The speech, delivered last Friday (October 20), was broadcast online and has since been viewed more than a million times on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), after being shared by prominent right-wing commentators.
In the clip, the Imaam appears to tell worshippers: “Curse the Jews.”
The Islamic Centre said it had launched an immediate investigation and decided that the Imaam will not be allowed to address worshippers again until it has concluded.
According to an online translation service, the Imaam, speaking in Arabic, calls on Allah to “disperse” Jews.
He reportedly asks God to “tear apart their gatherings and destroy their homes. Destroy their homes and bring down upon them your tyranny.”
He also allegedly asks God to aid Muslims, “accept their martyrs” and help them against “the usurping Jews”.
The video was removed from the centre’s social media channels after it went viral – but it had already been copied and remains in circulation.
Other videos also remained on the centre’s internet pages of the same man, naming him as Imaam Obaid.
After the Recorder contacted the centre referencing the videos still available on its webpages, they too were removed from public view.
Numerous X users tagged the Metropolitan Police and urged the force to investigate the comments made last Friday as a potential hate crime.
Blogger David Atherton shared the clip, calling it “Pure incitement to hatred.”
Telegraph columnist Madeline Grant also shared it, asking: “How is this anything other than flat out incitement to violence?”
Author and Spectator columnist Douglas Murray was among those who highlighted the footage to the Met Police, calling the speech “racist” and “inciting”.
Hey @metpoliceuk. At least this racist, inciting, anti-Semite wasn’t carrying an English flag, eh? https://t.co/eApsz6gB0m
— Douglas Murray (@DouglasKMurray) October 23, 2023
The Met responded: “We’re aware of the video and we understand why it is the cause of such concern.”
It later told the Recorder: “The content is being assessed by specialist investigators to determine if any criminal offences have been committed. We will provide an update when possible.”
The Redbridge Islamic Centre did not respond directly to any of the Recorder’s emails or questions, but referred us by text message to a statement on its website.
It said: “It has been brought to the attention of the Redbridge Islamic Centre (RIC) that the video of a talk at the RIC on the 20 October 2023 may have caused offence to some members of the public.
“We have taken swift action to investigate this matter.
“Whilst the matter is investigated, we have decided that the member of staff in question cease his public speaking engagements, pending the outcome.”
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