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Bigley tribute destroyed at mosque

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13/10/2004 03:28

By Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters) - A book of condolence set up in honour of Kenneth Bigley, killed by kidnappers in Iraq, has been stolen from a Birmingham mosque with other tributes to the engineer destroyed, a mosque spokesman says.

Bigley, 62, was beheaded by followers of Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi on Thursday, prompting Muslim leaders in Birmingham to set up tributes at the city’s main mosque to express the community’s horror.

All the imams and Muslim leaders from around Birmingham, which has a large Muslim population, had signed the book and cards, candles and pictures of Bigley had been placed outside.

"On Saturday evening there were a few problems with a few individuals who were threatening to take the book away. On Sunday morning the caretaker found the book was gone," said Adam Yosef, spokesman for the Birmingham Central Mosque.

"The following day the tribute was also damaged and ruined -- parts of it were stolen, posters were removed and signs were ripped off," he told Reuters on Tuesday. "It’s a disgusting thing to do."

The incident is the second of its kind at the mosque. In March, a book of condolence for victims of the Madrid train bombings was also stolen.

Bigley’s murder horrified Britain, drawing deep condemnation from British Muslims, some of whom had worked to secure his freedom.

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However some radical Islamist groups said the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq, backed by Britain, was to blame for his death.

Yosef said the mosque had no idea who was responsible but suggested it could have been disaffected Muslims or members of a far right group trying to provoke trouble.

"It’s very rare for the Muslim leaders from different groups to come together agreeing on one issue but they did.

"It goes to show if these individuals happened to be Muslim ... they don’t belong to any of the main Muslim groups or mosques, whether it’s the most orthodox or the most moderate.

"They are a minority and they’ve got bigoted views."

A second book of condolence has been opened and will be forwarded to the Bigley family in Liverpool along with other tributes.