Politicians and British Muslim leaders have dismissed preacher Sheikh Abu Hamza's comments on the Columbia space shuttle, which he described as carrying a "trinity of evil".
Mr Hamza - recently barred from preaching at the Finsbury Park mosque in London - said the loss of the shuttle and all seven astronauts was a "sign from God".
The controversial cleric said the crew had been punished with death by Allah because there was an Israeli, Ilan Ramon, a Hindu Indian-born Kalpana Chawla, and Americans onboard.
But shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin said Mr Hamza's comments were "monstrous, appalling, despicable, and outrageous".
"All sensible people in Britain will be amazed that someone can engage in implicit incitement of this sort without anyone laying a finger on him."
Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, leader of the Muslim Parliament, dismissed Mr Hamza's pronouncement as "lunatic".
Dr Siddiqui told BBC News Online all British Muslims would be feeling sympathy for the dead astronauts, who had given their lives in the pursuit of sciences
Mr Hamza - recently barred from preaching at the Finsbury Park mosque in London - said the loss of the shuttle and all seven astronauts was a "sign from God".
The controversial cleric said the crew had been punished with death by Allah because there was an Israeli, Ilan Ramon, a Hindu Indian-born Kalpana Chawla, and Americans onboard.
But shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin said Mr Hamza's comments were "monstrous, appalling, despicable, and outrageous".
"All sensible people in Britain will be amazed that someone can engage in implicit incitement of this sort without anyone laying a finger on him."
Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, leader of the Muslim Parliament, dismissed Mr Hamza's pronouncement as "lunatic".
Dr Siddiqui told BBC News Online all British Muslims would be feeling sympathy for the dead astronauts, who had given their lives in the pursuit of sciences
Don't we have laws against incitement to racial hatred in this country? Surely attacking Jews, Americans and Hindus in one go counts as incitement?
****ing lunatic extremists...
Comment