Abu Usamah at-Thahabi

Abu Usamah at-Thahabi is an American-born British cleric. He reportedly preaches hateful messages, including calling for gays to be thrown off mountains, praising Osama bin Laden, and calling women inherently “deficient.”“‘Anti-gay’ cleric talk cancelled,” BBC News, November 25, 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8377437.stm. He is a convert to Islam“Radical cleric praises bin Laden,” Daily Mail (London), February 4, 2007, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-433871/Radical-cleric-praises-bin-Laden.html. who studied at Medinah University in Saudi Arabia.“Britain’s new preachers of hate,” Mirror (London), last updated February 4, 2012, http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/britains-new-preachers-of-hate-446268.

At-Thahabi has served as the chief cleric of the Green Lane mosque in Birmingham, England.“‘Anti-gay’ cleric talk cancelled,” BBC News, November 25, 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8377437.stm. In 2012, accusations surfaced that at-Thahabi had sexually harassed women at the mosque.Sunday Mercury, “Birmingham mosque cleric accused of sexual harassment,” Birmingham Mail, October 24, 2012, http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/birmingham-mosque-cleric-accused-of-sexual-231250. In 2007, the British documentary “Undercover Mosque” recorded at-Thahabi praising bin Laden and calling for gay men to be thrown off mountains, though at-Thahabi has said his comments were taken out of context.“‘Anti-gay’ cleric talk cancelled,” BBC News, November 25, 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8377437.stm;
“American-Born Imam Spews Message of Hate in England,” Fox News, January 18, 2007, http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/01/18/american-born-imam-spews-message-hate-in-england.html.
In February 2007, at-Thahabi reportedly said Osama bin Laden was “better than a million George Bushes and a thousand Tony Blairs.” He also reportedly referred to non-Muslims as “pathological liars,”“Radical cleric praises bin Laden,” Daily Mail (London), February 4, 2007, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-433871/Radical-cleric-praises-bin-Laden.html. and called for the crucifixion of kuffar (non-believers).“American-Born Imam Spews Message of Hate in England,” Fox News, January 18, 2007, http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/01/18/american-born-imam-spews-message-hate-in-england.html.

According to the documentary, Green Lane mosque’s website features a secret chatroom, known only to members, where videos of at-Thahabi’s more extreme sermons are posted. In this chatroom, at-Thahabi has reportedly called for the creation of an Islamic state and the deaths of those who leave Islam.“American-Born Imam Spews Message of Hate in England,” Fox News, January 18, 2007, http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/01/18/american-born-imam-spews-message-hate-in-england.html.

At-Thahabi previously worked at the Islamic Center in Peoria, Illinois, where he occasionally made anti-Semitic remarks, according to mosque members. In December 2001, U.S. federal agents raided the mosque and arrested Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, a Qatari student at Bradley University, accused of opening fake bank accounts and repeatedly calling a phone linked to suspected al-Qaeda financier Mustafa al-Hawsawi in Dubai.“American-Born Imam Spews Message of Hate in England,” Fox News, January 18, 2007, http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/01/18/american-born-imam-spews-message-hate-in-england.html.

At-Thahabi continues to lecture on Islam throughout Great Britain, and his speeches appear on YouTube.“The universality of Islam - Abu Usama Adh Dhahabi,” YouTube, posted by Brunel University Islamic Society, last updated January 9, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL09105FEF6EAFCBB1. Some of his scheduled appearances at British universities have been canceled due to protests and threats.“‘Anti-gay’ cleric talk cancelled,” BBC News, November 25, 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8377437.stm.

Also Known As

Type(s) of Organization:
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Position(s):
Propagandist

Converts to Islam.

1986



Source: Abu Usamah at-Thahabi, Facebook page, accessed June 17, 2016, www.facebook.com/auatthahabi/i….

Preaches at the Islamic Center in Peoria, Illinois. Federal agents raid the mosque in December and arrest a member suspected of contact with an al-Qaeda financier in Dubai.

2001



Source: “American-Born Imam Spews Message of Hate in England,” Fox News, January 18, 2007, www.foxnews.com/story/2007/01/….

Calls gay people “filthy dogs who should be murdered” and says they should be thrown off of mountains on the British television show “Undercover Mosque.”

Early 2009

At-Thahabi says his comments are taken out of context.



Sources: “‘Anti-gay’ cleric talk cancelled,” BBC News, November 25, 2009, news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/en…; “American-Born Imam Spews Message of Hate in England,” Fox News, January 18, 2007, www.foxnews.com/story/2007/01/….

Reportedly says Osama bin Laden is “better than a million George Bushes and a thousand Tony Blairs,” and calls non-Muslims “pathological liars.”

February 2007



Source: “Radical cleric praises bin Laden,” Daily Mail (London), February 4, 2007, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic….

University College London Union cancels a scheduled talk by at-Thahabi because of pressure from students and gay-rights advocates.

November 2009

The group Students Rights says at-Thahabi has “advocated violence and hate speech.”



Source: “‘Anti-gay’ cleric talk cancelled,” BBC News, November 25, 2009, news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/en….

A website reportedly accuses at-Thahabi of sexually harassing female employees at his Birmingham mosque.

August 2012

The website, which claims to expose “sexual deviant preachers who prey on our Muslim sisters,” says at least two women from at-Thahabi’s mosque have reported his inappropriate behavior. A mosque in Reading bans at-Thahabi from speaking after the allegations arise.



Source: Sunday Mercury, “Birmingham mosque cleric accused of sexual harassment,” Birmingham Mail, October 24, 2012, www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/….

Students at London’s Brunel University protest ahead of a November 27 talk by at-Thahabi on Aisha, one of Muhammed’s wives.

November 2012

The talk is organized by the Brunel Islamic Society. The Union of Brunel Students says at-Thahabi has been vetted and the talk will go on as planned.



Source: Lucy Sherriff, “‘Radical’ Muslim Cleric Abu Usama’s Brunel University Speech Prompts Student Protest,” Huffington Post UK, last updated December 4, 2012, www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/….

The Reading University Muslim Society invites at-Thahabi to speak during its Discover Islam Week.

July 2013

At-Thahabi’s talk is canceled due to the “increasing threat of violent protest” by off-campus groups, according to the university.



Source: “Reading University cancels events after violent threats,” Students Rights, February 27, 2013, www.studentrights.org.uk/artic….

A group called Hope Not Hate protests at-Thahabi’s inclusion at the upcoming “Beloved to Allah” event at the Edmonton Islamic Centre.

October 2013

After media reports publicize his comments that gays should be thrown off a mountain, at-Thahabi is disinvited.



Source: Charlotte Meredith, “Anti-Gay Islamic Preacher Abu Usama At-Thahabi ‘To Speak At Faith Conference,’” Huffington Post, March 10, 2013, www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/….

Converts to Islam.

Preaches at the Islamic Center in Peoria, Illinois. Federal agents raid the mosque in December and arrest a member suspected of contact with an al-Qaeda financier in Dubai.

Calls gay people “filthy dogs who should be murdered” and says they should be thrown off of mountains on the British television show “Undercover Mosque.”

Reportedly says Osama bin Laden is “better than a million George Bushes and a thousand Tony Blairs,” and calls non-Muslims “pathological liars.”

University College London Union cancels a scheduled talk by at-Thahabi because of pressure from students and gay-rights advocates.

A website reportedly accuses at-Thahabi of sexually harassing female employees at his Birmingham mosque.

Students at London’s Brunel University protest ahead of a November 27 talk by at-Thahabi on Aisha, one of Muhammed’s wives.

The Reading University Muslim Society invites at-Thahabi to speak during its Discover Islam Week.

A group called Hope Not Hate protests at-Thahabi’s inclusion at the upcoming “Beloved to Allah” event at the Edmonton Islamic Centre.

1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
2030
2040
2050
2060
2070
1979
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
  • Rhetoric
Return to Full Database

Daily Dose

Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.

Fact:

On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel where, in the space of eight hours, hundreds of armed terrorists perpetrated mass crimes of brutality, rape, and torture against men, women and children. In the biggest attack on Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, 1,200 were killed, and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza—where 101 remain. One year on, antisemitic incidents have increased by record numbers. 

View Archive