The imam said he "could not hide his pain" over the execution of Mumtaz Qadri
The religious leader at Scotland's biggest mosque has praised an extremist who was executed for committing murder in Pakistan, the BBC can reveal.

Imam Maulana Habib Ur Rehman of Glasgow Central Mosque used the messaging platform WhatsApp to show his support for Mumtaz Qadri.
Qadri was hanged in February after murdering a local politician who opposed strict blasphemy laws.

In messages seen by the BBC, Imam Maulana Habib Ur Rehman says that he is "disturbed" and "upset" at the news of Qadri's execution, before writing "rahmatullahi alai", a religious blessing usually given to devout Muslims and meaning may God's mercy be upon him.
In another, he says: "I cannot hide my pain today. A true Muslim was punished for doing which [sic] the collective will of the nation failed to carry out."


Religious guidance

Maulana Habib Ur Rehman is the most senior imam at Glasgow Central Mosque, a role which involves leading prayers and giving religious guidance and teachings.

The BBC has confirmed with members of the group that the messages come from the imam.


Qadri was employed as a bodyguard for the governor of Punjab province in Pakistan, Salman Taseer, before turning on him in 2011 and shooting him 28 times.

After the shooting Qadri reportedly told journalists that he was "proud" and that he had killed a "blasphemer".
Who was Qadri?

Mumtaz Qadri said he was proud of what he had done

Trained as an elite police commando and assigned as Salman Taseer's bodyguard
Shot Salman Taseer 28 times at an Islamabad market in January 2011 and was sentenced to death later that year

He claimed it was his religious duty to kill the minister
Qadri was lauded by religious conservatives, and in his first court appearance was showered with rose petals by supporters. He never expressed any regret for the killing

How Punjab governor's killer became a hero
Pakistan has some of the strictest blasphemy laws in the world, which can carry a potential death sentence for those judged to have insulted the majority religion of Islam.

Human rights campaigners and liberal politicians, including Taseer, have criticised the laws as draconian and believe that they are abused to target minority groups.

The laws do, however, have mainstream support in the country and an estimated crowd of more than 30,000 people attended Qadri's funeral earlier this month.

Imam Maulana Habib Ur Rehman told the BBC: "The assassination of Salman Taseer is widely condemned.
"Whether I agree or disagree with the views he expressed, as an Imam and as a human being I express abhorrence at the manner in which he was executed.
"The execution was not in accordance with Islamic teachings and principles."

'Grotesque'
Lawyer Aamer Anwar has called for reform at Glasgow Central Mosque.
He told the BBC: "To describe a convicted terrorist as a true Muslim is grotesque.
"Let's be clear: Mumtaz Qadri was a terrorist. He was no national hero and he was no martyr.
"These views expressed are grotesque and whether done privately or publicly they should be condemned unequivocally.
"There's real concern within the community that if this is an imam expressing such views, then what is he expressing to our children."


Salman Taseer had angered some people in Pakistan by calling for reform of the country's blasphemy laws
In further messages, the Imam refers to Qadri as "brother" and says that, by killing his employer whom he was paid to protect, he was "carrying out the collective responsibility of the ummat," or Muslims as a whole.
His execution, he says, "is a collective failure of Pakistani Muslims".
Imam Maulana Habib Ur Rehman is challenged by others in the group who question why he is speaking about a convicted murderer in such glowing terms.


'Nazi' comparison
The Imam also likens Qadri's actions to those fighting Nazi occupation during World War Two.
"Just when France was occupied by Nazies [sic], French did all they had to in order to protect their nation," he writes.

"They were national heroes. Hanging Mumtaz Qadri has raised serious questions about Pakistan's independence."
To describe a convicted terrorist as a true Muslim is grotesque


Aamer Anwar, Lawyer
And he links his execution to the issue of Pakistani nationhood.
"The issue is not of an individual. The issue is of national identity and Islamic spirit."


The WhatsApp messages are the latest controversy at Glasgow Central Mosque, which is the largest place of worship of any religion in Scotland.
The mosque was plunged into turmoil last month when seven members of its executive committee resigned amid claims of intimidation by more conservative figures at the mosque.
The allegations were denied by those accused.

Glasgow Central Mosque
There is said to be a long-running contest at the mosque between more traditionalist figures and those, including the seven who resigned, who would like it to be more inclusive of women and non-Pakistani Muslims.
In January, The Herald reported that Glasgow Central Mosque had donated money to the orthodox group Tablighi Jamaat, which some argue promotes an extreme brand of Islam.


Mr Anwar said: "There needs to be diversity, there needs to be equality and they need to open it up.
"We're not living in Pakistan, we're living in Scotland, and we need to see the values and ideas of the people of Scotland [at the mosque]."

Glasgow Central Mosque did not respond to requests for comment.

source : http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-35893123