Overview

Abu Usamah at-Thahabi is an American-born British cleric. He reportedly preaches hateful messages, including calling for gays to be thrown off mountains, praising Osama bin Laden, and calling women inherently “deficient.”“‘Anti-gay’ cleric talk cancelled,” BBC News, November 25, 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8377437.stm. He is a convert to Islam“Radical cleric praises bin Laden,” Daily Mail (London), February 4, 2007, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-433871/Radical-cleric-praises-bin-Laden.html. who studied at Medinah University in Saudi Arabia.“Britain’s new preachers of hate,” Mirror (London), last updated February 4, 2012, http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/britains-new-preachers-of-hate-446268.

At-Thahabi has served as the chief cleric of the Green Lane mosque in Birmingham, England.“‘Anti-gay’ cleric talk cancelled,” BBC News, November 25, 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8377437.stm. In 2012, accusations surfaced that at-Thahabi had sexually harassed women at the mosque.Sunday Mercury, “Birmingham mosque cleric accused of sexual harassment,” Birmingham Mail, October 24, 2012, http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/birmingham-mosque-cleric-accused-of-sexual-231250. In 2007, the British documentary “Undercover Mosque” recorded at-Thahabi praising bin Laden and calling for gay men to be thrown off mountains, though at-Thahabi has said his comments were taken out of context.“‘Anti-gay’ cleric talk cancelled,” BBC News, November 25, 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8377437.stm;
“American-Born Imam Spews Message of Hate in England,” Fox News, January 18, 2007, http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/01/18/american-born-imam-spews-message-hate-in-england.html. In February 2007, at-Thahabi reportedly said Osama bin Laden was “better than a million George Bushes and a thousand Tony Blairs.” He also reportedly referred to non-Muslims as “pathological liars,”“Radical cleric praises bin Laden,” Daily Mail (London), February 4, 2007, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-433871/Radical-cleric-praises-bin-Laden.html. and called for the crucifixion of kuffar (non-believers).“American-Born Imam Spews Message of Hate in England,” Fox News, January 18, 2007, http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/01/18/american-born-imam-spews-message-hate-in-england.html.

According to the documentary, Green Lane mosque’s website features a secret chatroom, known only to members, where videos of at-Thahabi’s more extreme sermons are posted. In this chatroom, at-Thahabi has reportedly called for the creation of an Islamic state and the deaths of those who leave Islam.“American-Born Imam Spews Message of Hate in England,” Fox News, January 18, 2007, http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/01/18/american-born-imam-spews-message-hate-in-england.html.

At-Thahabi previously worked at the Islamic Center in Peoria, Illinois, where he occasionally made anti-Semitic remarks, according to mosque members. In December 2001, U.S. federal agents raided the mosque and arrested Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, a Qatari student at Bradley University, accused of opening fake bank accounts and repeatedly calling a phone linked to suspected al-Qaeda financier Mustafa al-Hawsawi in Dubai.“American-Born Imam Spews Message of Hate in England,” Fox News, January 18, 2007, http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/01/18/american-born-imam-spews-message-hate-in-england.html.

At-Thahabi continues to lecture on Islam throughout Great Britain, and his speeches appear on YouTube.“The universality of Islam - Abu Usama Adh Dhahabi,” YouTube, posted by Brunel University Islamic Society, last updated January 9, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL09105FEF6EAFCBB1. Some of his scheduled appearances at British universities have been canceled due to protests and threats.“‘Anti-gay’ cleric talk cancelled,” BBC News, November 25, 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8377437.stm.