Shakeel Begg, an imam who has been deemed an extremist by the High Court, continues to interact with primary school children at his mosque and work with the Metropolitan Police, despite concerns about his influence and ability to 'plant the seed of extremism'. Begg, the chief imam at Lewisham Islamic Centre, has been involved in activities that have raised alarms about the potential for radicalizing young minds, particularly in a context marked by 14 years of Conservatives in power. His engagement with children and the police comes after a history of legal issues, including a lost lawsuit against Andrew Neil, where he was described as encouraging religious violence. This situation has sparked a debate on the cultural conflict between certain Islamic extremist values and British societal norms, with some commentators arguing that taxpayer money is inadvertently supporting radicalization. Additionally, incidents involving Shakeel Afsar, described as 'rent an Islamist', who has been involved in intimidating actions against MPs and playing the victim on issues of Islamophobia, further complicate the narrative around free speech and extremism.
The UK has an Islamist problem - opinion A mass, Islamist-led street presence seeks to enforce its will on the public space and intimidate its opponents. https://t.co/l7PuiTqTSZ
In 2016 Shakeel Begg was described by Andrew @afneil as an extremist & had encouraged religious violence. He sued & lost. Begg, chief imam at Lewisham Islamic Centre, still entertains school children & continues to work with the @metpoliceuk. The Campaign Against @antisemitism… https://t.co/527E7L7yo9
'The problem here is a cultural conflict between some Islamic extremist values, and what Britain stands for. We have imported this problem over decades' - @alexharmstrong Extremist Imam Shakeel Begg still visited by local primary schoolchildren to his Mosque in Lewisham. https://t.co/A8k4c6uNbo
‘His views on Islam are, in my opinion, not only radical but extremist. Taxpayer money is going toward this radicalisation!’ Shakeel Begg, an Imam deemed an 'extremist' by the High Court, is still visited by local primary schoolchildren at his Mosque. @alexharmstrong https://t.co/Ylf8aMzMSE
This is rent an Islamist Shakeel Afsar being i'ved by @JasonFarrellSky. On Islamophobia plays the victim & bemoans the lack of free speech. This is the man who: -intimidated lesbian MP @kimleadbeater about LGBT lessons -ditto Jess Phillips in Birmingham. A court injunction was… https://t.co/JpWIjIDH6a
A radical imam is still hosting talks in primary schools, despite being ruled as an extremist preacher. Today's kids will leave school as either a mutilated trans person or an Islamist. This is after 14 years of Conservatives in power. So terribly weak. https://t.co/wk4Dx3qhQO
Imam who worked with Met and lectured primary school children had ability to 'plant the seed of extremism' https://t.co/KX8kQQU4nA
Radical imam who helped to prompt the government's extremism crackdown has been 'working with the Met and speaking to primary school children in his mosque' https://t.co/XsHbr7315x https://t.co/BdoBksbkxk