AN extremist who spat hate at John Reid yesterday was immediately branded the “enemy within” — by fellow Muslims.
Fanatic Abu Izzadeen hijacked a community meeting designed to create UNITY to brand the Home Secretary “an enemy of Islam”.
Izzadeen, 34, began his rant ten minutes into Mr Reid’s East London speech which called for Muslim parents to watch for their children being brainwashed by terrorists.
The convert — an East Londoner formerly called Trevor Brooks — yelled: “How dare you come to a Muslim area when over 1,000 Muslims have been arrested?
“You are an enemy of Islam and Muslims, you are a tyrant. Shame on all of us for sitting down and listening to him.
“Its State terrorism by British police.” He cried .
And the well-known radical — a supporter of hate preacher Omar Bakri — continued his diatribe after being ushered out of the room.
But police refused to arrest him as they moved him outside to join sidekicks holding banners stating: “John Reid go to Hell”.
The group brandished other placards proclaiming their leader as al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.
They also urged all Muslims NOT to co-operate with the Government drive to prevent terrorism.
Meanwhile Mr Reid calmly told his audience: “There will always be people who will not be prepared to take part in a dialogue, but who will try to intimidate and shout down. They are not confined to the Muslim community.”
But just after the commotion died down, second protester Anjem Choudary, 39, stood up to rant.
He yelled: “Muslims do not need British values. We believe Islam is superior, we believe Islam will be implemented one day.
“It is very rich for you to come here and say we need to monitor our children when your government is murdering people in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Choudary too was ushered out of the youth centre in Leyton. And Mr Reid continued with his first speech to Muslims since becoming Home Secretary.
Last night the two fanatics’ actions were condemned by moderate Muslims in the London suburb.
They accused Izzadeen of hijacking their religion — and of trying to ambush their attempts to work with police and politicians to prevent terrorism.
Afghan refugee Ayaz Khan, 36, said: “He is evil. People like this have no place in the community.
“When war broke out in my country I came here and the government provided me with food, clothing and a home.
“He is an embarrassment. We should all be able to work together. I condemn all terrorist acts and I would never rejoice in my fellow Muslims joining in with these atrocities.”
Soheyb Abou Khadjah, 28, who runs an Islamic bookshop, said: “He obviously has no idea about his religion.
“What he is trying to do goes against the Koran. It’s oppressive. He wasn’t born a Muslim and he doesn’t understand our faith.
“We wouldn’t mix with people like him. He doesn’t understand the community let alone represent it.”
One female Muslim teacher, who asked not to be named, added: “His comments are racist and offensive.
“As a Muslim you are always taught to take the right path. He is taking the wrong path and trying to lead others to go along with him.
And Sajid Mallam, 45, said: “John Reid has the right to express himself and the right to talk and be heard.
“We respect the Home Secretary as an elected Member of Parliament. It’s a positive thing that he is doing. He is trying his best in a difficult situation.”
In his speech Mr Reid stressed terrorists were waging a “violent and indiscriminate war” — and warned communities needed to be more aware of signs of terrorist activity.
He said: “There is no nice way of saying this. These fanatics are looking to groom and brainwash children, including your children, for one thing. Grooming them to kill themselves in order to murder others.
Mr Reid also goes on to say .....
“Look for the tell-tale signs now and talk to them before their hatred grows and you risk losing them forever.
“In protecting our families we are protecting our community.
“That is why I am asking you to be part of that fight for our common values, for this is the real conflict.”
Mr Reid said terrorists were not Muslims “in the true sense of the word”.
He went on: “They are militants who seek to achieve their aims through the forces of terror and violence.
“They cloak their language in the rhetoric of Islamic teachings, but they behave in ways that contradict the very principles of the Islamic faith.
“They believe the West is evil and that all modern values are corrupting to Muslims — when in fact, it is they who are wicked and ruthless and they who are corrupting young Muslim minds.”
Mr Reid said most of al-Qaeda’s victims were in fact Muslim — and his reason for speaking out was because this message was not getting across.
Izzadeen is so reviled by his neighbours in Leyton they are petitioning to have him kicked out of his two-bedroom council house, it was revealed last night.
They say they fear for their safety while the zealot is in their midst. And they are furious the Government has so far failed to take any action against him for a series of outrageous comments.
Many say Izzadeen has made their lives a misery by bullying them with his extremist ideas — and even preaching hate-filled messages on the street which is filled with young families.
One furious mother, too scared to be named, told how Izzadeen plastered the street with stickers reading, “Christians should be hung” and, “All white women are white trash”. She alleged he also told passers-by that non-Muslims should be killed.
Cafe owner Josie Brown, who is among those campaigning for him to be kicked out of their street, said: “He is a disgrace.
“What he has been saying about loving bombers and killing Tony Blair is disgusting.
“I don’t see why we should have to live with it. Especially with all the children who live on this street and a primary school on the road as well. We have spoken to the council and have a petition.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said he had asked for a report on the heckling of Mr Reid.
But he said it appeared no crime had been committed.
He added: “We are in a country that celebrates free speech.
“I have seen the incident and I think it’s not at all pleasant but at the moment no law has been broken by that protester.”
