A Nottingham imam has been suspended after making comments seen as supportive of Israel during an interview with controversial British activist
Tommy Robinson.
Imam Umayr Mulla, who served at Masjid Khazra in Nottingham, said during the Jerusalem interview that he “had no issue with Israel” and believed both Israelis and Palestinians should have their own states where they can live peacefully.
“I have no issue with Israel, as long as people are living in peace,” Mulla said. “Both sides deserve their own countries. Palestinians should have a safe place where they can live freely without oppression or injustice. That’s the only way there can be peace in the Middle East.”
Following the interview, Masjid Khazra released a statement apologizing for what it described as the imam’s “deeply offensive” personal views, saying they were “wholly inconsistent with the values of our institute.”
The mosque said it was committed to “diversity, equality, and inclusion,” adding that it strives to “maintain a respectful and supportive environment” for everyone in its community.
During the interview, Mulla also spoke about historical coexistence under Muslim rule, arguing that Muslims, Christians, and Jews once lived peacefully together.
He said that non-Muslims at the time paid a tax known as jizya — which he compared to modern taxes in the UK — while Muslims paid zakat, a form of charity. “If you read history, there was no oppression or occupation,” he claimed.
Mulla added that while he welcomed the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state, he opposed the Palestinian Authority’s “pay-for-slay” policy and condemned violence carried out by groups like ISIS and Hamas, saying their actions go against Islamic teachings.
“I can say freely they are not Muslims at all,” he said.
After being suspended, Mulla issued an apology, saying he “deeply regretted” the hurt caused by his comments.
“I sincerely apologize to the Kashmiri and Pakistani communities, to Palestinians, to my employers, family, and friends — and to anyone else I’ve offended,” he wrote. “My remarks were totally unacceptable. I retract them unequivocally and will learn from this experience.” Photo by Shayan Barjesteh van Waalwijk van Doorn, Wikimedia commons.
