Jailed preacher, controversial Islamic leader’s books still publicly available in UK

LONDON - A new report has revealed that books written by the jailed preacher, Abdullah al-Faisal, and the controversial Islamic leader, Bilal Philips, are still available in public libraries in East London, three years after they were first exposed.

In 2007, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown had said that his would consult with the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) after extremist literature was found on lending lists across the country, particularly in East London.

However, it has been revealed that many of the books are still on the shelves.he council said that it was committed to tackling extremism, but added: “As far as we are aware these materials have not yet been banned or judged to be illegal in the UK. If this were the case they would not have been on our shelves.”

The council further said that it has issued guidance designed to help authorities take a view on controversial material, and would hope they would follow it.

Three years ago, a report by the Centre for Social Cohesion, a non-partisan think-tank that studies issues related to community cohesion in the UK, had highlighted that books and cassettes featuring extremists were available in libraries.

“It is amazing that some libraries continue to stock books by pro-jihadist clerics convicted for incitement, including al-Faisal, at the expense of more moderate authors,” The Daily Telegraph quoted Douglas Murray, the think-tank’s director, as saying.

“Almost three years ago our report highlighted how public libraries may be unwittingly encouraging Islamist extremism.

After that, the Government took steps to rectify the problem,” he added. (ANI)