Key Takeaways
- Egyptian scholar Yusri Jabar sparked outrage by comparing women to wild animals during a sermon in London.
- British politicians and counter-extremism experts condemned the remarks, urging government action.
- The mosque where the sermon was delivered is under investigation for hosting controversial speakers.
Egyptian Islamic scholar Yusri Jabar has faced intense criticism after describing women as 'wild animals' during a recent sermon at Jamia Masjid Hounslow in west London. The controversial remarks, made by the preacher during one of his sermons, have drawn widespread condemnation from British politicians and counter-extremism experts.
The backlash against Jabar's comments came despite calls from both Labor and Conservative lawmakers for the UK government to prevent him from entering the country. During his sermon, he stated: 'She is exactly like a wild animal, you just need to train her… so she doesn’t go more wild. And all goes back to Sharia.'
The sermon was delivered at Jamia Masjid Hounslow after the UK Home Office reportedly declined requests to revoke Jabar’s visa. The mosque itself is already under investigation by the UK's Charity Commission over concerns about previous events and speakers hosted there.
Former head of the UK’s Counter Terrorism Command, Peter Clarke, criticized the government's decision to allow Jabar into the country. He questioned how Britain could announce new measures to protect Jewish communities while simultaneously permitting a preacher accused of promoting extremist views to speak publicly.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp also condemned the decision, stating that individuals spreading hatred and division should not be allowed into the UK. His comments reflect growing concerns among lawmakers about the impact of such rhetoric on social cohesion in the country.
The incident has reignited debates over the regulation of religious discourse in public spaces and the role of mosques as platforms for extremist views. Critics argue that allowing such preachers to speak freely can have detrimental effects on community relations and women's rights.
Jamia Masjid Hounslow, which hosted the controversial sermon, is already under scrutiny from authorities. The mosque faces potential legal action due to its history of hosting speakers with controversial views, raising questions about the vetting process for religious leaders in the UK.
