Channel 4 accused of creating mischief over portrayal of Black Muslim in Dispatches documentary
Category: uk Dated: 15/01/2007 A Muslim mosque in Birmingham which features in Dispatches at 8pm tonight has accused Channel 4 of “creating mischief” and “engaging in sensationalism” for claiming that it harbours extremists.
Dispatches claims that extreme theology from Saudi Arabia is being preached in the UK
The Green Lane Mosque in Birmingham
Dispatches reveals how a message of hatred and segregation is being spread throughout the UK, inspired by Saudi Arabia.
Taken from Publicity material for Undercover Mosque documentary
A Muslim mosque in Birmingham which features in Dispatches at 8pm tonight has accused Channel 4 of “creating mischief” and “engaging in sensationalism” for claiming that it harbours extremists.
According to Dispatches, it sent an undercover reporter to different mosques which present a public image of being moderate but claims it found evidence that the mosques operate to the contrary: “Dispatches reveals how a message of hatred and segregation is being spread throughout the UK, inspired by Saudi Arabia.”
The programme claims that its undercover reporter captured “chilling sermons” by preachers trained in Saudi Arabia who “preach hatred for non-Muslims and for Muslims who do not follow their extreme beliefs.”
The documentary shows secretly-filmed footage of an African American preacher, Imam Abu Usaamah, from Queens in New York, who studied in Saudi Arabia and who preached at the Green Lane Mosque in Birmimgham. The programme accuses the preacher of promoting an extreme view of Islam.
The Green Lane Mosque serves as the headquarters of the UK branch of Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith. Its followers practice Salafism , which seeks to follow the earliest traditions of Islam, which followers believe are more orthodox, peaceful and pure.
The Saltley Gate Peace Group (SGPG), a multi-faith community organisation based in Birmingham is made up of representatives from the Muslim and Christian community. It issued a press statement on Friday giving its “undiminished support” for the Green Lane Mosque.
SGPG said that Imam Abu Usaamah: “…is accepted by much of his congregation and the wider interfaith community to be a peaceful man and is known to promote peace to his congregation.” It also said that Abu Usaamah has denounced terrorism on several occasions and encourages worshippers to avoid “political Islam and radicalism.”
Dispatches claims that young western Muslims are being recruited by universities in Saudi Arabia and converted into “extreme theology,” before being returned to the west to spread their messages of hate. It claims that the documentary reveals:
Green Lane Mosque accuses Dispatches of distorting the truth
It is deeply alarming that a few sentences have been taken out of context to create the impression that our institution is a hotbed of fanaticism.
Shaykh Shouaib Ahmed, the Secretary General of Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith
“…preachers condemning the idea of integration into British society, condemning British democracy as un-Islamic and praising the Taliban for killing British soldiers.” But Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith, which has its UK headquarters at the Green Lane Mosque, hit back at Channel 4, accusing it of: “Engaging in sensationalism at the expense of peaceful community relations.”
It said the programme was subject to selective editing which presents a “grossly distorted” image of the organisation and that furthermore: “Dispatches set out with a pre-determined agenda to create mischief and portray some leading Muslim organisations in a negative light.”
On January 7, Shaykh Shouaib Ahmed, the Secretary General of Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith wrote to Andrew Smith of Hardcash Productions, responsible for the documentary accusing the programme of bias: “You did not even have the courtesy to request an interview with me so that my viewpoint could be included in your programme,” the letter states.
Ahmed also categorically rejects the findings of the documentary. He wrote: “As far as your specific criticism of the Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith is concerned, namely that we are influenced by an teach an extreme version of Islam, we reject that assertion.”
Ahmed said that its organisation has been actively involved in interfaith initiatives to promote harmonious relations and dialogue between Muslims and Christians in the Birmingham community and wider society. He also rejected the allegation that students from the Green Lane Mosque were being sent on “Wahabism” courses at Medina University in Saudi Arabia, saying that no such courses exist.
In a statement Ahmed said: “It is deeply alarming that a few sentences have been taken out of context to create the impression that our institution is a hotbed of fanaticism.”
SPGP said that more resources should be directed towards preventing the real radical groups from influencing young Muslims, instead of: “…demonising the general population for the actions of a select few.”
Dispatches reveals how a message of hatred and segregation is being spread throughout the UK, inspired by Saudi Arabia. 
