'Preacher of hate' to front Birmingham Islam seminar

Apr 12 2009 by Ben Goldby, Sunday Mercury

“People try to find a way of bailing out of Jihad because they do not like it.

“The reality of war is horrible and that’s why people try to avoid it.

“But fighting is proscribed upon you, it is an instruction from Allah.”

The speech, which has been viewed more than 3,500 times, was watched by a gang of five terrorists as they hatched a plot to kill US soldiers at the Fort Dix facility in New Jersey.

The militants, who were convicted last year of conspiracy, will be sentenced later this month. Al-Awlaki is also said to have influenced the September 11 plane hijackers.

Charles Allen, America’s undersecretary of Homeland Security for intelligence and analysis, described Al-Awlaki as “an al Qaida supporter, and former spiritual leader to three of the September 11 hijackers”.

On his own website, set up to distribute his lectures around the world, Al-Awlaki tells followers: “We will implement the rule of Allah on Earth by the tip of the sword, whether the masses like it or not.”

His Birmingham lecture, entitled Virtues of the Sahabah, is being hosted by an education group called the Al Wasatiyyah Foundation, which describes itself as a “non-political, non-partisan” body.

“Ours is a vision to cultivate and awaken the generations of believers to exemplify the Sunnah (way of the prophet) wholeheartedly and to implement Islam in its totality,” a statement on their website says.

“We stand firmly against any calls to compromise and all efforts to undermine the sound aspirations and beliefs held by the Muslim community.”

ben.goldby@sundaymercury.net