Controversial cleric is reinstated

Feb 15 2007 By Jasbir Authi, Birmingham Mail

A CONTROVERSIAL cleric filmed delivering a series of hate-filled sermons in a Birmingham mosque has been officially reinstated to his post.

Hardline preacher Abu Usamah At-Thahabi was secretly taped for months by undercover reporters posing as worshippers at Green Lane Mosque in Small Heath.

He was filmed by the Dispatches programme attacking Jews, Christians, women and calling for the murder of homosexuals and British democracy to be torn down and replaced with an Islamic state.

After the January 15 broadcast, Mr At-Thahabi said all his controversial comments had been taken out of context by the programme makers and that he had nothing to hide.

The Afro-American convert to Islam was suspended from preaching at the mosque while the mosque committee conducted an internal investigation.

Today, Tassadaq Hussain from Green Lane Mosque, said Mr At-Thahabi had been officially reinstated to his preaching activities following the conclusion of an internal investigation.

West Midlands Police are currently locked in a battle with programme makers over unedited tapes.