A coalition of conservative South African Muslim groups have condemned the opening of a mosque that welcomes gay and lesbian worshipers and allows women to participate in prayers on an equal standing with men.

14 groups lead by the United Ulama Council of South Africa, the Jamiatul Ulama of South Africa, the Sunni United Ulama Council of South Africa and the Mujlisul Ulama of South Africa released a group statement against the so-called Open Mosque after it held its first prayer service on Friday.

The Muslim leaders labelled the Open Mosque a ‘cult’ and ‘haraam’, or sinful, and claimed that its prayer service had been ‘mock Islamic prayers,’ and not a genuine ritual.

‘The Ulama of South Africa once again urge Muslims to be alert and not to become entrapped in the tentacles of the haraam kufr cult of Hargey,’ the group’s statement read, referring to the Open Mosque’s founder, imam and professor of Islamic Studies and African history at Oxford University Dr Taj Hargey.

‘Participation in any prayer service organized by hargey’s cult will render one [an apostate]. Hargey’s cult has totally no affinity with the Islam which the Muslims of South Africa follow.

‘We believe that it is illegal and highly deceptive for Hargey to call his warehouse of “worship” a “mosque” and his cult “Islam.” The Ulama are exploring the possibility of instituting legal action against this cult masquerading as Muslims, thereby causing offence and confusion.’

However Hargey hit back at his critics, saying his credentials as a Muslim leader were as good or better than theirs, telling AFP, ‘I have a PhD in Islamic studies from Oxford University, unlike my opponents who went to some donkey college in Pakistan or Saudi Arabia.’

During his first sermon at the Open Mosque Hargey condemned the influence of ‘contaminated Saudi money’ which he said was used to promote ‘toxic and intolerant manifestations of Islam’ and ‘warped theology’ which had ultimately contributed to the rise of fanatical groups like the Islamic State, the Taliban and Boko Haram.

Hargey said his Open Mosque was in the spirit of the peaceful revolution led by Nelson Mandela and that nothing would stop it continuing.

‘There’s been threats about castrating me, beheading me, hanging me upside down,’ Hargey said on Friday.

‘But South Africa has the most liberal constitution in the world. They cannot stop us opening today.’

Hargey is the chair of Oxford University’s Muslim Education Center.