‘We must not shy from use of sanctions’

A BRITISH imam tackling terrorism says Muslims suspected of being radicals should face sanctions.

Abdul Arif, who travels the UK spreading the true meaning of Islam to youngsters, said yesterday his heart was “bleeding tears on two accounts” after seven people were killed at London Bridge.

He said: “Firstly, my city and fellow Londoners have been targeted and suffered at the hands of these savages. Secondly, these savages have tarnished the face of my peaceful religion.”

He said people on the radar of security services should have their passports seized, adding: “The responsibility of the Government is the safety of its people. They need more than surveillance, there needs to be action taken.

“We have got to have restrictions within the society. That can mean that you might have to introduce sanctions and in some cases take away their passports.”

RESTRICTIONS

Abdul, 27, who is head of education for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, said there were “no words” to express how he felt when he learned the attackers screamed “This is for Allah”.

Sending a message to wannabe terrorists, he said: “Whatever you have heard, it’s hearsay. Read the Quran yourselves.”

Abdul said solving the problem was not down to the Muslim community alone but to everybody in the UK.

He said: “Theirs (the terrorists’) is a twisted form of an ideology.

“The Muslim community needs to be more transparent.

“This is something that our communities have been good at. We’ve opened our mosques across the country – it’s about integrating.

“We make the youth we speak to feel a part of society. We have them swear an oath to this country.

“They do not feel separated from society and there’s not one who has become radicalised.

“We need more of this. British values are about looking after your neighbour and that’s also what Islam promotes.

“Today we stand united with the great city of London.”