20 March 2017

Charity put extremist imam on stage with Lib Dem leader

A taxpayer-funded charity gave a platform to an extremist imam, The Times has learnt.

Citizens UK, which receives hundreds of thousands of pounds in public grants, invited Shakeel Begg to speak at its demonstration on child refugees outside parliament in December. He spoke alongside MPs including Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader.

His appearance came only six weeks after a High Court judge ruled that Mr Begg, an imam in Lewisham, south London, espoused extremist views and promoted religious violence.

Mr Begg had accused the BBC of libel for calling him an extremist but Mr Justice Haddon-Cave ruled in favour of the broadcaster. [The Times (£)] Read more