Leaflets calling for Muslims to kill critics of Islam were handed out at a Walthamstow mosque.

The booklets, arguing Muslims “should kill” anyone who insulted the Prophet Mohammed, were reportedly distributed several months ago during Gyarween Shareef, a holy gathering attended by around 100 people, at Dar-ul-Uloom Qadria Jilania mosque in East Avenue.

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The publication claimed to be in accordance with Islamic law and also justified the “assassination” of former Muslims who had renounced their faith.

A Met police spokesman said: “We will be assessing the contents of the leaflets to establish if a criminal offence has be committed.”

The booklets reportedly bore both the name and image of Walthamstow-based mosque leader Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani.

However, the imam insisted his photograph was used without his permission and said he was unaware who had distributed the pamphlet and why.

Mr Jilani’s Facebook page claims he is one of the first Islamic scholars in the western world to issue a fatwa against all forms of terrorism.

However, in 2011, the 80-year-old was subject to an Ofcom complaint, following an appearance on satellite TV channel DM Digital.

The broadcasting watchdog deemed the scholar had broken rules on encouraging or inciting crime in comments he made about the killing of Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer.

An Ofcom report into the incident stated: “On a reasonable interpretation of the scholar's remarks, he was personally advocating that all Muslims had a duty to attack or kill apostates or those perceived to have insulted the Prophet.

“We considered that the broadcast of the various statements made by the Islamic scholar outlined above was likely to encourage or incite the commission of crime."

The booklets also contained material on the killing of Mr Taseer, who was gunned down by fanatic Mumtaz Qadri in January 2011.

Qadri, who killed Mr Taseer after he spoke out against Pakistan’s strict blasphemy laws, was profiled in the leaflet alongside a photograph of his head superimposed inside a noose.