Iman who stoked dispute over ‘defiled’ Quran at school called ‘rising homosexuality’ ‘barbaric’

An imam who was involved in a dispute over a damaged Quran described the ‘rise of homosexuality’ as ‘barbaric’.

Hafiz Muhammad Mateen Anwar, of the Jamia Masjid Swafia mosque in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, said the music was toxic and Muslims should be punished for “compliening” if they celebrated Christmas.

It comes after the imam played a role in trying to defuse tensions following reports that a Koran, the Islamic holy book, has been ‘desecrated’ at Kettlethorpe High School.

A 14-year-old autistic boy, who had bought the book as a forfeit, received death threats after it was scratched.

Just a few days ago, Anwar organized a meeting at the mosque along with the police, council members and the mother of the child involved in which he pledged to protect the honor of the holy book.

The cleric previously warned worshipers at the West Yorkshire mosque not to take part in traditional Christmas rituals, saying to do so would be “settling”.

He criticized the more liberal followers of Islam, saying: “If you conform to them, you become part of them.”

Anwar also made derogatory comments about LGBT+ people, The Telegraph reports, calling the ‘rising of homosexuality’ ‘barbaric’.

He allegedly said that music is ‘toxic’, another religiously conservative belief.

Dr. Paul Scott, head of security and extremism at Policy Exchange, said his comments were not “the first time” that someone who has demanded tolerance has had trouble showing it.

Mr Anwar was instrumental in managing community outrage after a Quran was ‘torn’ at a West Yorkshire school.

As a reward for losing a video game, a 14-year-old autistic boy was asked by friends to buy a copy of the Quran and bring it to his school, Kettlethorpe High.

In the process, the book was slightly damaged, though not by the boy himself.

When the incident came to light, the school reviewed CCTV footage and conducted more than 30 individual interviews before deciding to suspend the 14-year-old and three others for a week.

Then the police began to investigate and recorded a “hate” incident.

The Qur’an should be treated with respect and care, Muslims are told, and in some cases people should even wash their hands before touching it.

A Labor councillor, Usman Ali, further stoked tensions by falsely claiming on social media that the book was desecrated.

The boy’s mother was found begging for forgiveness at the local mosque after her life was threatened.

Some parents at the school described the outrage as a “medieval witch hunt” and the family said they had received arson threats at their home.

The matter came to the desk of the Minister of the Interior, Suella Braverman, who yesterday declared herself “deeply concerned” about the case and the way it has been handled.

“The education sector and the police have a duty to prioritize the physical safety of children over the hurt feelings of adults,” he said.

Iman Hafiz Muhammad Mateen Anwar, along with a mediator, the independent councilor Akef Akbar, attended a meeting at the school and were invited to inspect the Qur’an to make sure it had not been desecrated.

The imam called for calm and urged the community not to protest outside the school and a meeting was planned for February 24.

The boy’s mother, sitting before the crowd of men, begged for forgiveness.

Mr. Griffiths, the school principal, also told the audience, repeatedly, his grief.

“Rest assured this is a very serious matter… if there are further consequences, that will be the case,” he added.

The police criticized the children for their lack of understanding before thanking the community for the tolerance and understanding shown.