The chief imam at Kowloon Mosque held his last Friday prayer session yesterday after being ousted by a group of community leaders.
The day before, the board of trustees of the Islamic Community Fund handed the imam, Muhammed Tayaib Qasmi, an ultimatum to resign or be sacked over the allegedly divisive nature of his preaching, according to community sources.
They said he had attacked various sects and started a branch of the Khatme Nabuwat movement, a radical Islamic organisation originating in Pakistan.
'Things in Pakistan are radical and we don't want this sort of thing in Hong Kong,' said a community leader.
The board, which represents all the Islamic groups in Hong Kong, took action after a demonstration was held by supporters of the imam on July 16, he said.
A packed Friday afternoon prayer session was held at the mosque yesterday, the largest in Hong Kong, with Muslims from Pakistan, India, Turkey, China and Africa among those attending. About 2,000 Muslims attend the Friday prayer session.
