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Imam who believes in evolution retracts statements | Imam who believes in evolution retracts statements |
(about 11 hours later) | |
An imam has retracted statements about evolution and the right of Muslim women not to cover their hair after death threats were made against him. | An imam has retracted statements about evolution and the right of Muslim women not to cover their hair after death threats were made against him. |
Dr Usama Hasan, a science lecturer, has voluntarily suspended his role in taking Friday prayers at Leyton Mosque in east London. | Dr Usama Hasan, a science lecturer, has voluntarily suspended his role in taking Friday prayers at Leyton Mosque in east London. |
He said he went too far in the way he defended the theory of evolution. | He said he went too far in the way he defended the theory of evolution. |
He acknowledged many British Muslims believe in creationism, adding that he intended only to begin a debate. | He acknowledged many British Muslims believe in creationism, adding that he intended only to begin a debate. |
Dr Hasan - a senior lecturer at Middlesex University - used an opinion piece on the Guardian newspaper's website in 2008 to suggest Darwin's theory of evolution was not incompatible with the teaching of Islam. | |
He wrote that there were many Muslim biologists who had no doubt about the essential correctness of evolutionary theory and he added: "Many believers in God have no problem with an obvious solution: that God created man via evolution." | He wrote that there were many Muslim biologists who had no doubt about the essential correctness of evolutionary theory and he added: "Many believers in God have no problem with an obvious solution: that God created man via evolution." |
'Obscuring clear scientific thinking' | 'Obscuring clear scientific thinking' |
Dr Hasan wrote: "Snazzy websites, videos and books produced by fundamentalist Muslim 'creationists' such as those at www.harunyahya.com, are obscuring clear scientific thinking." | Dr Hasan wrote: "Snazzy websites, videos and books produced by fundamentalist Muslim 'creationists' such as those at www.harunyahya.com, are obscuring clear scientific thinking." |
He also wrote: "One problem is that many Muslims retain the simple picture that God created Adam from clay, much as a potter makes a statue, and then breathed into the lifeless statue and lo! it became a living human. | He also wrote: "One problem is that many Muslims retain the simple picture that God created Adam from clay, much as a potter makes a statue, and then breathed into the lifeless statue and lo! it became a living human. |
"This is a children's madrasa-level understanding and Muslims really have to move on as adults and intellectuals." | "This is a children's madrasa-level understanding and Muslims really have to move on as adults and intellectuals." |
In a separate article he claimed the requirement for women to cover their hair in public was cultural in origin, and that British Muslims should have the choice. | In a separate article he claimed the requirement for women to cover their hair in public was cultural in origin, and that British Muslims should have the choice. |
The BBC's Religious Affairs Correspondent Robert Pigott said his remarks three years ago have led to fatwas denouncing him from Muslim scholars in several countries. | The BBC's Religious Affairs Correspondent Robert Pigott said his remarks three years ago have led to fatwas denouncing him from Muslim scholars in several countries. |
More recently, it was reported that he was subjected to death threats when he delivered a lecture in January and that a leaflet campaign had been mounted against him. | More recently, it was reported that he was subjected to death threats when he delivered a lecture in January and that a leaflet campaign had been mounted against him. |
Dr Hasan, who is vice chairman of Leyton Mosque - which houses one of the country's largest sharia courts - has agreed he went too far in suggesting that the Adam of the creation story would have had human parents. | Dr Hasan, who is vice chairman of Leyton Mosque - which houses one of the country's largest sharia courts - has agreed he went too far in suggesting that the Adam of the creation story would have had human parents. |
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