.... Since it was set up in 2009, the Islamic Education and Research Academy (Iera) has organised dozens of meetings with extremist speakers.
Abdurraheem Green, its chairman, has previously said that a husband has the right to “apply some type of physical force . . . a very light beating” to his wife — although he said this should leave no marks. He has also quoted a saying of the prophet Muhammad that if you pass a Jew or Christian in the street, you should “push them to the side”.
Hamza Tzortzis, Iera’s head of research, once said: “We as Muslims reject the idea of freedom of speech, and even of freedom.” He has since distanced himself from the comment and claims he was quoted out of context.
Speakers promoted by Iera and members of its advisory council include an Indian preacher called Zakir Naik and Bilal Philips, a Canadian cleric who has previously appeared to condone suicide bombers. Both were barred from entering Britain in 2010 because of security concerns. [The Times (£)] Read more
