Imam calls Israel ‘a racist project’ days before Oct 7 anniversary

October 7, 2024

An Islamic preacher called Israel a “racist European Zionist project” in a sermon to worshippers at a London mosque days before the first anniversary of the Oct 7 attacks.

Speaking at the East London Mosque, in Tower Hamlets, Imam Shaykh Muzzammil Ahmad described the Jewish state as “genocidal” and a “project of colonialism”.

On Friday, Mr Ahmad called Israel a “genocidal Zionist project”, opening his sermon by quoting a passage from the Koran calling Muslims “the best nation”. He said the Muslim community was “as humiliated as it has ever been in its long, rich history” and followers of Islam must unite against the “enemies” who “seek oppression across the globe

…This includes the remaining physical occupation of Europe in Palestine – and that is all that this genocidal Zionist project is.”

On Monday night, the Charity Commission told The Telegraph that it would examine “concerns raised” about the sermon as part of an investigation into the mosque’s associated charitable trust.

A spokesman for East London Mosque told The Telegraph: “Our sermon highlighted issues of injustice and oppression faced by the Palestinian people, especially those in Gaza. Israel’s recent war on Gaza has left over 40,000 people dead, although the actual real figure is estimated to be much higher.

“The sermon made a clear distinction between Judaism as a faith – a religion with which we share a deep historical connection – and the political ideology of Zionism.

…Furthermore, criticisms of the actions of the Israeli government and Zionism are not racist or anti-Semitic – they are legitimate philosophical beliefs protected under the Equality Act 2010.”