Comic cancels gig over Muslim fury

Comic Jeff Mirza has pulled out of a gig after upsetting fellow Muslims with his impression of hook-handed cleric Abu Hamza.

The stand-up was heckled when he mocked the controversial preacher at an Islamic dating event in Birmingham last weekend, and later received a torrent of abusive emails.

Now he has decided to pull out of a similar gig in London this Saturday, fearing that pro-Hamza activists would again turn on him

According to Mirza's publicist, veiled women were the most vociferous at the Kismat event in Birmingham's President restaurant.

He said: "They kept claiming that because Abu Hamza was not in the room it was un-Islamic to talk about him behind his back - also because he is a disabled man."

"They didn't want to believe that Abu Hamza could easily fit prosthetic hands and perhaps chooses his 'hook' to maximise impact.

"The audience at these events varies from young professional Muslims who understand irony and subtley to the more radical activists. Unfortunately the latter community can easily bully the former and set the agenda. Added to this is the mix of young men and women trying to 'impress' one another for marriage."

"The 'Abu Hamza' material forms a significant part of Mirza's act. And he decided that if he couldn't do it -he wouldn't do the gig."

Mirza - who will be taking his act to the Edinburgh fringe next month - said: "I tried to explain to two irate veiled women in the audience that the gags about Abu Hamza weren't anti Islamic- they are just jokes."

Published: 16 Jul 2003