Who is Abu Nusaybah?
Abu Nusaybah (Ibrahim Hassan) is perhaps one of the most beautiful brothers I've ever met in my life. He is extremely shy and humble, possesses exceptional manners, has deep love for Islam and concern for Muslims, and is continuously trying to better himself and increase his knowledge of the Religion, as well as his personal worship.
I first met him around 2003 or early 2004. I can remember how keen he was to increase his knowledge and learn more and more about the Religion. He was one of the very few brothers who would sit at the front of a lecture, eyes wide open, pen in hand, listening attentively, while others would be slouching, eating, chitchatting or falling asleep.
In 2007, we stood trial together (along with a number of other brothers), accused of fundraising for and supporting terrorism in Iraq. This was based on speeches we made at a small "rally" at Regents Park Mosque in central London during Ramadan. At that time we were both part of Al-Muhajiroun (the group of Omar Bakri Muhammad and Anjem Choudary), which we later left.
While in prison, I would often visit his cell during social hours. His cell was always very clean and tidy, and he had a large collection of Islamic books and audio lectures. He would spend all day studying, reading, writing and giving da'wah to brothers. Brothers would come to visit his cell all the time, just so they could benefit from his knowledge and enjoy his companionship. Whenever a group of brothers left, another group would come in.
After we were released from prison, we continued to do da'wah together. However, as his knowledge increased, so too did his disagreements with Al-Muhajiroun, which eventually caused him to leave. A year later, I also left, for practically the same reasons. The disagreements and factors that caused us to leave are too many to mention here.
Since then, we've worked on a number of da'wah projects together. Abu Nusaybah was so eager and passionate about giving da'wah to non-Muslims, helping Muslim prisoners, and supporting the oppressed. He would often not be able to sleep at night, thinking about the suffering of Muslims world wide.
Brother Abu Nusaybah is a very unique character. The only time he would get angry or raise his voice was when he would speak about the oppression of Muslims. Whenever a new Islamic book came out in the shops I would ask him if he had read it yet, and he would nearly always say, "Yeah, I've read it already."
It's clear that he was arrested for attempting to expose the UK government's complicity in the torture of one of the suspects in the Woolwich terror attack, Michael Adebolajo, in Kenya, 2010. But the BBC decided not to air his full interview with Newsnight, showing only parts of it instead.
Brother Abu Nusaybah still remains in police custody, yet to be charged. His solicitor says that they are looking through "evidence" obtained from his home (mainly computers and past lectures) hoping to find something to charge him with.
Please keep our brother in your du'aa and ask Almighty Allah to free him and all other innocent Muslim prisoners.
You can write a message of support on Twitter using the hastag #FreeAbuNusaybah.
Abu Muwahhid
