‘Martyrdom is the supreme success, imam told children’

A RADICAL imam told children that martyrdom was the “supreme success” and better than anything they would achieve at school or college, a court has heard.

Kamran Hussain, 40, allegedly made a series of inflammatory sermons over four months last year, encouraging terrorism and supporting Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant in Syria.

Mr Hussain, of Stoke-upon-trent, Staffs, who denies the charges, had also posted his views on social media, jurors at the Old Bailey heard.

In a post in March last year, he made an apparent reference to Isil, saying it was “knocking on your door” and if you were “enraged” by it, “then our message is simple: Die in your rage”.

His Friday lunchtime speeches at a charity-funded mosque in Tunstall High Street, Stoke-upon-trent, were made in front of around 40 worshippers, often including children aged under 15, jurors heard. He voiced support for Isil and told children that martyrdom was the “supreme success” and better than what they would achieve at school or college.

He was arrested after an undercover law enforcement officer secretly recorded sermons from June last year.

At a meeting on Aug 19 last year, there were up to 15 children present and 25 adults as he gave a sermon about “Kuffar” or non-muslims, the court heard. Mr Hussain allegedly blamed the British government for creating the English Defence League and funding them to “insult” Muslims and put them down.

He also claimed far right group Britain First was a “government-backed project”, jurors heard.

After he was arrested in February, Mr Hussain issued a short statement saying the ability to discuss “difficult concepts in a challenging world” is an essential part of exercising religion and freedom of speech.

Mr Hussain denies eight charges, two of supporting Isil and six of encouraging terrorism on dates between June and September last year.

The trial continues.