OBE awarded Imam dropped after attending event singing national anthem

Muslim cleric who was awarded an OBE for mosque attack response is dropped after speaking to congregation that sang the National Anthem

• OBE awarded Imam Mohammed Mahmoud has been sidelined by his superiors 
• It comes after he attended an event where the new National Anthem was sung 
• He has now been told he can no longer lead prayers at the East London Mosque 

One of Britain’s most prominent Muslim clerics has been sidelined by his superiors after he attended an event where the new National Anthem was sung.

Imam Mohammed Mahmoud has been told he can no longer lead prayers at the East London Mosque after giving a speech in front of a congregation who sang God Save The King and waved Union Jacks.

Mr Mahmoud rose to fame at his previous job, when he was imam at the Finsbury Park Mosque in North London, which was once a hotbed of radicalism but has since become a moderate place of worship.

In 2017 he stopped an angry mob from attacking Darren Osborne – now serving a minimum jail term of 43 years – after he ploughed his van into worshippers outside the mosque, killing one of them.

Imam Mohammed Mahmoud was awarded an OBE for his heroic response calming an angry mob from attacking Darren Osborne – now serving a minimum jail term of 43 years – after he ploughed his van into worshippers outside the mosque, killing one of them

Mr Mahmoud was later awarded an OBE for his heroic response to the attack.

He was appointed senior imam at East London Mosque (ELM) in Tower Hamlets, one of the country’s biggest Islamic places of worship, in 2019.

The current dispute arose after he was one of the key speakers at a commemoration event for the Queen at the Regent’s Park Mosque on September 15, a week after Her Majesty’s death.

The congregation, which included dozens of Muslim schoolchildren, sang God Save The King and the pupils waved Union Jacks.

Video footage of the proceedings went viral on social media and complaints were apparently made by worshippers and members of the wider Muslim community.

Mr Mahmoud was condemned by Islamic hardliners on WhatsApp groups including one called Our Tower Hamlets. The imam was called a ‘joke’ and a ‘sellout’, and some demanded his sacking.

Sources close to the ELM said that mosque officials did not officially suspend the imam, but told him not to lead any of the daily five Muslim prayers at the mosque, amid concerns that he may be attacked.

Mr Mahmoud has now been told he can no longer lead prayers at the East London Mosque after giving a speech in front of a congregation who sang God Save The King and waved Union Jacks

Officials at the ELM, which has received hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money over the years through the local council, even brought in a panel of Muslim scholars to make a ruling on the issue.

The scholars ruled that although the event was unfortunate, it did not take place at the ELM, so the imam should be allowed to return to work.

But the decision was followed by a protest inside the mosque by at least 30 worshippers last Saturday, who demanded that the imam not be reinstated.

A petition also went up on the website change.org, entitled ‘Remove Mohammed Mahmoud of East London Mosque’, which has received 1,300 signatures.

Hardline Muslims say that commemorating a non-Muslim is frowned upon, and add that the National Anthem contains a prayer imploring God to save the ruling monarch.

Extremists say it is forbidden for Muslims to pray for non-Muslims.

Last night, Dilowar Khan, director of finance and engagement at the ELM, said Imam Mahmoud was not actually suspended but has been told not to lead any prayers over fears for his safety.

Mr Khan said: ‘He has not been suspended. He is not leading any prayers for now. This is for his own safety. Some people, as you know, are protesting against him.’

When asked when the imam will be fully reinstated, Mr Khan said: ‘I can’t discuss all of this, as we are still working on it.’

Ironically, the East London Mosque has been visited by King Charles, when he was Prince of Wales, as well as by other members of the Royal Family.

Last night, leading moderate imams dismissed claims that Muslims cannot sing the National Anthem in mosques.

Imam Ajmal Masroor said: ‘You can sing songs anywhere as long as they are not indecent or provoke violence.’ He added: ‘It is wrong to say that you cannot pray for a non-Muslim when they are alive. You can pray for non-Muslims, it is fine.’

Imam Mahmoud refused to comment when contacted last week, referring The Mail on Sunday to the mosque.

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