Sermon at suicide bomber’s mosque ‘called for jihad’
AN IMAM at a mosque attended by the Manchester Arena bomber allegedly called for “armed jihad” – just six months before Salman Abedi’s deadly terror attack.
A BBC probe into the Didsbury Mosque in Manchester found just 10 days after the sermon Abedi, 22, bought a ticket to Ariane Grande’s pop concert.
Suicide bomber Abedi murdered 22 people as they left the show at the Manchester Arena on May 22, last year.
According to the BBC News investigation Imam Mustafa Graf ’s sermon was delivered at Abedi’s mosque on December 16, 2016.
Yesterday two Islamic scholars said Graf’s preaching could be interpreted as a call for armed jihad.
Speaking at the time of the bombing of Aleppo, in Syria, Graf asked for mujahideen – a term used for a group fighting armed jihad abroad.
He said: “We ask Allah to grant them mujahideen – our brothers and sisters right now in Aleppo and Syria and Iraq – to grant them victory.”
Elsewhere Graf asked for “Jihad for the sake of Allah is the source of pride and dignity for this nation”.
In another passage he said: “Now it is time to act and do something.”
He added that “the whole world, including Europe, America, what is the so-called civilised world” is watching what is happening in Aleppo and Syria.
The BBC also uncovered another link between Graf and Abedi, as the suicide bomber attended a London demonstration against a secular Libyan General – which was organised by the 17th of February Forum – a group led by Graf although he was not present at that protest.
Two experts agreed that the sermon’s language could be perceived as a call for murderous jihad.
Islamic scholar Shaykh Rehan said: “He’s giving them the narrative of ‘them against us’.
“He is psychologically and practically brainwashing young people into either travelling or to do something to take action.
“The jihad he’s referring to here is actually being on the battlefield, there’s no ifs and no buts in this.”
Usama Hasan, head of Islamic Studies at think-tank Quilliam, said: “From the context and the way these texts are used they are clearly referring to armed jihad.”
He added: “I have known the Islamic discourse for 40 years, from being a child in this country and worldwide. The mujahideen are the group fighting armed jihad.”
Graf denies calling for armed jihad – or ever preaching Islamic extremism – but declined to officially comment.
Meanwhile, the mosque’s trustees tried to dismiss the sermon’s incendiary language by claiming Graf was merely highlighting the plight of Syrians.
They added: “We do not tolerate or instigate any form of preaching that breaches both Islamic principles and the laws of England and Wales.”