Islamic group praised for prompt action on You Tube death threat video

Cllr Alan Craig, leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance group on Newham Council, said today that the Tablighi Jamaat should be praised for its prompt action over a YouTube video which issued a death threat to the councillor.

"In Memory of Councillor Alan Craig", an obituary-style video posting, has since been taken down and the man behind it arrested following widespread publicity of the incident in the national and international media.

The video had been put up on YouTube by mega-mosque supporter and associate 'Muhammad' (aka 'Abdullah 1425') from Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Observers said the video, which included images of Alan Craig's wife and young daughters, should be seen as a serious death threat to him and his family resulting from his opposition to the mega-mosque.

One expert on Islam said, "The video used quotes from the Quran against Councillor Craig so it cannot be simply some sort of sick joke. Muslims take their Quran very seriously and never make jokes with it or about it."

On hearing about the video, representatives of Tablighi Jamaat, the Islamic group promoting the huge planned mega-mosque close to the 2012 Olympic stadium, immediately contacted YouTube and requested that the video be taken down.

They also terminated the weblink that they had created between their mega-mosque website and Muhammad's offensive YouTube video.

In a statement, they said that the video was "totally inappropriate and could never be condoned".

"I am grateful for Tablighi Jamaat's prompt action," said Cllr Craig. " I am sure they will be careful who they link their website to in the future. I oppose their mega-mosque but they should be praised for rectifying their huge mistake so quickly."

The man behind the video has been released on police bail pending further enquiries and is required to return to the police station in the New Year.