Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

London Mosque Thrust Into Spotlight

Aired December 28, 2001 - 06:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A London Mosque has been thrust into the terrorism spotlight. Both the accused shoe bomber and Zacarias Moussaoui reportedly worshipped there. CNN's Matthew Chance has been talking to Mosque officials and joins us now live with what he has learned -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, you're joining me now Carol outside the Brixton Mosque inside London, of course, the place where Richard Reid is known to have worshipped. Also the place, as you mentioned there, that Zacarias Moussaoui is known to have attended on occasion. Despite these links, though, the leadership of this Mosque is largely moderate and there is outrage here, as well as across the British Muslim community that their faith Islam, not just here in Britain, but elsewhere may be being hijacked by extremists. Earlier I spoke to a worshiper before predawn prayers here in London.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've never been depressed (ph) in my whole life as I've been in the last four or five months of being a Muslim. Because the reason for that is that you know I've never read it in the Koran, or learned it in the Mosque (ph) of, you know, killing people like that, doing suicide attacks. I mean, what I was told in the Koran was that the best of you are the best in conduct, you know, who are good to the parents; kind to each other, to normal human beings. We try to help each other, you know, this and that. That's what I learned from the Koran.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHANCE: Now the criticism of some moderate Muslims, of course, is that there are certain few mosques around Britain that are preaching a radical brand of Islam, inciting followers towards violence -- sort of creating a culture of militancy. I think it's important to stress, though, at this point, that the vast majority -- the overwhelming majority of British Muslims are moderate, and have been quick not just to condemn the apparent rise of militancy in Islam here, but also quick to pass on information regarding certain individuals to the authorities or to place individuals who they say as potentially dangerous members of militant groups -- Carol.

COSTELLO: So Matthew, for those few mosques who may be breeding grounds for terrorists, are British police doing anything to keep that from happening? CHANCE: Well certainly the British police, according to the Muslim leaders we've been speaking to, the British police have been given information over several years now concerning certain members of militant groups, people are more radically inclined within the Islamic faith here in Britain. The complaint of many moderate Muslim leaders has been that the information they have provided has not been acted upon -- certainly no, the hope of among the Muslim leaders now is their information will be taken more seriously by the British police.

COSTELLO: All right, Matthew Chance reporting live from London this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com