A Birmingham mosque that was consulted by police ahead of the controversial decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a match has hosted preachers who advocated for men to physically discipline their wives.
Misogynistic Sermons at Consulted Mosque
Green Lane Mosque is at the centre of the storm after it emerged sermons containing deeply misogynistic views were delivered on its premises. A week before Christmas, preacher Aqeel Mahmood told congregants that men could physically punish their wives as a 'last resort' if they were disobedient or rebellious.
Mahmood, during a lecture on marital rights, asserted that men hold 'a level of authority over the woman'. He qualified his remarks by stating such punishment should not cause pain, injury, or fear, but also argued it was 'common sense' that wives should not leave children to go shopping and should not leave the house without their husband's permission except in life-or-death situations.
This was not an isolated incident. Prior to the Maccabi match in November, the same mosque hosted another preacher, Mahamed AbdurRazaq, who has previously stated husbands are 'allowed to hit' their wives if they refuse sex. AbdurRazaq had been banned from another Birmingham mosque, An-Noor Masjid, after a similar 2024 sermon which prompted a report to the Charity Commission.
Police Consultation and Fallout from Fan Ban
Despite this history, West Midlands Police consulted Green Lane Mosque as one of eight Muslim organisations before deciding to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from the Europa Conference League fixture at Aston Villa's Villa Park on November 6.
Police intelligence suggested 'local hostility' towards the fans based on their nationality and warned that some in the majority-Muslim community planned to 'arm' themselves if the fans attended. This guidance was given to the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which enacted the ban.
The decision sparked widespread condemnation from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, politicians across parties, and Jewish groups. Chief Constable Craig Guildford was grilled by the Home Affairs Committee, where chair Dame Karen Bradley accused the force of 'scraping' to find a reason for the ban—a claim Guildford denied.
Mounting Pressure and Historical Controversies
The revelation about the mosque's sermons has intensified pressure on the police force. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has warned Guildford's position is 'untenable' and joined Jewish groups in calling for his resignation.
This is not Green Lane Mosque's first controversy regarding the treatment of women and minority groups:
- In 2024, imam Mustafa Abu Rayyan stated a woman's 'number one' duty was to 'follow, obey and respect her husband' and that she had an 'obligation' to have sex with him, discouraging her from being a 'career woman'.
- In 2023, an investigation found sermons at the mosque had included instructions on how to 'correctly' stone a woman for adultery and speeches appearing to incite violence against LGBT+ people.
The mosque told The Times that Mahmood's recent comments were taken 'out of context'. West Midlands Police declined to comment on the latest reports linking their consultation to a mosque hosting such views.
The force has already been forced to apologise after an assistant chief constable mistakenly implied members of the Jewish community supported the Maccabi fan ban. A clarification stated it was 'never the intention' to suggest explicit Jewish support for the exclusion.
As investigations continue, the episode raises serious questions about the intelligence and community engagement informing major policing decisions, and the ethical considerations of consulting with organisations promoting extremist views.
