A Muslim imam accused of teaching "extreme Islam" has been barred for a second time from his Auckland mosque sparking a row between worshippers.
Security guards were called at the end of 12.30pm prayers at the Avondale Islamic Centre yesterday to remove supporters of Sheikh Abu Abdullah, a Salafist imam, from the prayer room where they were seeking support for a "mosque takeover".
Police vehicles were also stationed within the car park at the Blockhouse Bay Rd mosque, and outside, as prayers were conducted in the centre's main prayer room.
Sheikh Abdullah, 50, said the trespass order issued on Monday barring him and all members of his family - including his seven children - from the mosque for two years was unexpected and came as a shock.
He denies that his teachings or views were extremist despite following the Salafi strand of Islam, which is associated with strict and puritanical approaches to the religion.
Two years ago Mr Abdullah, originally from Egypt, was also barred from the same mosque and was arrested and kept in a police cell overnight for breaching a trespass order obtained by the New Zealand Muslim Association (NZMA), which runs the centre.
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