British imam says he ‘aspires to be like’ Qassem Soleimani in glowing tribute

An imam paid a passionate tribute to assassinated Iranian general Qassem Soleimani outside the Islamic Centre of England yesterday, describing him as a martyr and saying that people should ‘aspire to be like him’.

Dozens of Muslims attended a memorial service held at the religious hub in Maida Vale, London.

The imam, speaking in front of the building, addressed mourners and heaped praise on the slain general.  

The crowds had squeezed into the building and sat beneath a painting of the Islamic Republic’s second-in-command and Iraqi military commander Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, as they paid their respects to those massacred in the US airstrikes.

The crowds had squeezed into the building and sat beneath a painting of the Islamic Republic’s second-in-command and Iraqi military commander Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis

The imam said: ‘I would like to give you all my condolences but I would also like to congratulate you. 

‘We are lucky enough to live in a time where we can see, touch and feel a man like Qassem Soleimani and we hope and we pray and we work hard to make sure that there will be many many more Qassem Soleimanis.

‘We aspire to become like him, we are jealous and we want the same thing for ourselves and our loved ones.

‘The beauty of Islam is that we can turn around to our enemy and say ”do your worst” because the worst is the best that can happen to me.’ 

Mourners sit beneath a picture of Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at the Islamic Centre of England at Maida Vale in Kilburn, at around 5.15pm yesterday. Soleimani and al-Muhandis’ convoy decimated by three missiles from an MQ-9 Reaper Drone in the early hours of Friday outside Baghdad’s International Airport

The Muslim community pay tribute to the Quds commander (pictured) who helped the Shia militias kill hundreds of American troops during the US invasion of Iraq

Crowds gather outside the centre in Greater London ahead of the memorial on Saturday evening. The killing of the country’s highest ranking official is ‘tantamount to [the US] opening a war against Iran’, according to Tehran’s UN ambassador

A large group of men, with some young boys, was seen gathering at the Islamic Centre in Maida Vale, London, following the assassination.

The memorial service was held 25 minutes after a man was arrested outside the centre to prevent the breach of peace and for obstructing officers.

The Islamic Centre’s director has reportedly referred to Soleimani as an ‘honourable Islamic commander’ in a message of condolence.    

Thousands lined the streets of Baghdad and Tehran yesterday in memory of the dead commanders, while protests against the attack took place across the US, Middle East and outside 10 Downing Street, London.

Soleimani, who died with five other men in the strike outside Baghdad airport, has been accused of helping Shia militias murder hundreds of American troops during the Invasion of Iraq.

US President Donald Trump said the strike was carried out to save the lives of hundreds in America and Europe. 

Demonstrators took to the streets of New York, Washington DC and London to denounce the violence and call on Trump to de-escalate the conflict.

Outside Downing Street protesters chanted against the war while British-Iranians arrived holding placards that read ‘Down with Khamenei’ and others raised the pre-Islamic flag of Iran. 

Palestinians also burned American flags in Gaza City, while an angry mob set fire to US flags in Pakistan, and around 150 pro-Iranian demonstrators held Iraqi militia flags and condemned the US as an aggressor. 

The ceremony came 25 minutes after a man was detained by police outside the Islamic Centre, this evening. It is understood that the incident is not connected to the memorial event

The incident took place before the centre was due to hold a memorial community meeting in memory of Soleimani, at around 4.50pm on Saturday

However, the assassination was also met with celebrations by some groups in Iraq and in Canada, where people were pictured dancing in the street.

Three missiles from an MQ-9 Reaper drone hit the convoy Soleimani was travelling in outside Baghdad International Airport, killing the architect of the country’s regional security strategy and five others.

Tehran has reacted angrily to the attack, saying the US’s move is tantamount to a ‘declaration of war’ and promising a ‘severe revenge’.

Iraq’s prime minister has also threatened to expel all US troops from the country after the ‘brazen violation of Iraq’s sovereignty’. 

The Islamic Republic was previously accused of masterminding a bomb attack on Pan Am Flight 103 as it flew over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 243 passengers.

The attack took place less than five months after a US battleship shot down an Iran Air passenger jet as it flew over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 people on board.

Libya has also been blamed, although at the time Iran’s allies and proxy forces promised to take revenge.

Soleimani (pictured) has been described as an ‘honourable Islamic commander’ by the Islamic Centre

GAZA CITY, PALESTINE: Palestinians burn US and Israeli flags as they attend a mourning tent held by Palestinian factions for Qassem Soleimani, the Iran’s head of the Quds Force, who was killed in a US drone strike early Friday, in Gaza on Saturday

NEW YORK, USA: An anti-War protest organised by anti-fascist groups including Code Pink, a woman-led peace movement, marched behind flags and banners

MOSCOW, RUSSIA: A man lights candles in the memory of killed Iran’s Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani in front of the Iranian embassy on Friday

President Trump responded to the official’s death in a celebratory fashion by suggesting Soleimani had ‘made the death of innocent people his sick passion’ and ordered his death to stop a war.

The US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has said regional allies including Israel and Saudi Arabia had been very helpful to American forces, while its traditional European allies had stood back.

He accused the firm NATO allies of not being as helpful as they could have been. The UK was reportedly not warned about the attack, despite having troops in the area. 

BERLIN, GERMANY: Demonstrators hold placards of Soleimani, wave pro-Iran militia flags and Syrian flags featuring the face of the brutal despot Bashar al Assad

Protesters gather at Pershing Square in Los Angeles in opposition of any US military involvement in the Middle East, with one wearing a crude mask and a sign saying, ‘scariest clown ever’ in reference to Trump

WASHINGTON DC, USA: A demonstrator holds a sign which reads ‘No war with Iran’ as hundreds gathered across the US in response to increased tensions in the Middle East