An Imam has said he will not be ‘intimidated’ because of his expression of support for murderer Mumtaz Qadri.

Muhammad Masood Qadiri and Muhammed Asim Hussain both came in for criticism for their support for the man who killed popular Punjab governor Salman Taseer in 2011. Taseer criticized the law that mandates the death penalty for insulting Islam or the Prophet Mohammad.

Earlier this week Mumtaz Qadri was executed  for  the crime. In Pakistan thousands turned out for his funeral. Some shouted, "He lives! Qadri lives!" supporters chanted, surrounding the coffin and throwing flowers. "From your blood, the revolution will come!"

Both Imams were criticised for their support  of  Mumtaz  Qadri  in an article in the Telegraph.

Sajjad Karim MEP said the Imams  support  for Mumtaz Qadri was not  good for harmony and coexistence.

He  said  in the Times, “Lending support to somebody who has killed based on their extremist beliefs is not a message that should be approved of and having people who preach from pulpits with this view is not good for harmony and coexistence.”

Few Muslims though seem to be puclicly wanting to comment on the issue.

Muhammad Masood Qadiri who appears on Muslim TV channels in the UK posted this week, “Elements in the British media as well as a certain MEP has attempted to vilify and intimidate me because of my expression of support for Gazi Mumtaz Qadri.

“It is not only my human right, but also my democratic right of freedom of expression, both as a British and Pakistani national, to be able to express my feelings.

“This does not make me a terrorist sympathiser as I along with millions of fellow Muslims do not accept that Gazi Mumtaz Qadri was a terrorist in the least.

“I have always been the first to condemn terrorism wherever in the world it takes place. I am also an Islamic religious minister.

“I therefore have a duty to express an opinion on fundamental matters concerning Islam and on this occasion, the crime of blasphemy. 

“My opinion is personal to me. As for having travelled to the funeral of Gazi Mumtaz Qadri, along with hundreds of thousands of others who also attended, I am not at all ashamed of this. Since when has this amounted to criminal behaviour?”

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Meanwhile, Imam Muhammed Asim Hussain had  posted on his Facebook Page, “A dark day in the history of Pakistan; the day Ghazi Mumtaz was wrongfully executed and martyred in the way of Allah, when he did what he did in honour of the Prophet ﷺ.

“Allah raise the ranks of this true servant of Allah and lion of the Ahl ul-Sunnah wal Jama'at. Allah guide the leadership in our Muslim countries. Ameen.”

Under Imam Muhammed Asim Hussain’s  comments, the overwhelming  number criticised  him.

Omer Imtiaz Khan said on Facebook, “He wasn't wrongfully executed. He was executed because he murdered someone who criticized the blasphemy laws in Pakistan. He wasn't martyred. 
“Why don't you go to war for all the cartoons drawn in Denmark? O that's right, you can't because you enjoy freedoms in Europe which allow you to criticize as you please without being shot dead. Stop teaching your version of Islam. 
"The Islam I've learned promotes peace and love to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. There are many examples of people criticizing and even hurting the Prophet ﷺ and he responded with love and compassion. What gives you the right to shoot anyone you please when the man himself responded with love?”

Aadil Nawaz Awan  said, "Islam does not say to kill under anger. Yes you may think he did the right thing, but where does it say to go murder if someone talks against islam etc, you should politely guide and inform them!!"

Jasim Zaib said, "May Allah bless him with Jannah... those who have no clue about what he did and are comparing him to taliban should shut the hell up."

Saddique Dar  said, "If Allah swt can forgive a person who committed 99 murders. In the history of islam, who is man over Allah the most merciful. Two wrong's don't make the situation any better may Allah guide us all.

Usman Choudhry said, "This post is absolute rubbish. You are inciting extremism and are an embarrassment to British Muslims."

Muhammad Shak dded, "Allah give him highest rank in jannat tul firdous."

Sayed Umaar Kazmi said, "Sorry, but didn't this guy literally shoot someone up in a coffee shop because he disagreed with his views?
He wasn't wrongfully executed in a legal sense. The death penalty is there for murder and he confessed to an extrajudicial killing. I would have preferred him to go to prison but, if we're talking about the law of Pakistan, there was no wrongdoing in his execution."

Among  others  comments under  Muhammad Masood Qadiri  latest post  read, 

David Peters  said,  "I ask one simple question; judging from the hadith and other sources of what we know of the Prophet, would he himself have advocated this cold blooded murder? I think we all know the answer is no, of course not. He was attacked physically and verbally in his time by many, did he respond with retribution or violence? No! Those supporting Qadiri and suggesting he's a martyr are frankly delusional and poorly educated! 
Neither Allah nor the Prophet (Pbuh) are sensitive beings who need 'protection' in the form of blasphemy laws... Shameful."

Hamzah Khan  said, "I think UK based scholars needs to clarify their position and give clear legal evidence for the views they hold.
I would like to know from Qur'an, Hadith or the books of Islamic jurisprudence which law says that a person who criticises/challenges/questions/discusses the effectiveness/application/wording of a man made law (blasphemy laws in Pakistan) becomes a deserving of death.
I would also like to know from Qur'an, Hadith or the books of jurisprudence where it is stated that a common person from the public is permitted to carry out the death penalty in a vigilante attack without sanctioning or approval from a court of law.
Any help would be appreciated."

Waqas Ahmed "Yet you guys can't find any proof that the governor commited blasphemy. You cheered a guy because of the name qadri, and nothing else."