'Preacher of hate' to front Birmingham Islam seminar

Apr 12 2009 by Ben Goldby, Sunday Mercury

A CONTROVERSIAL preacher of hate banned from America and linked to the 9/11 terror attacks is to lecture young Muslims in Birmingham.

Anwar Al-Awlaki has been named as an Al Qaida supporter by the US Department of Homeland Security.

But the Iman, an American citizen who currently lives in Yemen, is due to front a two-day seminar on Islam in Birmingham over the Bank Holiday weekend of May 24-25.

Al-Awlaki will not appear in person but his speech will be broadcast by videolink, and tickets are already available online for £70.

The exact location has not yet been revealed publicly.

Birmingham Labour MP Roger Godsiff, who represents Sparkbrook and Small Heath, said he was “concerned” about the event and would be contacting the Home Office about it.

“There are more than enough experts on Islam within the UK and I find it disquieting that somebody should be invited to contribute to a seminar when he has been allegedly associated with terrorism and banned from the US,” he said.

“I am very concerned about this particular individual and whether there is a need for him to be involved. It’s sad to say, but there are certainly young men who have been influenced by extremists.

“One of the biggest dangers is in the absence of people challenging these men who twist the meaning of the Quran, youths will start to believe what they are being told.”

In a rant called The Constants of Jihad, which is posted on popular video sharing website Youtube, Al-Awlaki rages against the West and calls for holy war to spread Islam.

Jihad

“Every single government in the world is united to fight against Islam,” he says.