Imam suspended from UK mosque for recognizing Israel’s right to exist

British Muslim cleric under fire for telling Tommy Robinson he believes Israelis and Palestinians should live in peace and condemning PA’s payments to terrorists.

By World Israel News Staff

A British mosque has suspended an imam who called for peace with Israel and condemned Muslim violence against non-Muslims during an interview with a controversial anti-immigration activist.

On Thursday, activist and independent journalist Tommy Robinson spoke with Imam Umayr Mulla from the Masjid Khazra mosque in Nottingham, while the two visited the Old City of Jerusalem.

During the interview, Mulla rejected violence by Islamic extremists, citing the Quran.

“Very clearly, the Quran says that to kill one person is as to kill the entire mankind,” Mulla said. “And to save one person is as if you have saved all of mankind.”

When asked how he views the State of Israel, Mulla said he had “no issue” with the Jewish state and expressed hope for peace in the region.

“I have no issue with Israel, as long as people are living in peace, I believe both sides should have their own countries,” Mulla said.

“The Palestinians should have their own safe space, where they can live freely without oppression or injustice. I think this is the solution for peace in the Middle East.”

Mulla backed Britain’s decision to recognize unilateral Palestinian statehood, but condemned the Palestinian Authority’s payments to jailed terrorists – dubbed the “pay-to-slay” policy – and expressed his disapproval of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

When asked to comment on Hamas, ISIS, and other radical Islamist terror groups, Mulla said they were “not Muslims.”

“I can say freely they are not Muslims at all,” Mulla said. “Some of their teachings and actions go against Islamic teachings.”

When asked about radical Islam among British Muslims, Mulla argued that the phenomenon was more common among Pakistani Kashmiris, with radical Islam less prevalent among other groups, including his own community of Muslim Indian Gujaratis.

After the interview, the Masjid Khazra condemned Mulla and announced his suspension from the mosque.

Mulla’s “personal views that are deeply offensive and are wholly inconsistent with the values of our institute,” the mosque’s administrators said.

After his suspension, Mulla issued an apology, walking back not only his statements on Pakistani Kashmiris but also on the Israel-Arab conflict.

“I regret deeply the hurt my remarks have caused to the Kashmiri and Pakistani communities, to Palestinians, to my employers, family, friends, and to anyone beyond who was offended directly and indirectly,” Mulla said.