UK Cleric Leaves Mosque Over Evolution by Andrew Carey, CNN, March 21, 2011
London Imam Subjected to Death Threats for Supporting Evolution and Women's Rights by Rowenna Davis, The Guardian, March 6, 2011. Excerpts follow:
"Dr Usama Hasan, vice-chairman at Leyton mosque and a senior lecturer in engineering at Middlesex University, ceased delivering Friday prayers after 25 years of service when 50 Muslim protesters disrupted his lecture by handing out leaflets against him and shouting in the mosque for his execution."
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"Harun Yahya, a popular Islamic creationist scholar from Turkey, begins a UK tour in London on Monday, adding to the debate. Last December Salir al-Sadlan, a senior Saudi-based scholar Salir al-Sadlan, said Muslims shouldn't pray behind someone who believed in evolution in a speech at Green Lanes mosque in Birmingham."
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"An online petition against Hasan has apparently attracted 1,100 signatories, although they are not listed publicly. The petition says they are 'horrified' by his views on evolution and call for him to be removed before the mosque becomes a 'hotbed of modernist extremism'."
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"Inayat Bunglawala, chair of Muslims4UK, a group promoting Muslim engagement in British society, said there was 'widespread ignorance' about evolution among the Muslim community. 'Many traditional imams are grounded in ancient books in Arabic but have very little grounding in science. I find it staggering how they can be so strongly opposed to evolution without reading about it. That seems to be opposite of the very first commandment of the Qur'an, which is to read,' Bunglawala said."
See also: Scientist Imam Threatened Over Darwinist Views by Tom Peck and Jerome Taylor, The Independent, March 5, 2011.
COMMENT: Many creationists want secularists to engage them in a civil discussion in the hope of allowing ample space among the public for a tolerance of both religious belief and scientific truth. Many do not, as this article exemplifies. Ever heard of a secularist calling for the death of someone because they supported creationism? Neither have I....
