A radical imam is still hosting talks in primary schools, despite being ruled as an extremist preacher.

In 2016, a High Court judge found Shakeel Begg's position as an imam put him in a place where he could "plant the seed of Islamic extremism in a young mind".

But Begg has remained head imam of the Lewisham Islamic Centre [LIC], which has regularly hosted schoolchildren from the local borough.

The mosque has received hundreds of thousands of pounds in Government grants for its school, which closed in 2019. It also retains links with the local council, reports The Times.

Shakeel Begg worked with the Met

The BBC had previously described Begg as an "extremist" who sued the broadcaster for libel. Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, who oversaw the libel action, found in favour of the broadcaster in 2016.

He concluded Begg had been "telling Muslims that violence in support of Islam would constitute a man’s greatest deed".

Begg has continued to engage with the community despite the High Court finding against him. According to LIC’s Facebook page, it hosted children from local schools, including primary-age pupils, on at least six occasions in 2022 and 2023.

It posted pictures of Begg in discussions with schoolchildren.

Lewisham Islamic Centre in South London

Communities minister Michael Gove told the House of Commons that the Begg case was among examples brought to the government’s attention that galvanised it to issue a new extremism definition.

Gove warned that individuals and organisations with extreme views had nevertheless benefited from state engagement, endorsement and support, and "furthermore have exploited that association to further their extremist agendas."