A MUSLIM who claimed he was being victimised for his religion after anti-terror raids on his home took part in a fundamentalist protest against British soldiers which caused nationwide outrage, the Mail can reveal.
Zakeel Abbas’ Sydney Street home was raided by police in April, 2008, during an investigation into an extremist poster campaign in Burton, urging Muslims to attack non-believers, the White House and Rome.
However, no charges were subsequently brought against he and three other men whose homes were also raided.
The 32-year-old demanded an apology and even set up a support group for others ’persecuted for being Muslim’.
But, on May 5, during a parade in Luton for soldiers returning from Iraq, Mr Abbas was pictured protesting with Islamist extremist group Al Muhajiroun.
The group greeted the soldiers with a barrage of abuse, holding signs declaring them ’murderers’ and ’baby killers’.
The protesters — who then had to be protected by police from being attacked by supporters of Anglian Regiment soldiers — made national headlines and were greeted with abhorrence and disgust by the majority of the UK Muslim community.
Mr Abbas — who initially denied being present at the Luton incident until photographic evidence was produced, even showing him wearing the same top he was pictured in when he was interviewed in The Mail — subsequently conceded he took part but defended his involvement, claiming there is a ’campaign against Islam’ by police, the media and the Government.
He said: "I was invited to a meeting about the atrocities committed against innocent Iraqis, including the children who have been killed during the war.
"If a Muslim is attacked in any way, shape or form, we have the right to defend ourselves. We are all part of the nation of Islam.
"It was a completely peaceful demonstration and I went along to show my support for all the Muslims butchered in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"I do not believe I have any extremist views, I follow a ’middle path’ in terms of my Muslim beliefs."
Mr Abbas denies his action will fuel tension between whites and Asians in Burton — even though the Luton protest has been blamed for heightening racial tensions in the Bedfordshire town and sparked retaliatory marches and protests against the extremists, which led to breakouts of violence, arrests and rumours of infiltration by extreme right-wing groups. He believes notions of hatred between ethnic groups are ’invented and perpetuated by the media’.
He said: "We do not believe there is any difference between people of different-coloured skin and I don’t think the protest has created any hatred.
"The police, Government and media have done a fine job of creating that themselves by making people wary of us."
However, Mr Abbas’ actions were condemned by East Staffordshire Racial Equality Council director Amir Kabal.
He said: "I can’t condone that protest — it was quite terrible. Soldiers are putting their lives at risk for the country and to go and ruin a parade celebrating what they do is disgraceful. Any individual using religion to promote hate is doing something unacceptable. It’s the politicians who made the decision to go to war and you can’t blame the soldiers for that."