Beheading demand a ‘moment of madness’

Reporter: ALEX CAREY
Date published: 25 February 2015


A FATHER-OF-TWO who went online and offered a £1,000 reward for the beheading of a man who burgled a Werneth mosque has avoided prison.

Mohammed Bashir (26), of Monmouth Street, Oldham, uploaded a CCTV image of a man stealing from Werneth’s Jamia Masjid Mosque offering £1,000 for someone to behead him.

Bashir had been smoking cannabis with his friends in January while discussing a robbery at his mosque the day before.

On his return home he posted the message on personal sales site Gumtree. A member of the public saw the post and contacted police.

Bashir pleaded guilty at Oldham Magistrates’ Court early this month to sending a menacing message.

Since then his family and the mosque has condemned his action and he has been suspended from one of his two jobs.

Naila Akhtar, defending Bashir, told Oldham magistrates yesterday the post had been made in a moment of stupidity, influenced by his friends and by smoking cannabis.

Bashir had tried to remove the post shortly after making it, but saw it had already been removed.

Magistrates handed Bashir a 12-month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay £145 in costs and charges.

Magistrate Kathleen Kershaw, chairman of the bench, said: “We feel this was a moment of madness to which you have shown great remorse.

“This was a serious offence, especially in the current climate.”

Original Story: ‘Behead mosque raider’ post lands man in court