British imams telling men to beat their wives if they say no to sex should face criminal investigations, top Tory says
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has asked the Metropolitan Police and West Midlands Police to investigate three imams after sermons were reported to encourage husbands to use violence against their wives. He said the comments could incite violence against women and that cultural sensitivities should not prevent the law being enforced.
The imams were identified as Yasin Munye of a Hackney centre, Mahamed AbdurRazaq of An-Noor Masjid in Birmingham, and Aqeel Mahmood of Green Lane Masjid, also in Birmingham. Their reported remarks concerned wives refusing sex or leaving home without permission; one described hitting that would not bruise or break bones. Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy separately asked the Crown Prosecution Service to pursue prosecutions. The Metropolitan Police said it was assessing a complaint, while Green Lane Masjid said it rejects violence and abuse.
- Chris Philp called for police investigations into three imams.
- Reported sermons discussed violence against wives.
- The Met said it was assessing a complaint.
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In the UK, assault and domestic abuse are criminal matters, and religious or cultural arguments do not exempt anyone from the law. Police investigate reports of possible offences, while the Crown Prosecution Service decides whether there is enough evidence and a public interest in bringing charges.
Chris Philp and Nick Timothy are Conservative politicians serving in opposition roles as shadow ministers. The three named imams are religious leaders at centres in London and Birmingham; the reported sermons concern how husbands should treat wives who refuse sex or leave home without permission.
The issue raises questions about where religious speech ends and potential encouragement of criminal violence begins. It also concerns how authorities assess complaints while protecting people from abuse and applying the law consistently.
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The case for
Advocates of investigation argue that sermons encouraging husbands to hit wives may legitimise domestic abuse and put women at risk, so police should assess whether the comments meet the legal threshold for incitement or another offence. Applying the law consistently, they say, protects victims and shows that religious or cultural context does not place anyone above it.
The case against
Those urging caution argue that reported excerpts may not capture the sermons’ full context, and that criminal investigation or prosecution should follow only where evidence establishes a specific offence. They stress that forceful or offensive religious speech must be distinguished from incitement under the law, so authorities should assess the evidence impartially while avoiding assumptions about a wider faith community.