Police probe 'hate leaflet handed out urging Muslims to kill blasphemers'
POLICE have launched an investigation into a booklet allegedly telling Muslims to kill those who insult Islam.
The hate-filled text was allegedly handed out outside a mosque in Walthamstow, and claims anyone who disrespects the prophet Mohammed "must be killed".
The leaflet was distributed outside the Dar-ul-Uloom Qadria Jilania mosque, and carries the name of preacher Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani on the front cover.
He denies writing it or having anything to do with its production.
Met Police is launching a probe into the literature, which reportedly says that those who renounce religion "deserve to be assassinated".
A spokesman said they were working to "establish whether a criminal offence has taken place".
The pamphlet allegedly points to a classical manual of Islamic law, which it uses to justify calling for the extra-judicial killings.
An investigation by the Evening Standard says the leaflet also professes support for murderer Mumtaz Qadri, who killed a governor in Pakistan back in 2011 because he opposed his liberal reforms, which Qadri saw as defying strict Islamic principles.
The propaganda rag says "all Muslims should support" killer Qadri, and that being a "big shot" does not prevent someone from being a target.
One worshipper said: "The event was a few months ago. I took one, but other people took them as well.
"I think more than 100 people were at this event. It was at Giyarween Shareef [a holy gathering].
"Two or three people delivered the leaflet. Unfortunately, I am shocked. I think it gives a bad impression.
"Islam teaches when you live here you obey the law and the rule of law, but this is not doing that."
Mr Jilani said the publication had been "falsely attributed" to him, and maintained he did not authorise the use of his name or picture.
He added he did not give permission for any of his sermons to be reproduced, and did not know "if, why or how" it was handed out at the mosque, and was done "without authorisation by either me or any member of the committee".
He affirmed he was against its content, and said: "I vehemently deny advocating the killing of anyone; this is terrorism. I have spoken out several times against terrorism in public."
Referring to the leaflet, he continued: "I do not agree with the booklet's contents. I am not aware of if, why or how, the booklet was distributed in Dar-ul-Uloom Qadria Jilania.
"If it was distributed... then this was done without any authorisation by either me or any member of the committee of Dar-ul-Uloom Qadria Jilania."
The mosque is also the headquarters of the International Muslim Movement charity, which Mr Jilani is a trustee for.
I vehemently deny advocating the killing of anyone
The Charity Commission said it too was examining the material and debating whether to launch an investigation.
It said: "We are assessing the information received as a matter of urgency so as to establish the facts and have contacted the charity's trustees for their response.
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"However, if the information provided is accurate it would raise serious regulatory concerns."
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We will be assessing the contents of these leaflets to establish whether any criminal offence has taken place.
"We are committed to tackling hate crime in all its forms and have long since recognised the impact of hate crime on communities."