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A radical Muslim hate cleric is planning to transform a beautiful remote Scottish island into a “homeland” for Islamic extremists.
Sheikh Yasser al-Habib plans to train his “army” on the picturesque isle of Torsa, off the west coast of Scotland, and rule its inhabitants under Sharia Law.
45-year-old al-Habib claimed “asylum” in Britain 20 years ago after fleeing his native Kuwait.
He has now raised £3 million ($3.81M) to convert the island into an Islamic state.
The cleric wants his island to serve as the UK’s main outpost for Islamic extremist groups.
The extremist scholar, who already runs military-style training camps, hopes his organization can build its own school, hospital, and mosque on the island, according to the Daily Mail.
In a video encouraging supporters to donate towards their £3.5 million ($4.46M) target, the cleric says he will negotiate with the UK Government to allow Muslims “from all over the world” to be given a visa.
Al-Habib said he hopes Islamists will flock to live in their new “homeland.”
Al-Habib is accused of stirring up sectarian hatred in Britain and in the Arab world between Shias and rival Sunni Muslims.
He currently has his “global headquarters” in the picturesque village of Fulmer, South Buckinghamshire.
He has been fundraising through his controversial satellite channel Fadak TV.
He has run the TV station for several years from a £2 million ($2.54M) converted church hall.
Despite repeated warnings from the regulator Ofcom, al-Habib – nicknamed the “Mullah of Fulmer” – has been permitted to continue broadcasting his lectures.
Most of the lectures include spreading hate and inciting violence towards those from the Sunni faith in the UK and abroad.
The cleric, who preaches only in Arabic, has amassed a huge following among Britain’s 400,000 Shias.
He also has millions more followers across the world.
Now he has set his sights on the uninhabited island of Torsa, in Argyll.
H wants to use the island to establish a new Islamic “homeland” for his group called the Mahdi [Messiah] Servants Union (MSU).
Torsa, which is one of the Slate Islands, is just over a mile long and has one farmhouse.
It is accessible only by private boat from Luing – itself reached via a ferry from the island of Seil, which in turn connects to the mainland via a bridge.
The island has not been permanently inhabited for more than 50 years.
Sarah Zaaimi, a Deputy Director for Communications at the American think tank Atlantic Council, who has researched al-Habib, said:
“They will have their own army, their own justice system, they will manage their own schools and hospitals, and people from around the world will be able to migrate to this homeland.
“It does challenge the notion of sovereignty.
“It’s puzzling to me how the UK authorities are allowing such a discourse.
“You are fundraising for the creation of a sovereign country on the margins of another country.”
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