UK TV show 'uncovers extreme Saudi preachers'

FILM SET: The London Central Mosque where documentary makers went undercover.

British documentary makers say they have discovered female Saudi preachers at an influential British mosque are urging followers to kill homosexuals and view all non-Muslims as “vile”.

The London Central Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre, known as the Regent’s Park Mosque, is one of the most respected centres for moderate Islam in western Europe, according to The Times newspaper.

However, an undercover investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches programme has found extremist preachers have held study circles there and are teaching followers a hardline version of the faith followed in Saudi Arabia, known as Wahhabism.

The documentary, which will be broadcast in the UK on Monday, is a follow-up to Undercover Mosque, which investigated a number of mosques and was made by the same team more than a year ago. That resulted in an investigation by West Midlands Police, who accused the makers of distorting sermons and inflaming tensions.

Officers took no action against extremist preachers whose words were broadcast. Ofcom rejected the complaint and the force had to apologise to Channel 4. It agreed at the High Court to pay $181,000 for libel.

In the programme, Ahmed Al-Dubayan, the mosque’s director, said the women were not authorised by the mosque.

The Muslim Council of Britain, of which the mosque is an affiliate, said: “Some of the statements are deeply offensive . . . [but] it would be very wrong, and quite unfair, to smear the whole centre.”

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Reply to Xaff
Posted by PJ, Kuwait on Saturday 20 September 2008 at 18:27 UAE time


I've visited several Hindu temples & institutions and have never seen or heard hatred preached against anyone. One swallow doesn't make a summer.

Try watching the American Media
Posted by Suhail Shafi, New York, USA on Wednesday 10 September 2008 at 21:25 UAE time


Maybe those who watch the programs on the British media should try watching the Christian Broadcasting Network of fundamentalist preacher Pat Robertson which routine preaches hatred against secularists, liberals, gays and of course Muslims. Or how about the Glenn Beck Show on CNN where the host has in the past has mulled turning undocumented migrants into biofuel.

The fact is, the US corporate media is itself a mouthpiece for hate speech, incitement and factual misinformation, all covered by the sacrosant First Amendment that permits almost unlimited freedom of expression. That mosques are accused of being breeding grounds for ``extremism'' while the mainstream media is given a pass for its many transgressions in the name of freedom of expression is a sad sign of the double standards that define our times.

Community?
Posted by Paul, Dubai on Monday 8 September 2008 at 17:20 UAE time


Maybe if members of that same community did a bit more to distance themselves from that individual (instead of blaming a Jewish media conspiracy), it would be a bit easier to distinguish between individual and community. Just a thought.

Re:
Posted by Xaff, Dubai, UAE on Monday 8 September 2008 at 14:35 UAE time

Why target Muslims! Which religious institution is not preaching intolerance and hatred. Channel 4 should visit Hindu temples and institutions to see for themselves. Hindu fundamentalists are preaching hatred against Muslims and Christians. My conlusion is please do not target the whole community for views expressed by an individual.

yeah, right!
Posted by phil, dubai, uae on Friday 5 September 2008 at 01:03 UAE time


the irony, what is wrong with the word "jewish media"?
you are way protective on this issue. and please enough this "antisemitic" rhetoric. it insults many intelligences.

Again- the irony!
Posted by Joey, Dubai, UAE on Thursday 4 September 2008 at 10:23 UAE time


Propaganda is a fact of life, we can agree on that. But yet you deny you've been fed the sort of propaganda you think you're speaking against. I assume you think this programme is promoting xenophobia or negative attitudes towards Muslims, and I can completely see your point of view. But you have clearly been led, in some way, by anti-semitic propaganda in order to jump to the conclusion that this programme was funded by "jewish" media.

It is Propaganda
Posted by Dost M, Calgary, Canada on Wednesday 3 September 2008 at 20:32 UAE time

Man haven't you been following the Events after the last similar documentary was released by channel 4? do you know BBC comments and UK police comments on that documentary? NO ? this is called Propaganda? you spread the bad false news to masses , people receive it because of stereotype in UK like society and then nobody follow the correction!
Even your Hollywood is spreading the propaganda.

The irony
Posted by Joey, Dubai, UAE on Wednesday 3 September 2008 at 14:33 UAE time

To Dost M, It would seem you have been conned by a fair amount of propaganda yourself. Your delightfully entertaining conspiracy theory of "Jewish media" funding Channel 4 is easily the funniest, most naive thing I've heard all year! Keep them coming!

Propaganda
Posted by Dost M, Calgary, Canada on Monday 1 September 2008 at 11:40 UAE time

I have watched the earlier documentary created by Channel 4. They have picked up words of their own from the lectures and present them as outrageous!

But if you listen to the whole conversation one easily understand that it doesn't mean what has been presented.

The problem is that Jewish media has funded Channel 4 to create such documentaries. I am sure that after sometimes Channel 4 will apologize again to the Muslim but the damages they are causing is more than their apology

Societal and cultural norms
Posted by Doug, Dubai on Sunday 31 August 2008 at 15:47 UAE time


These people should respect the cultural, social and religious values of the UK, in much the same way that expats here should respect the cultural, social and religious values of the UAE.

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