Policy Exchange must be delighted that their report (pdf) on the availability of hate literature in British mosques (executive summary here: again pdf) made it on to the Times front page:
Books calling for the beheading of lapsed Muslims, ordering women to remain indoors and forbidding interfaith marriage are being sold inside some of Britain’s leading mosques, according to research seen by The Times.
Some of the fundamentalist works were found at the bookshop in the London Central mosque in Regent’s Park, which is funded by the Saudi regime and is regularly visited by government ministers. Its director, Ahmad al-Dubayan, is also a Saudi diplomat and was among those greeting King Abdullah when he arrived in Britain last night for his official state visit.
Extremist literature, including passages supporting the stoning of adulterers and waging violent jihad, was also found on sale at many other mosques regarded as mainstream institutions…
The report called for a radical overhaul of Britain’s relationship with Saudi Arabia, which it argued has a “powerful and malign” influence over British Islam and sponsored the export of fundamentalist Islamic doctrine.
Is anyone particularly surprised by this? Still, it’s all nicely timed to coincide with King Abdullah’s state visit, with the six planes at Heathrow carrying his entourage:
It took three hours for all the luggage to be unloaded while a convoy of 84 limousines drove the party into London, our correspondent said.
Among them were 23 personal advisors who will stay at Buckingham Palace and more than 400 aides who are spilling out into London hotels…
For a different take on the Saudi royals, read Amir Taheri:
As the Arab proverb has it: the camel is not the most congenial of travel companions, but it is the most trustworthy.
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