Why Maajid Nawaz Refuses To Praise Didsbury Mosque For Speaking Out Against Isis

The Mosque of the Manchester Jihadist has spoken out against Isis and strongly condemned the attack - but Maajid Nawaz says there's a very long way to go

Leading figures from the Didsbury Mosque have spoken out against Isis, and condemned member Salman Ramadan Abedi - the 22-year-old responsible for the Manchester bombing.

In a strongly worded statement, Didsbury mosque and Manchester Islamic Centre called the terrorist attack an act of cowardice, adding that it has worked peacefully at the heart of the community for more than 50 years.

But Maajid Nawaz is not impressed.

In this clip he explains how the Mosque will have to do a lot more to gain his respect, given their track record.

Maajid said: "Not only did the Manchester Jihadist pray there, in Didsbury mosque, but it's been associated with Al Qaeda linked groups, such as the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, LIFG."

The LBC Presenter went onto name some extremists who have been given a platform in the Mosque. One in particular even raised money for the LIFG.

Maajid added: "So if this mosque has got people raising money for al Qaeda-linked groups in it, and yet they're claiming 'we're moderate because we reported an ISIS fighter', well as I say, if Al Qaida opposes ISIS, that's no definition of moderate."

Maajid spoke of another who expressed extreme anti-semitic views, who was allowed to speak at the Mosque.

Maajid quoted the hate speech: "Look at the way they massacre, they blow up babies as if it's computer games, they have no humanity, no morality, no ethics, no religion, no guidance, no light, nothing" - this is a speaker that was hosted in this Mosque speaking about Jews."

The LBC Presenter added: "The spokesperson by the way, who is a trustee of the Mosque, claims that it's a mosque for all the community, and this is what's been going on inside this mosque?"

Maajid also spoke about the anti-secular rhetoric also preached by some at the Mosque.

He added: "Actually you know what the truth is, the biggest danger to our community at the moment is extremist preachers like this, using mosques that tolerate extremist preachers like this, that breed jihadist terrorists.

"That's the biggest danger to our community, not liberal secular Muslims. When was the last time you saw a liberal secular suicide bomber go into a mosque and seek revenge against theocracy by blowing himself up? But that's what's been going on."

Maajid continued: "If these are the views hosted in this mosque, and you go and report an ISIS bomber, and think I'm going to applaud you, think I'm going to congratulate you for being oh so moderate, when even al Qaeda oppose ISIS?

"Surprise, surprise you happen to have the same sorts of speakers, with the same sorts of views that would sympathise with the same sorts of things that al Qaeda want to implement in their theocratic Caliphate.

"So what you oppose ISIS, so what? That's like saying "I oppose Stalin but I support the Nazis" or else "I oppose Hitler but I support Stalin gulags"."

Maajid went on: "You think we're stupid, you think the nation isn't going to realise? Well you know, my job is to make sure everybody understands what's going on, because you're after people like me.

"You hosted a speaker in your mosque who says secular liberal Muslims are the most, are the biggest danger in the community, so of course I'm going to speak out against you.

"And of course you know when I talk about how deep the rot has spread."

He finished off his epic polemic by saying: "Until we can separate, until we can separate these extremists from our community, and isolate them, don't blame the rest of society for wondering whether every Muslim is an extremist, when our mosques are hosting the extremists themselves."