Man in court for assaulting imam and damaging Bournemouth mosque

Salim Omar Ali, 20 and of Christchurch Road, Boscombe, assaulted Imam Majid Yasin during an incident at Bournemouth Islamic Centre and Central Mosque.

Police were called after he assaulted Mr Yasin and forced his way into the St Stephen’s Road place of worship on the morning of December 1 last year.

Ali subsequently punched PC Carmichael in the face before he was taken to the floor by officers and members of the public to be restrained.

Prosecuting at Poole Magistrates' Court yesterday, Shami Duggal read a statement from Mr Yasin, who is also the director of Bournemouth Islamic Centre and Central Mosque.

Mr Yasin said: “I am very concerned for this male.

“I feel he is very dangerous and I am worried that should he come back his behaviour will escalate. If he returns and his behaviour is violent I feel we will have to defend ourselves.

“I am not injured but I feel very distressed that this would happen in a place of worship. This is supposed to be a place people come to feel safe.”

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Salim Ali leaving Poole Magistrates' Court yesterday

Ms Duggal said police had to be called to the mosque the day before the assault as the defendant was refusing to leave when it was being closed. Officers attended and sent him on his way.

However, the following day the force was called again to reports Ali had started to punch people.

“He had grabbed the mosque manager by the scruff of his neck and hit him in the chest area, as well as lashing out at others in the area,” said Ms Duggal. “He has then found his way into the mosque by forcing a locked door open.”

The prosecutor said in doing this he had damaged both the door and a glass panel before he sat on the floor praying.

When police arrived and tried to get the defendant to stand up he hit PC Carmichael in the face.

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Ali previously pleaded guilty to criminal damage, assault by beating and assault by beating of an emergency worker.

Richard Middleton, representing Ali, told the court his client was remorseful and a pre-sentence report showed he had an insight into how his behaviour had affected others.

Mr Middleton said the defendant had confirmed he would not go to the mosque in the town centre, adding that he has access to another mosque should he wish to attend there.

Police at the scene of the incident in St Stephen's Road

District Judge Stephen Nicholls said he had given the defendant credit for his guilty pleas. He committed Ali to prison for eight weeks, suspended for 12 months, with an order to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation activity days.

The judge also imposed a 12-month restraining order preventing the offender from having any contact with Mr Yasin and from going to Bournemouth Islamic Centre and Central Mosque.

Ali must pay £100 compensation to PC Carmichael and £50 compensation to Mr Yasin.

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