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Fury as BBC gives preacher of hate a platform

Last updated at 13:29pm on 22.09.06

The BBC sparked fury today for giving prime-time exposure to a known Islamic extremist. Abu Izzadeen appeared on Radio4's Today programme on the 8.10 slot normally reserved for ministers.

The invitation from the BBC was seen as insensitive on the day a report into the 7/7 bombings was published. Izzadeen, an electrician from Hackney called Trevor Brooks before converting to Islam, has described the attacks in which 52 commuters were murdered as "completely praiseworthy".

Earlier this week he stopped a speech by Home Secretary John Reid with a rant. Speaking to John Humphrys for 12 minutes today he claimed Muslim communities were ready to "explode". He said Tony Blair was "an enemy of Allah" and Mr Reid "a tyrant".

The BBC admitted that furious listeners protested in "tons of emails" that Izzadeen was given airtime to make what was close to a threat of violence. Humphrys said: "We have had tons of emails about that interview I did with Mr Izzadeen.

"Some of you are appalled at the fact that we interviewed him at all."

Listener Alan Newlands wrote saying: "I'm outraged by the amount of time you have given to this madman. I'm outraged by the insult to the Muslim community you perpetrated by allowing this man to appear to represent even a tiny minority."

Jane Parsons said it was right to broadcast the interview but added: "I had to keep switching off the radio because I was so angry."

Margaret Cunningham said that the show had revealed Izzadeen in his "true colours". Dominic Grieve, shadow attorney general, said: "Abu Izzadeen is clearly a malevolent religious fanatic but he is certainly not representative of the Muslim community in Britain."

In the interview Izzadeen claimed British troops were crusaders who were "blessed by their priests before they kill Muslims".

Izzadeen was challenged by Humphrys about his views and asked why he did not stand for election. Asked why he did not go to a country where his version of Islam was practised, the radical replied: "So, there's going to be mass deportations?"

Reader views (16)

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I think the media in the West is too scared to write any true facts about any religion, in case of retaliation, remember "Danish cartoons"? I think BBC was right to let Abu Izzadeen to air his views, that's what he believes in. He was not beating round the bush. Sure Islam is a religion of peace according to him.

- Surj1936, London, UK, 10/11/2007 01:33
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People like this shouldn't be allowed to live in this country.

If they are not going to abide to our rules and try to fit in they should not be here.

If we went to their country we would be expected to respect their beliefs and their laws.

If they want to be treated like they would in their own country we should bring in the laws of their country for those people and when they commit a crime and get punsihed like they would do in that country

- Gill, South Yorkshire, 22/03/2007 15:21
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Abu Izzadeen is NOT practising Islam at all, and what he's saying shouldnt be recognized nor represent it, as it has NOTHING to do with Islam.

- Sarah, KSA, 21/02/2007 13:49
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I'm a Liberal "leftie" and I do not approve of the BBC giving this hypocrite, Abu Izzadeen, air time. This man is not only anti-Islamic but anti-humanity as well. True believers in any religion want peace and harmony not discord and destruction.

- Joan Mary, London, England, 24/10/2006 22:03
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Abu Izzadeen's views are clearly contrary to Islam. One wonders why the BBC as a reputable organisation allows mentally challenged individuals to air views such as these. Or is the BBC propagating Islam as a faith based on violence by presenting to the world hand picked individuals who unknowingly and in the fashion of lemmings spout hate?

I am a new Muslim, a revert if you will. I do not recognise the faith or religion Abu Izzadeen is apparently representing with his distorted views. I believe he is a confused individual who needs a good teacher of faith to guide him to the right path, I pray that he finds his teacher sooner rather than later.

- Raymond Khalil, Luton, England., 17/10/2006 18:53
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Any Muslim fanatic should be removed from the UK. Anyone who lives here needs to know, understand and live by British law. At the moment there's one rule for these fanatics and one rule for the rest of us. When is anything going to be done about it?

- Anonymous, London, 10/10/2006 14:08
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As a Muslim I think people like this ARE the cause of "Islamaphobia"! Such hatred has no place in Islam. He is just a bad Muslim - SIMPLE. In EVERY society there are minority NUTTERS! They should NOT be allowed to "hijack" a beautiful Religion!

- M. Misbah, East London, 02/10/2006 09:03
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According to Islam, anyone who murders, rapes or propogates evil and hatred is guilty of a capital offence.
This man is not Islamic. He is a counter-islamic.

- Fas, london, 26/09/2006 20:07
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"Tell me again: why is this man still in the UK?"

Because he's a native of Hackney and I suspect no-one else would want him - which rules out both deportation and emigration.

- Michael, London, 25/09/2006 10:20
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Could we expect anything less of the BBC?

- Dave Ward, London, SW1, 22/09/2006 16:46
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My belief is that it was right to allow this man to give his views. If we gagged him we would be seen as fascist and I would rather hear someone's views in the hope of understanding why they feel the way they do rather than to hear something second hand, or for the agrieved person to use it as an excuse for terrorism.

- P, Loughton, Essex, 22/09/2006 16:41
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I had to get up and switch this off this morning - this man terrifies me.

- Mary Falconer, London, England, 22/09/2006 15:00
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Margaret Cunningham was quite right. The object of the exercise was to expose the sham that Abu Izzadeen is: give Abu Izzadeen enough rope and he'll hang himself.

- Dhanraj, Basildon, 22/09/2006 14:58
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The BBC was right to interwiew this man. Veiled threat of violence? Give him enough rope I say and then let the police do their work.

- Martyn Warwicvk, London UK, 22/09/2006 14:44
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Tell me again: why is this man still in the UK?

- Homer, London, UK, 22/09/2006 14:08
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It's not surprising at all that the BBC is allowing this to happen.The BBC is a proven biased institution, run by leftists.

- Pantagruel, London, U.K., 22/09/2006 12:58
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