which a Birmingham imam appears to explain how to stone a woman who cheated on her husband: “She should – says Zakaullah Saleem – be put in a hole that covers her up to the waist, to protect them.” Modesty”. Only then can we proceed to casting the first stone. The footage that circulated last week prompted the British government to suspend the £2.2 million in subsidies that had been allocated to the construction a youth center next to the Green Lane Masjid, and created a case: the mosque, which he actually claims to be the victim of a smear campaign.
A spokesman explained that these were “images taken out of context”. They appear to be a hymn to violence, but in reality, according to the mosque, they come from a lesson given by the imam on Sharia principles. “The Imam has never advocated Sharia law or stoning, never.” We believe this video is part of a maneuver against us, carried out at the same time as public payments.” In fact, threats and intimidation have increased so much in Green Lane that the police have taken new security measures.
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport stressed in a statement that it had made an initial payment to Green Lane for the construction of the center and that further payments had been suspended pending resolution of the latest allegations. “Mistakes have been made in the past,” specified the mosque, which was accused of extremist activities in a 2007 Channel 4 documentary. “Since then we have changed staffing and approach and have procedures in place designed to support and protect the community. “We are against all forms of violence.”
Last month, the British news channel also republished a video in which a particularly controversial imam, Abu Usamah, made negative comments about homosexuality in the mosque. GB News would then alert the ministry.