RAY...
03-02-2003, 14:45
Muslim cleric Abu Hamza says the US shuttle disaster shows the mission was a 'Trinity of Evil' punished with death by Allah.
Mr Hamza made the claim because the Columbia carried Americans, Israeli Ilan Ramon and Kalpana Chawla, an Indian-born Hindu.
He says British Muslims would take the shuttle disaster as a "sign from God" that the first Israeli in space was killed over an area of Texas called Palestine.
The cleric, who until recently preached at Finsbury Park mosque in north London, is now banned from preaching there because of his inflammatory sermons.
He added: "The Muslim people see these pilots as criminals. By going into space they would have sharpened the accuracy of their bombs through satellites.
"These missions would increase the number of satellites for military purposes. It would increase the slavery of governance of other countries by America. It is a punishment from God.
"Muslims see it that way. It is a trinity of evil because it carried Americans, an Israeli and a Hindu, a trinity of evil against Islam."
Mr Hamza, originally from Egypt, has been criticised for his radical brand of Islam from all sides, including the Muslim community in Britain.
Meanwhile, Anjem Choudray, UK leader of Al-Muhajiroun, the radical group which wants to turn Britain into an Islamic country, said Muslims "would not be shedding any tears" over the accident which claimed seven lives.
Mr Choudray, from Ilford, east London, says the Muslim community in the UK is saying the disaster is evidence of the work of God.
WHAT A TOSSPOT
Mr Hamza made the claim because the Columbia carried Americans, Israeli Ilan Ramon and Kalpana Chawla, an Indian-born Hindu.
He says British Muslims would take the shuttle disaster as a "sign from God" that the first Israeli in space was killed over an area of Texas called Palestine.
The cleric, who until recently preached at Finsbury Park mosque in north London, is now banned from preaching there because of his inflammatory sermons.
He added: "The Muslim people see these pilots as criminals. By going into space they would have sharpened the accuracy of their bombs through satellites.
"These missions would increase the number of satellites for military purposes. It would increase the slavery of governance of other countries by America. It is a punishment from God.
"Muslims see it that way. It is a trinity of evil because it carried Americans, an Israeli and a Hindu, a trinity of evil against Islam."
Mr Hamza, originally from Egypt, has been criticised for his radical brand of Islam from all sides, including the Muslim community in Britain.
Meanwhile, Anjem Choudray, UK leader of Al-Muhajiroun, the radical group which wants to turn Britain into an Islamic country, said Muslims "would not be shedding any tears" over the accident which claimed seven lives.
Mr Choudray, from Ilford, east London, says the Muslim community in the UK is saying the disaster is evidence of the work of God.
WHAT A TOSSPOT