The mosque has “failed to make any condemnation of violence on its own website and had hosted speeches talking about giving money for ‘jihad.'”
But Greater Manchester Police, like all British authorities, are locked in a fantasy world of their own making, and continue to insist that entities such as the Didsbury Mosque are “moderate” and to be warmly encouraged.
“Greater Manchester Police are condemned for endorsing ‘community event’ at mosque attended by Salman Abedi as public inquiry into Arena bombing hears it turned ‘blind eye’ to extremism,” by Darren Boyle, MailOnline, March 16, 2022:
Greater Manchester Police have been slammed for endorsing an event at a mosque attended by Manchester Arena suicide bomber Salman Abedi which was accused turning a ‘blind eye’ to extremism.
Didsbury Mosque in south Manchester came under severe criticism on Monday at the Manchester Arena public inquiry into the terror attack, with calls for its status as a charity to be ‘reviewed’ by regulators.
Dr Paul Stott, Head of Policy Exchange’s Security and Counter Extremism Unit, said:
‘The Greater Manchester Police should as a matter of urgency review their endorsement of this event. But they also need to be upfront and have a proper, unflinching look at wider issues, outside of this single event.
‘The GMP– and indeed the local authority, its representatives, and anyone in public life – must think more carefully about “choosing their friends wisely” when they are looking at which community groups to engage with.’
Policy Exchange said it has been urging caution since 2009 in applying criteria for engagement with Muslim groups.
Lawyers for the families of the 22 people murdered in the Manchester Arena attack said it was accepted the mosque was in no way linked to the bombing or the radicalisation of suicide bomber Salman Abedi, who carried out the outrage on May 22, 2017.
But it was claimed the mosque had hosted extreme Islamist sermons, failed to condemn violence and ‘buried its head in the sand’ over radicals in its congregation.
Salman Abedi was said to have attended the mosque and his father Ramadan and brother Ismail were also involved in positions at the mosque.
John Cooper QC, representing some of the bereaved families, said: ‘The vast majority of Muslim people are peace-loving, we know that. I know that, every right-minded person knows that.
‘Where pockets of extremism and violent ideology exist, it is imperative that those who seek community leadership confront and combat that extremism without hesitation or equivocation.’
Mr Cooper described the evidence to the inquiry from Fawzi Haffar, the current chair of trustees of Didsbury Mosque, also known as Manchester Islamic Centre, as ‘frankly implausible’.
Mr Haffar claimed the mosque’s Islamic orientation was not extreme but ‘middle of the road’, and he said he was not aware of any links to Libya or knowledge of worshippers going abroad to fight in Syria or Libya.
However, Mr Cooper suggested he downplayed any issues and was more concerned with protecting the mosque’s reputation than putting things right.
He said it was ‘concerning’ and ‘troubling’ that the mosque failed to make any condemnation of violence on its own website and had hosted speeches talking about giving money for ‘jihad’.
An Imam at the mosque, Mohammed El-Saeiti, had delivered a sermon in October 2014 in which he explicitly condemned some terrorist groups.
But Mr El Saeiti said the trustees believed speaking up against terrorists would ‘provoke’ its sympathisers and supporters.
The mosque then failed to support him when he faced a petition for his removal signed by, among others, Ramadan Abedi.
He said after the bombing the mosque’s solicitor, a Mr Hafezi, pressured him to not mention the Abedis’ links to the mosque.
Mr Cooper said it showed the mosque was aware of the presence of extremist and violent sentiment among parts of the congregation, and the south Manchester Muslim community more generally, but adopted a ‘passive’ attitude and preferred to ‘turn a blind eye’.
This approach amounted to a ‘dereliction of duty’ to the community by Didsbury Mosque, Mr Cooper said….
Michael Copeland says
“John Cooper QC, representing some of the bereaved families, said: ‘The vast majority of Muslim people are peace-loving, we know that.”
What about the Islamic source texts?
Are they “peace-loving”?
It is the texts that define Islam, not the “vast majority of Muslim people”.
john smith says
Well said Michael.
Michael Copeland says
John Cooper QC, acting for some of the families, “said it was ‘concerning’ and ‘troubling’ that the mosque failed to make any condemnation of violence on its own website and had hosted speeches talking about giving money for ‘jihad’.”
Islam mandates violence against kafirs, so mosques will not be condemning it.
One eighth part of zakat, the money given to mosques, is required by Islamic law to go to jihad.
Jihad is a communal obligation.
Michael Copeland says
Islamic law is not part of a barrister’s training. Perhaps it should be.
gravenimage says
Yes and no, Michael. I agree that ignorance of Islamic law is a danger–but *endorsement* of Islamic law, which might lead to its being taught, would actually be much worse.
Eleanor says
A well balanced and thought out opinion GI.
James Lincoln says
gravenimage,
If law students were taught the *truth* about islam, sharia, etc., then it would be a plus.
But leftist law schools would serve up a very whitewashed version, leaving future attorneys “worse off” than they were before.
Walter Sieruk says
Which that “Community Event:” the leaders of that mosque are advertising in the city of Manchester in the United Kingdom which portrays the coming occurrence and a wholesome social happening . It will probably will turn out to be “peaceful and wholesome
This is really what a socialist would call an attempt of “Impression management.”
This type of Muslim “impression management” is ,naturally ,meant to give Islam better image in Manchester and they hope throughout the UK.. In other words,those Muslims who are holding this planned activity and hoping that they can recuse Islam’s reputation if they are able to . Even if this being very disingenuous and making use of the Taqiyya which in this specific situation is the deliberate employment of lies and deception of the British people with the bogus claim that “Islam is a peaceful ,non-violent religion that has been hijacked by criminals.”
What balderdash,for that jihad bomber Salman Abedi commuted that mass murder for Islam . As the Qu ‘ran instructs in 47:4 “Whenever you encounter the disbelievers strike off their heads until you make a great slaughter among them…” The cruel horrible reality is that a bomb can create a greater slaughter among them than a sword can.
There is also 9:111. that teaches that for Islam it’s necessary in the jihad “To kill and be killed, to slay and be slain..”
For it’s no coincidence that this large community social event is held in the citiy of that murderous affront where that jihadist for the cause of Islam committed that Islamic suicide/homicide terror mass murder bombing.
Furthermore ,that the Manchester police even endorsed that Muslim “community event” for Islamic propaganda indicates the that they have been influenced and maybe even beguiled by some Islamic lobby pressure organization.
In any case, this is all very sad.
gravenimage says
Good analysis, Walter.
john smith says
+1
john smith says
Well said Michael.
gravenimage says
UK: Greater Manchester Police endorse ‘community event’ at mosque attended by jihad mass murderer
…………..
This Mosque *should be closed*, not having its events endorsed by the Manchester Police.
And the idea that this Mosque is all about making smoothies and help figuring out your recycling is ludicrtous. As for women’s well being, the best thing they could do for their helth is leave Islam, which endorces FGM, child marriage, wife beating, and “Honor Killing”.
OLD GUY says
No different than our political office holders in America bailing out BLM criminal rioters from jail. Common sense is all but gone. The LIBERAL ACTIVIST now has the floor and won’t shut up until someone kicks them off the podium.
John Allan says
You think that’s peculiar to BRITISH authorities!?
I seriously doubt that!
John Allan says
Punctuation serves a very useful purpose!
Try using it!
Michael says
GMP are equally famous for their light touch approach to brown on white grooming. Former police chief Peter Fahy seemed to be a decent bloke. I suspect that keeping Manchester’s young people safe from predation, drugs, terrorism and knife crime… requires a far bigger and better force.
Walter Sieruk says
That horrendously evil murderous Muslim /terrorist bombing. in Manchester UK, is not as some claim as result of a warped version of Islam but hard core non-watered down Qur ‘an based Islam. For example, the Qur ‘an instructs in Sura 9:123 “O you who believe ! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you, and let them find harshness in you…” It’s thus very easy for a jihad minded Muslim show harshness to young girls who are not Muslims by exploding and bomb .This sure can be harsh This wicked action was the outcome of the deadly cruel religion which is Islam.
Walter Sieruk says
That heinous and evil Islamic terrorist bombing in the city in Manchester, England was totally evil. This not as some claim a result of a “hijacked Islam” but actual violent Qur ‘an based jihad Islam. This Muslim suicide /homicide bombing is on the Qu ‘ran as ,for example , in Sura 9:111 it teaches “The believers fight in Allah’s cause they slay and are slain, they kill and are killed…” Furthermore, in Sura 47:4. it also instructs “Whenever you encounter the unbelievers strike off their heads until you make a great slaughter among them.
…”
The terrible reality that, setting off a bomb murdering young are who are not Muslims is a very effective way to “make greater slaughter among them.”
In conclusion, the religion of Islam is actually a death cult.