Extremist literature has reportedly been handed out at a London mosque.
The leaflets said to be distributed at a holy gathering by the Darul Uloom Qadria Jilania in Walthamstow, state that apostates “deserve to be assassinated.” Metropolitan Police has initiated a hate-crime investigation following the discovery.
Imam Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani, whose name and picture feature on the front cover of the booklets, is suspected of being involved in their distribution, the London Evening Standard reported. However, he has strongly denied any association, “I am not aware of why or how the booklet was distributed in Darul Uloom Qadria Jilania.” Jilani has claimed the distribution of extremist literature was being “falsely attributed” to him.
The booklet cites the case of Mumtaz Qadri, who killed Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer in 2011. It says “all Muslims should support Qadri and that being a big shot does not prevent someone from being an apostate who deserves to be killed.”
One person who received the leaflet said, “Two or three people delivered the leaflet. I am shocked. I think it gives a bad impression.”
Scotland Yard assured that action was being taken to establish whether a criminal offence has taken place. A spokesperson said, “We are committed to tackling hate crime in all its forms and have long since recognised the impact of hate crime on communities.”
COURTESY: The Independent
