Brits angry over radical Muslim imam calling Queen a 'disgusting woman'

London, Jan 21 (ANI): Radical cleric Shaykh Asrar Rashid has angered Britons by branding Queen Elizabeth II a "disgusting woman" because she knighted Salman Rushdie.

He also slammed British Muslims who had joined the Army, and added that White people were the main cause of racism.

In 1989, Iran's leaders called for Rushdie's death after the publishing of his book The Satanic Verses, which they deemed "blasphemous", the Daily Express reports.

Rashid, who was arrested over a religious dispute during a pilgrimage to Mecca last summer, went on to accuse Muslims who joined the armed forces, or the police, of sacrificing their beliefs.

Speaking on BBC West Midlands' breakfast show, he said: "I don't think Muslims should join any institution like the police force. Institutions institutionalise us, we can never join without giving up our principles."

"I know people who have given up their religion to be in the police force and armed forces." However, Rashid said he would fight for his Birmingham community.

"If a foreign government invaded England tomorrow, we as Muslims would defend these areas and our way of life," he said.

"It's not that I hate English people, or English soldiers who have gone abroad, or that I don't feel for the mothers of these soldiers. But the fact is they should make conscientious decisions as well," Rashid saide also spoke about growing up in Birmingham's Sparkbrook area 20 years ago, saying: "When I was living in this area there was more racism because there was more white ­people."

Labour MP for Birmingham Khalid Mahmood said Rashid's views were "complete nonsense".

A spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain said Rashid's comments on the Queen were "disrespectful" and "disgusting". (ANI)