Gateshead mentally ill man tried to murder Imam after being barred from mosque

Newcastle crown and combined magistrates court, Newcastle Quayside
-Credit: (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)


A mentally ill man tried to murder an Iman at a Tyneside mosque after being barred for causing offence by claiming he was a prophet.

Al Abduldayem had begun attending the mosque on Coatsworth Road, Gateshead, in 2019 or 2020 and became a regular worshipper there and to begin with caused no problems. However in 2021 he told the Imam he was a prophet, a delusion sparked by a his paranoid schizophrenia.

Passing sentence at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Paul Sloan KC told him: "Such a claim can cause very great offence. It's one of the greatest sins in the Islamic religion to make such a declaration, the Koran making clear Muhammad was the last prophet."

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The Imam and co-Imam patiently explained his claim was potentially blasphemous but Abduldayem continued to repeat the assertion. Due to the fact he was causing upset to those attending the mosque, he was barred. However he was not prepared to accept that and there were occasions when he had to be removed.

On September 4 2022, by which time he was acutely mentally unwell, he attended the mosque with large knife, with a 16cm blade, in the pocket of a rucksack. He found he was unable to gain access to the mosque as the keypad combination number had been changed.

He was loitering outside when, shortly before 1pm, the Imam arrived. Abduldayem remained in front of the door, blocking his entrance and refused to move and demanded to know why he was not allowed in and the situation was explained to him again.

The Imam ended up phoning the police and Abduldayem tried to grab the phone from him and the Imam pushed him back. Judge Sloan said: "You reached behind you, took hold of and produced the knife from the pocket of the rucksack and made determined efforts to stab the Imam, swinging the knife with considerable force towards his body on more than one occasion."

The second victim tried to take hold of the attacker but he shrugged him off and swung the blade towards his upper body. Judge Sloan said if the victims had not moved backwards as he swung the knife, they could have been caused serious if not fatal injuries.

Abduldayem then focused his attention back on the Imam, cornering him against some railings. However he was overpowered, although he would not release his grip on the weapon. It was only when a member of the public intervened that the knife was prised from his grip. The man suffered a minor cut to his hand in the process.

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The Imam said in a victim impact statement: "This incident has made me feel very scared for my own personal safety and for the community."

He added: "It was through my role as an Imam I first encountered him. It was clear to me he had personality issues. His behaviour at times was inappropriate inside the mosque but I showed him the same kindness and patience as all the other worshippers.

"I went out of my way to help him. I would sit with him and show him guidance and spiritual encouragement. I wanted him to be the best version of himself.

"I have never spoken to him in anything other than a kind and mild-mannered way. Even when his behaviour affected other worshippers it was with genuine care and concern I dealt with him.

"I'm still struggling to understand why he felt so angry with me that he felt the only solution was to arm himself with a knife and kill me. All I ever showed him was courtesy and tolerance."

He said he had thought about the consequences for his wife and children had the knife been two inches closer and killed him. He added that he is now more wary and suspicious of people and looks at the hands of those approaching him to see what is in them.

The second victim said: "I feel shocked and I'm still trying to process these events. I'm trying not to think about the fact I could have lost my life. I acted to protect the Imam and the community."

When interviewed by police, Abduldayem said he intended to attack the Imam with the knife and admitted trying to stab both victims. The court heard he has no previous convictions but was cautioned for assault in February 2022.

The 35-year-old, of Saltwell Road, Gateshead, was found guilty after a trial of attempted murder or the Imam and attempting to cause GBH with intent of the second victim. He admitted having a bladed article.

The court heard Abduldayem has paranoid schizophrenia and was acutely unwell and psychotic at the time of the attack and had been hearing voices. His claim to be prophet was a product of his illness, of which he was not aware.

He was born in Sudan and got a degree in economics before fleeing the war in his homeland and entering the UK illegally. He applied for asylum but it was rejected, which coincided with a deterioration in his mental health.

Abduldayem was sentenced to a hospital order with a restriction, meaning he will be held in a secure hospital order.