London mosque hosts hate preacher who called 9/11 and Charlie Hebdo attacks ‘comedy’
MP demands to know how Egyptian-born Dr Omar Abdul Kafi, who has given sermons about 'revenge' on Jews, was allowed into the UK to speak at Finsbury Park mosque in north London.
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
An MP has demanded to know “how on earth” an Egyptian-born “hate preacher who has previously given sermons about killing Jews” was allowed to enter the UK.
Dr Omar Abdul Kafi had last month given a lecture at the Finsbury Park mosque in north London as part of a UK wide tour that also saw him give talks in Leeds and Liverpool.
Speaking in the Commons on Thursday, the Tory MP Robert Langan recalled how Omar Abdul Kafi “has previously given sermons about killing Jews and advanced antisemitic conspiracy theories, and he is known to have directly inspired the Stockholm suicide bomber, Taimour Abdulwahab.”
Reports have previously revealed how Kafi had delivered a sermon that was recorded and posted on YouTube – in which he quoted: “The day of judgment will not come about until Muslims fight the Jews, when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Muslim, O Servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.”
In 2015 he also told supporters that Muslims were not involved in the 9/11 and Charlie Hebdo terror attacks – calling both massacres “comedy films”.
“This play to which Muslims are subjected to ad nauseum across the world is the sequel to the comedy film of 9/11,’ he said in a video translated from Arabic by the Middle East Media Research Institute.
“The first part took place in New York and the sequel is taking place in Paris.”
His Facebook posts have also been translated by the American Centre for Democracy which show his call to get “revenge” on Jewish people, the publication reported.
“O Allah, the Jews have gone astray and therefore show us the wonders of your might and ability inflicted upon them,” he posted on July 21, 2017.
Speaking in the Commons on Thursday, the Tory MP Robert Largan said:”Recently the Egyptian-born hate preacher Omar Abdul Kafi went on a UK tour, giving lectures at Finsbury Park mosque in London and a number of venues in Leeds, Liverpool and Mayfair.
“Abdul Kafi has previously given sermons about killing Jews and advanced antisemitic conspiracy theories, and he is known to have directly inspired the Stockholm suicide bomber, Taimour Abdulwahab.
“Given these facts, can we have a debate on how on earth such an individual was allowed to enter the country and how that is compatible with the Government’s wider Prevent strategy?”
Responding for the government, Mark Spencer, Leader of the House of Commons said: “Antisemitism has absolutely no place in our society. We expect anyone involved in spreading hate to face the full extent of the law, which is why the UK has robust hate crime tools to support the investigation and prosecution of those who incite racial and religious hatred.
“I am aware that the individual has made shocking remarks in the past, and I will raise concerns with the home secretary.”
In a statement, Finsbury Park Mosque said Abdul Kafi had given a talk “on the topic of preparing for Ramadan and how to make the most of this blessed month.”
They added this was a “spiritual talk” that was “not political in nature.”
The mosque said he had received clearance to enter the UK for the Home Office, and that Finsbury Park Mosque had not sponsored his visa to gain entry into the country.
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