Sheikh Younus Kathrada is a South-African born Canadian Imam, Islamic Studies teacher, community and youth activist, chaplain, and public speaker residing in Victoria, British Columbia.
In an interview on November 25, 2020 with Daniel Haqiqatjou, American Muslim scholar and imam, Younus Kathadra implied that religious sermons are protected by law from possible allegations of hate speech.
Below in an excerpt from Younus Katharda’s statements:
“When all this trouble started for me many many years ago I went to see a lawyer… It was about a very, I don’t know the word to use, a sermon (khutba) that was pretty hot. It was sent to the lawyer, okay. He had this transcribed as soon as we walked in he said: Listen, Mr Katharda you have nothing to worry about. Okay. Your fear was this, but in your sermon every time you made a point you also said that this is taken from your religious texts, and these religious texts are protected by law.”
The following is the Friday sermon delivered by Younus Kathrada on October 23, 2020:
“Not too long ago a teacher in France chose to show those insulting cartoons to his class at his school. And of course, some of the Muslim students who were there were very annoyed and upset and they objected as did their parents. And they spoke up, but nobody bothered listening to them. Nobody paid any attention to them. And then about a week ago, it is said I repeat, it is said that a young Muslim man confronted this cursed individual he confronted this evil spirited man he had confronted this filthy excuse of a human being on the street and he beheaded him… Right now, we are angry at what these filthy people are doing (publicly displaying Charlie Hebdo cartoons), so one of the things you and I can do is to boycott all French products and services.”
[Closing prayer in Arabic]
“Oh Allah, give strength to Islam and Muslims, and humiliate the infidels and the polytheists oh Allah, destroy the enemies of Islam, and annihilate the heretics and the atheists. Oh Allah, support those who waged jihad for your sake everywhere. Oh Allah, annihilate all those who slander the prophet Muhammad.”
The following are excerpt from Islam Q&A academic, educational and da‘wah website supervised by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid, dealing with the topic of execution for insult or blasphemy.
“Defaming the Prophet PBUH is a kind of kufr [disbelief]. If that is done by a Muslim then it is apostasy on his part, and the authorities have to defend the cause of Allaah and His Messenger [Muhammad] PBUH by executing the one who defamed him. If the person who defames him is a non-Muslim living under a treaty with the Muslim state, then this is a violation of the treaty and he must be executed, but that should be left to the authorities. If a Muslim hears a Christian or anyone else defaming the Prophet [Muhammad] PBUH he has to denounce him in strong terms. It is permissible to insult that person because he is the one who started it. How can we not stand up the Prophet [Muhammad] PBUH? It is also obligatory to report him to the authorities who can carry out the punishment on him. If there is no one who can carry out the hadd [fixed] punishment of Allaah and stand up for the Messenger [Muhammad] PBUH then the Muslim has to do whatever he can.”
Younus Kathrada Picture: screengrab from YouTube Muslim Youth Victoria