The Daily Telegraph has today published corrections in both its newspaper and online editions correcting allegations that wrongly associated the East London Mosque with a child abuse case.

The Daily Telegraph’s print article (Muslim extremist jailed for abusing girls at mosque, 19th January 2011) and London Editor Andrew Gilligan’s subsequent blog (Extremist leader jailed for child abuse, 20th January), erroneously claimed that Qur’anic teacher Ashraf Miah had abused children on the mosque’s premises and that Mr Miah was a “former teacher at the East London Mosque.” Mr Gilligan’s blog also alleged that the victims “were introduced to Miah via the mosque.” Neither allegation was correct nor could The Daily Telegraph substantiate its claims when challenged.

The correction in print on page 8 of The Daily Telegraph (2nd June 2011) is as follows:

East London Mosque:

Our report “Muslim extremist jailed for abusing girls at mosque” (Jan 19) wrongly said that Ashraf Miah, described in a court report as a former teacher at the East London Mosque, committed his offences on its premises. We are happy to confirm that he did not and that the Mosque has no record of him ever having taught there.

The correction published online on The Daily Telegraph (1st June 2011) website is as follows:

East London Mosque:

Our report “Extremist leader jailed for child abuse” (Jan 20) wrongly said that some of the victims of Ashraf Miah, described in a court report as a former teacher at the East London Mosque, were introduced via the Mosque. We are happy to confirm that the Mosque has no record of him ever having taught there and that there was no suggestion at trial of his victims having been introduced to him there.

We published a statement (21st Jan 2011) which clarified our position on this matter.

[ENDS]