Imam Johari Abdul-Malik resigned as director of outreach at the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque in Falls Church, Virginia, on Friday

Shaker Elsayed, the mosque's senior imam, described the practice on June 3 as a way to avoid 'hypersexuality' and 'the honorable thing to do if needed'

The mosque's board denounced Elsayed's comments on Monday; two days later, it placed him on administrative leave

Elsayed later issued a clarification through the mosque's website saying that he should have avoided his comments on hyper-sexuality

The imam has not been without controversy, such as his support of Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, convicted of plotting to assassinate then-President Geroge W Bush

A leader at one of Virginia's largest mosques has resigned after the imam there made comments in support of female genital mutilation.

Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, who was director of outreach at the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque in Falls Church, posted his resignation on Friday on his website.

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Abdul-Malik says he's leaving after 'many reprehensible statements' by Dar Al-Hijrah's senior imam, Shaker Elsayed, including his recent comments on genital mutilation.

Imam Johari Abdul-Malik (center, pictured in March 2010) resigned from his post as director of outreach at the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque in Virginia on Friday after 'many reprehensible statements' by the senior imam, Shaker Elsayed, including his recent comments on female genital mutilation

In this June 15, 2005 file photo, Imam Shaker Elsayed delivers the sermon at prayers services at the Dar al-Hijra mosque in Falls Church, Va. Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, who was director of outreach at the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque in Falls Church, posted his resignation Friday on his website. Abdul-Malik says he's leaving after "many reprehensible statements" by Dar Al-Hijrah's senior imam, Shaker Elsayed, including his recent comments on genital mutilation. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Elsayed (pictured during the lecture) described the practice as a way to avoid 'hypersexuality' and 'the honorable thing to do if needed'. He added that the surgery is properly carried out with a minimalist approach 'so that she is not hypersexually active. This is the purpose'

In a recorded lecture on June 3, Elsayed described the practice as a way to avoid 'hypersexuality' and 'the honorable thing to do if needed'.

In the lecture, Elsayed says that the practice, also known as female circumcision, has received a bad name because poorly trained surgeons are too aggressive in the procedure.

He said the surgery is properly carried out with a minimalist approach 'so that she is not hypersexually active. This is the purpose.'

Dar Al-Hijrah's board denounced Elsayed's comments Monday. Two days later, it placed him on administrative leave.

Elsayed later issued a clarification through the mosque's website saying that 'Islam would never support anything that harms anybody's well-being' and that he should have avoided his comments on hyper-sexuality.

'I hereby take it back. And I do apologize to all those who are offended by it,' Elsayed wrote.

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Abdul-Malik said in his resignation that the board's actions against Elsayed are insufficient.

'Ultimately, The Board of Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center is responsible for the direction of the community and its leadership. They are proceeding in a different direction than I believe is in the best interest of the congregation and the community at-large,' Abdul-Malik wrote.

The Falls Church mosque has been mired in controversy since the September 11 attacks, when its imam was Anwar Al-Awlaki, who later left the US and became a senior figure in al-Qaeda before being killed in a drone strike.

Abdul-Malik (pictured in 2010) said in his resignation that the board's actions against Elsayed were insufficient. 'Ultimately, The Board...is responsible for the direction of the community and its leadership. They are proceeding in a different direction than I believe is in the best interest of the congregation and the community at-large' he wrote

Elsayed (pictured in February 2016) later issued a clarification through the mosque's website saying that 'Islam would never support anything that harms anybody's well-being' and that he should have avoided his comments on hyper-sexuality

The Falls Church mosque (pictured, during prayer in March 2017) has been mired in controversy since the September 11 attacks, when its imam was Anwar Al-Awlaki, who later left the US and became a senior figure in al-Qaeda before being killed in a drone strike

Elsayed (far right) has been controversial in his own right. He served as an unofficial spokesman for the family of Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, convicted of joining al-Qaida while studying overseas and plotting to assassinate then-President George W Bush, during his 2005 terrorism trial. Here, Elsayed is seen leaving a dentition hearing with Abu Ali's mother and father

Elsayed has been controversial in his own right. He served as an unofficial spokesman for the family of Ahmed Omar Abu Ali during his 2005 terrorism trial.

Abu Ali, who worshipped at Dar Al-Hijrah, was convicted of joining al-Qaida while studying overseas and plotting to assassinate then-President George W Bush.

In a 2005 Associated Press interview, he defended the militant group Hamas, which the US government designates as a terrorist group.

'Everybody jumps on Hamas,' Elsayed said. 'Look at how long Israel has occupied [Palestinian lands]. How long did it take to say enough is enough?'

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He also told the AP that dating is prohibited in Islam and that women cannot marry a man of their choosing without the woman's family's consent.