Luton Islamic Centre

{{islam}}
The '''Luton Islamic Centre''' (officially known as the '''Masjid al-Gharaaba''') is a mosque based in Luton, [[England]].

It has been praised in some quarters for gestures in opposition to [[Islamic extremism]]: the mosque supported a protest against [[al-Muhajiroun]]<ref>''[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/luton-fights-back-against-rightwing-extremists-1695485.html Luton fights back against right-wing extremists]'', The Independent</ref><ref>''[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1189577/Muslim-extremists-anti-war-protest-driven-members-community.html The Daily Mail]''</ref> and threw out the extremist Taimur Abdulwahab al-Abdaly, who would later launch a suicide attack in Stockholm.<ref>''[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/8198882/Stockholm-bomber-was-thrown-out-of-Luton-mosque-for-trying-to-recruit-extremists.html Stockholm bomber was thrown out of Lutonmosque for trying to recruit extremists]'', The Telegraph</ref> However, the Luton Islamic Centre's hands aren't exactly clean.

The official website of the mosque is calltoislam.com, which has a number of interesting documents. One article, entitled "Greeting The Kuffaar On Their Festivals," argues that a Muslim wishing a non-Muslim a merry [[Christmas]] is committing "as great a [[sin]]
as congratulating someone for [[Alcohol|drinking wine]], or [[murder]]ing someone."<ref>''[https://web.archive.org/web/20110116091445/http://calltoislam.com/pdf/Greeting%20The%20Kuffaar%20On%20Their%20Festivals%20-%20Imaam%20Ibn%20Uthaymeen.pdf Greeting the Kuffar on their festivals]'', Call to Islam</ref>

Another article on the site rails against news reports that a [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi]] woman had been sentenced to lashes for being [[rape]]d. The author stands up for "the good character of the Islamic
judges in Saudi Arabia" by arguing that the woman was having an affair. This, apparently, makes her punishment by lashing perfectly acceptable; the article counters Western condemnation of whipping and stoning by pointing out that the [[Bible]] also recommends these punishments. "We Muslims are not like the Westerners who are{{sic}}–with a few exceptions–[[Morality|immoral]]
fornicators and [[Adultery|adulterers]]," argues the document.<ref>''[https://web.archive.org/web/20090125054412/http://www.calltoislam.com/pdf/The%20Hidden%20Truth%20About%20The%20Qatif%20Case%20-%20Response%20To%20Rape%20Victim%20Gets%20Lashes.pdf The hidden truth about the Qatif case — Response to the rape victim getting lashes]'', Call to Islam</ref>

Also noteworthy is an article with the catchy title of "The Prophesy {{sic}} Of The Utter Destruction Of The
Yahood Will Only Occur At The Hands Of The True Worshippers Of Allaah." For those not up on their Arabic, by "yahood" the writer means [[Jews]]; this prophecy of the complete anihillation of the Jews is [[Antisemitism|described]] in the introduction as "heart warming, [and] hope instilling." "The [[Zionist]] expansion grew with the
aid of [[Communist]] manpower (European Jews) and [[Capitalist]] monetary reserves," the article tells us. "The Zionists strategy will not stop extending its
malicious hand, gesturing peace, while simultaneously plotting extermination of
those it is courting. This has always been the attitude of the Jews."<ref>''[https://web.archive.org/web/20111107124009/http://hurryupharry.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/call-to-islam-The-Prophesy-Of-The-Utter-Destruction-Of-The-Yahood-Shaykh-Saleem-Al-Hilaalee.pdf The Prophesy of the utter destruction of the Yahood]'', Hurry Up Harry</ref> Similar sentiments are found in an article called The Ideological Attack, in which Shaykh Abdul Azeez bin Baaz argues that "The jews{{sic}} strive their utmost to corrupt the beliefs, morals and manners of the Muslims... spreading destructive thoughts, beliefs and ideologies; such as [[Freemasonry]], Qadiaanisim, [[Bahá'í|Bahaaism]], Teejaanism and others".<ref>''[https://web.archive.org/web/20110116091519/http://calltoislam.com/pdf/The%20Ideological%20Attack%20-%20Shaykh%20Abdul-Aziz%20Bin%20Abdullaah%20Bin%20Baaz.pdf The ideological attack]'', Call to Islam</ref> Inevitably, the website also contains a lengthy rant about the evils of [[homosexuality]].<ref>''[https://web.archive.org/web/20111107133708/http://hurryupharry.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/call-to-islam-Gay-History-And-Gay-Pride.pdf Call to Islam: Gay history and gay pride]'', Hurry Up Harry</ref>

The mosque is chaired by Abdul Qadir Baksh, who says that [[Homophobia|gay people should be executed]]<ref>''[http://homoeconomicusnet.wordpress.com/2013/10/12/in-an-ideal-world-gays-must-be-executed-says-abdul-qadeer-baksh/ "In an ideal world, gays must be executed," says Abdul Qadeer Baksh]'', Home Economics Net</ref> and has linked approvingly to an anti-Jewish video by [[David Duke]] from his Facebook page.<ref>''[https://web.archive.org/web/20120511082707/http://hurryupharry.org/2012/05/07/abdul-qadir-baksh-of-the-luton-islamic-centre-david-duke-fan/ Absul Qadir Baksh of the Luton Islamic Center a David Duke fan]'', Hurry Up Harry</ref>

==See also==
* [[East London Mosque]]

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20010331044502/http://www.calltoislam.com/ Official website]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Islamic extremism]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:Antisemitism]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]

Categories: Islamic extremism, Organizations, Antisemitism, United Kingdom