Imam Habib ur Rehman of Glasgow Central Mosque is said to have sent messages over social media praising Mumtaz Qadri, an extremist who was hanged for murder in Pakistan in February.
The imam said a series of Whatsapp messages about Qadri in which he reportedly called the killer a 'true Muslim' had been 'taken out of context' and were about his opposition to Quadri's hanging and the Pakistani justice system.
According to the BBC, the Imam said that he is 'disturbed' and 'upset' at the news of Qadri's execution, before writing 'rahmatullahi alai', a religious blessing usually given to devout Muslims and meaning may God's mercy be upon him.
In another, he said: 'I cannot hide my pain today. A true Muslim was punished for doing which the collective will of the nation failed to carry out.'
Naturally, the peanut gallery will be along shortly to tell us that this was 'taken out of context' or that 'he doesn't really mean that' or perhaps just the usual 'you racists are at it again!'
Edit: And the Imam really does speak for Islam. At least the part of it in Scotland.
According to the BBC, the Imam said that he is 'disturbed' and 'upset' at the news of Qadri's execution, before writing 'rahmatullahi alai', a religious blessing usually given to devout Muslims and meaning may God's mercy be upon him.
In another, he said: 'I cannot hide my pain today. A true Muslim was punished for doing which the collective will of the nation failed to carry out.'
Naturally, the peanut gallery will be along shortly to tell us that this was 'taken out of context' or that 'he doesn't really mean that' or perhaps just the usual 'you racists are at it again!'
Edit: And the Imam really does speak for Islam. At least the part of it in Scotland.