A CONTROVERSIAL imam who praised an Islamist murderer as "a hero" has been recruited to join the Labour Party, The Sun can reveal.

Preacher Mahmood Ul Hassan claimed he applied to join the party because Jeremy Corbyn would "resolve issues" such as knife crime, the NHS and Islamophobia.

8 Mahmood Ul Hassan praised Mumtaz Qadri, who killed a Pakistani politician who he believed had insulted Islam

Ul Hassan, from Walthamstow, North East London, was previously blasted for hailing Pakistani Islamist fanatic Mumtaz Qadri - who murdered Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer in 2011.

He shot Mr Taseer 28 times because he supported reforming the strict blasphemy laws in Pakistan.

Qadri's defence during his trial was he killed Mr Taseer for blasphemy because the governor had supported excusing a Christian woman Asia Bibi - who had been charged with insulting the Muslim prophet Muhammad.

In a video released shortly after the murder in Pakistan, the London-based preacher hailed the assassin as “a hero” in a video uploaded to YouTube.

8 Islamist fanatic Mumtaz Qadri was called 'a hero' by new Labour member Ul Hassan Credit: AP:Associated Press

He added: “We are praying to Allah that he will grant us the same martyrdom… this is a man who loves God and his Prophet. People are crying for him and praying for him… God help us to take his mission forward.”

A Labour source told The Sun: "What kind of message is the Labour Party sending out if this is the type of hateful character we are now recruiting?

"We were once the party of tolerance and justice - and now we actively recruit bigots who believe it is OK to murder someone for having liberal views on blasphemy. It beggars belief."

The imam was convinced to apply to join the Labour Party by arch-Corbynista vicar and parliamentary Labour candidate for Cities of London and Westminster Steven Saxby.

8 A Labour source told The Sun that the recruitment of someone with such extreme views went against the principles of the party Credit: Reuters

8

Labour parliamentary candidate Steven Saxby said he convinced the imam to join Labour

8 Momentum-backed Labour candidate Steven Saxby with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn Credit: Facebook

In a video uploaded to Mr Saxby's Facebook page he can be seen interviewing Ul Hassan - and claims he had been courting the preacher's support.

Mr Saxby said: "I am here today with my friend Raja Ul Hassan. I have some great news and it is something that we have been talking about for a while.

"And we have had a conversation today and I am really glad to report that today Imam Raja has actually joined the Labour Party."

He later added: "It is going to be marvellous having you as a member of our party."

8 The Momentum activist vicar is standing for Labour in Westminster Credit: twitter

Executive Director of the Quilliam Foundation Adam Deen described the preacher's views as "abhorrent".

He added: "It is almost unbelievable that Labour have given membership to this sort of person.

"This is someone who championed a murderer - who killed someone for essentially saying nothing controversial at all. It is ridiculous.

"By allowing someone with such obnoxious views to join Labour, it really undermines the work of challenging extremism within Muslim communities."

The Director of the Centre for the Response to Radicalisation and Terrorism at The Henry Jackson Society, Nikita Malik, added: “This is a constituency which includes the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Bridge – the scene of a number of appalling terrorist attacks in recent months.

8 The corpse of the former police bodyguard who had been hailed as a martyr by Islamic extremists in Pakistan Credit: AP:Associated Press

“Anybody campaigning to represent that seat in Parliament must surely seek to represent the whole community, and be unequivocal in condemning any form of hatred or support for violence.

"For a candidate to welcome into their party an individual who praised a murderer as a ‘hero and martyr’ is deeply troubling."

Police bodyguard Qadri was hanged for the murder of Mr Taseer in 2016.

He had been hailed as a Muslim hero by extremist Islamic groups and after his execution was announced, thousands of hardliners protested.

8 Thousands of Islamist hardliners took to Pakistan's streets after Qadri was executed for the murder in 2016 Credit: AP:Associated Press

In the UK, Ahmadiyya Muslim shopkeeper Asad Shah was murdered in Glasgow in 2016 by a Sunni Muslim who believed he had been blasphemous.

Mr Saxby refused to comment when approached by The Sun.

Ul Hassan said: "I have previously apologised for the video in which I praised Mumtaz Qadri. My praise for the manner in which he received his death sentence was misplaced.

"I did not praise his assassination of Salman Taseer. Indeed I condemn the assassination.

"I am totally committed to Britain as a multi-cultural society and continue to work for peace and harmony with people of all faiths and none."

A Labour Party spokeswoman told The Sun that Mr Ul Hassan's application to join the party has now been rejected after The Sun revealed his praise for Qadri.

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