Islamic preacher who praised 'dying while fighting jihad' given platform at London uni

Abdur Raheem Green, a Muslim convert who has been placed on international "movement alert list" by Australia's government and banned from Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium for making anti-Semitic comments, addressed students at a Soas Islamic Society charity event.

Mr Green is known for preaching at Hyde Park corner in London and is a British Salafi Muslim convert who is known in some Muslim communities for his work in Dawah, both in televised formal settings and informal contexts such as Hyde Park's Speakers Corner.

 He is a presenter on Peace tv.

has previously claimed the conflict between Islam and Western societies is “ordered in the Koran”.

He has also preached: “Dying while fighting jihad is one of the surest ways to paradise and Allah’s good pleasure.”

In 2005 he was stopped from boarding a flight to Australia after being placed on a “movement alert list” over concerns about his radical rhetoric.

The Islamic Education and Research Academy, a charity he co-founded and chairs, and was warned by the Charity Commission to distance itself from extremists.

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An Islamic preacher who is considered anti-Semitic was given a platform at a London university

The union supports the school’s values on freedom of speech

SOAS SU spokesperson

The preacher has since said he does not support terrorism and told the Evening Standard he has said “some radical things in the past”.

While addressing an audience at the School of Oriental and African Studies university in London, he told listeners that the "whole world is a prison" as he spoke about the troubles faced by the people living in Gaza.

He said: “They’re blessed in a way that we're not bless, because they're not deluded.

“They’re not deluded into thinking that there’s some enjoyment in this life. They know the reality. They really know that this world is a prison.”

Mr Green told Express.co.uk that he did not support terrorism and that he deplores unnecessary arguments. 

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Abdur Raheem Green also spoke of how jihadi war was "ordered by the Koran"

He said: "I utterly condemn terrorism, and always have, and deplore unnecessary arguments let alone violence. 

"I do recognise however that in extraordinary circumstances people do resort to physical force in order to defend themselves, their families, their land, property and country.

"I believe that the religion of Islam recognises this and provides a very strict framework within which such violence can operate.

"I find it hard to believe that any rational person could construe anything I have said within context to support terrorism or random acts of violence.

"Of course, those with a preconceived agenda will find room to interpret almost anything from almost anyone's statements."

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Mr Green has been banned from Arsenal's stadium

A spokesperson for said: “The union supports the school’s values on freedom of speech. 

“This can only be conducted effectively in an atmosphere of open inquiry, metal tolerance and intellectual freedom.

“However, freedom of expression may not be excised to threaten the safety or freedom of expression of others.”

They added: “Soas is committed to maintaining a neutral platform and ensuring that all members of our diverse community are free to express their opinions.

“However, this does not permit the expression of views that are against the law.”

Express.co.uk has approached Soas for further comment.

Abdur Raheem Green is a British Salafi Muslim convert who is known in some Muslim communities for his work in Dawah, both in televised formal settings and informal contexts such as Hyde Park's Speakers Corner. He is a presenter on Peace.