LM is not easily shocked and astonished by the behaviour of some Muslims however, I make an exception in the case of the disturbing and appalling treatment of Sheikh Mohammed El Salamouni by Regents Park Mosque.
For those not aware Sheikh Salamouni was viciously assaulted a few years ago in an unprovoked assault while carrying out Imam duties in Regents Park Mosque and as a result became blinded for life while the culprit was declared to be insane and is now in a secure Hospital. Naturally it goes without saying the horrific consequences of the assault have had a devastating impact on Sheikh Salamouni and his family.
However, following the assault, Regents Park Mosque are now attempting to kick out the Sheikh from his flat in the Mosque and have just obtained an eviction order. In addition, Regents Park are currently also contesting liability over the assault so they have not provided any compensation to a man who has lost his sight while working on their premises.
You might find the above absolutely shocking however it gets worse because of the complete news blackout and silence leaving British Muslims either unaware of the conduct of Regents Park or alternatively they refuse to join a fight over justice for Sheikh Salamouni.
Regents Park Mosque is run by a shadowy Saudi character called Dr Ahmed Dubayan the Director General and one of the most influential Muslims in this country. Dubayan is to be found on all manner of Muslim establishment outfits like for example the King Fahad Academy and Chair of Minab's Interfaith Committee which surprise surprise "welcomes" and "supports" the Prevent spying strategy after taking huge sums of Govt money. However, in terms of irony and given the disgusting treatment of a poor defenceless blind man what has to take the biscuit is that Dubayan is also Patron of Fight For Sight a charity who have funded research into blindness for 40 years and has the Duke of York as its Royal Patron.
Dr Ahmed Dubayan
I will leave you to judge why a Saudi citizen is allowed by our Government to run the premier Mosque not just in the UK but perhaps in Europe and am keen to establish what role Regents Park may have had in terms of involvement with the Spooks over the discredited Prevent spying Strategy
Sadly you will not find currently any major Muslim organisation come out in support of Sheikh Salamouni. The Islam Channel are silent, and have not covered this story, nothing from the MCB, or MAB or any other major Muslim outfit. London Mosques who beg for money from the Saudi's for their new chandeliers and plush carpets will also remain silent. However, Sheikh Salamouni who is Egyptian and from Al Azhar is finding support from the outstanding Egyptian Association in the UK and with Mubarak gone the new Egyptian Govt are increasingly asserting themselves over this case.
LM urges British Muslims and in particular those of us in London to show our support for the blind Sheikh and to start ensuring Regents Park Mosque is accountable to Muslims here in the UK not to their paymasters overseas. I am reluctant to engage in a Muslim against Muslim battle largely because our enemies will be laughing all the way to the Pub over our inability to unite. However, ultimately when the conduct of one side is so contrary to the norms of behaviour expected of a fellow Muslim who refuse to enter meaningfully into dialogue and resolve this case satisfactorily with compassion then we Muslims must stand up and be counted on the side or justice.
Muslims who support justice for the weak, oppressed and defenceless blind Sheikh Salamouni will be demonstrating outside the London Saudi Embassy this Friday 24 June after Jummah at 2.30pm and I urge all Muslims to join the demo. More details to follow.
shocking treatment of Sheikh Salamouni, disgusting behaviour on behalf of MCB, MAB and nothing better can be expected of regents park mosque leadership...terrible!!!!
ReplyDeleteSalam,
ReplyDeleteIt is to your credit not to stay silent about Sheikh Salamouni's predicament.There must be a fairer approach acceptable to all parties involved. Raising the question of foreign control of mosques in this country is spot on!
Is there an address/phone number we could deluge with complaints??
ReplyDeleteStrange that MCB & MAB are singled out, even though they did not cause the hurt. It is unjust as blaming all Muslims for not condemning an act of a single "Muslim" terorist, even though they are not personally culpable. Are those who hold this type of behaviour becoming slowly Judaized (scape-goating) or Christianized (Vicarious Liability)? A sin of omission is different to that of commision. Those to blame are the those that commited the act.
ReplyDeleteAs for the myopic pro-RAND strategy of parochial British Islam, talk about useful idiots. Islam is an Ummah thing, catholic & universal.
What I think should be a suitable action is having a deluge of complaints to an address/telephone number in the short term. In the long term, supporting the grassroots pre-7/7 organisations by active participation & pushing for transparency & accountability. Shouting from the sidelines as a lazy inactive individual or on behalf of an Establishment lapdog is a waste of time.
I have read the following article,i find it hard to believe as a muslim why these treatments. a muslim a good believer he who loves for his brother what he loves for him self.........etc
ReplyDeletewhat on earth have mab got to do with it? If what is said is true ie that the shaikh is the victim of injustice by ICC here (remember the quranic exhortation is that it is forbidden to form conclusions in issues of disputes between parties without hearing both sides) EVERY mosque/muslim individual in UK is culpable for not (according to the logic being employed by some of the posts above) - not just MAB. MAB does not as far as I know claim to represent all muslims.
ReplyDeleteWOW !!! , SubhanaAllah! what a trail!
ReplyDeleteHow can they discriminate against such a dutiful Muslim,when he still can work, He does not need his eyes to pass on Allah's word. May Allah help and reward Shiekh Muhammad El Salamouni.Ameen x
Salaams,
ReplyDeleteWhile I believe the unnamed, faceless brother 'LM' who is promoting this demonstration has good intention, he is somewhat lacking in knowledge of the full historic facts.
Since the Masjid was built, the agreement was for a Saudi-appointed diplomat to be Director General and for Al-Azhar to provide the Imams. It is nothing do with 'our government'.
In recent years, the Imams from Al Azhar have not been prominent Sheikhs, they have been relatively junior and inexperienced imams. One has to understand that they are not sent on the basis of their wisdom and experience, but unfortunately various bribery, arm-twisting and use of friends networks is utilised by certain individuals to gain themselves a lucrative overseas placement such as in London or USA. As wrong as it may be, it is a matter of fact that this is how it has been working - If anyone wishes to question this I will name names within Al-Azhar and the Egyptian Embassy of individuals who have been at the receiving end and imams who have given! Al Azhar saving money on salaries also hinders them from sending more prominent imams.
As for the next information, this does not apply to all and there are some exceptions. But generally these Egyptian Imams have then used the priviledge of their UK place NOT to focus on sharing their knowledge of Islam but on serving their own economic and financial interests - whether that is securing a UK passport for themselves or their offspring, getting access to government benefits and education or cumulatively earning vast sums of money privately and independently of the Masjid by performing off-site Nikah ceremonies and functions such as funerals.
ReplyDeleteVery rarely have the Egyptian imams in recent years voluntary run classes to teach or organised other activities - they do the minimum their paid contract requires them to do.
Further, some have claimed living allowances and rent while they have been benefitting from free accomodation for themselves and their families in addition to their salaries.
ReplyDeleteI am NOT saying Sheikh Mohammed falls into the above category. I am saying that has generally been the actions of the Egyptian imams in recent years.
The next point is there is a minority of people - linked with the Egyptian community association, who have long had a vendetta against Ahmed Dubayan. Dubayan is not perfect but he has held the Masjid steady for over 10 years and seen it through 9/11, 7/7 and other pressures at the same time as maintaining an open door approach to the wide variety of Muslims from all cultures and sects who choose to visit Regents Park. (Unlike many narrow minded Pakistani run mosques where fights break out at the slightest diversion from their own school of thinking).
This minority first encouraged and attempted to get Sheikh Anwar Mady, the former Head Imam and "Deputy Director General" who was barely out of university, to overthrow Dubayan. This group have disgracefully politicised the suffering of Sheikh Mohammad for their own ends, pretending to care for him whereas in reality they have political objectives.
ReplyDeleteThird, it has been established in a UK court of law that Sheikh Mohammad's employers are Al Azhar, not the ICC. For him to claim against the Masjid - whatever he is claiming - would be wrong and it would be funds that would otherwise be destined for the running and upkeep of the Masjid.
People complain about the state of the dome, the disgusting Wudu and toilet area - paying out compensation would only further reduce the funds available for such work.
ReplyDeleteSad things happen to individuals and it is by the wisdom and will of the Almighty. There is no concept in Islam of claiming compensation in these circumstances, especially from a party who is not your employer.
The Irishman could have wanted to convert to Islam - as dozens every week do at Regents Park - the security guard acted in good faith. How was he to know he would flip and attack the Sheikh?
As I understand, both the Masjid the Saudi authorities have provided legal and medical help to the Sheikh. I do not know what more specifically he was asking for.
I have every sympathy with Sheikh Mohammed and the sacrifice he has made by losing his sight for life while working as an Imam. I have no sympathy whatsoever however for anyone who wants to use such an incident to obtain money from a Masjid which is there to serve the whole community.
Regents Park should show good faith in giving him more notice till after Ramadan, but the Sheikh also needs to compromise too and be reasonable - and know of the minority who are using his plight for their own political ends.
Ws
Bilal
I am attending regent park mosque from last 6 years and I know all the management and aware of sheikh case that what exactly happened to sheikh. he is very qualified and very good imam no doubt but now what's happening every Friday after prayers its totally unacceptable because many non Muslims laughing at us and our Muslim community because we fighting with each other.
ReplyDeleteFlat in which imam is living at the moment is mosque property and he never worked directly with the mosque , al Azhr university used to pay him wages. and the time he was attacked in the mosque it was not his duty time. and according to the security he asked sheikh 2 times that he know this guy and sheikh agreed in court hearing that security asked that Irish guy to leave but sheikh request security to leave him.
Now people demonstrating outside mosque every Friday ,they just doing this for their own benefit because many people inside the mosque asked sheikh personally to stop this demonstration and sheikh replied that he asked everyone not to demonstrate but he said its out of his hand.
Now mosque is asking sheikh to leave the flat because new imam is coming but he sued mosque. how can someone sue house of ALLAH.
Honest to ALLAH I am very sad with the behaviour of sheikh with creating fitna it Muslim community.
ws
wahid