[citation needed] His last posting in Saudi Arabia was as editor and translator at the Abul Qasim Publishing House in Jeddah.
The BBC reported the conference as clerics meeting "senior Hamas officials to plot a new jihad centred on Gaza".
[8] In an open letter from the then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears wrote to the MCB saying Abdullah should be asked to resign his post for signing the statement which supported Hamas and celebrated its "victory" against "this malicious Jewish Zionist war over Gaza".
[9] In her letter, dated 13 March, Blears wrote: "In light of the MCB's unequivocal stance on violence, it would seem that Dr Abdullah's position as the deputy secretary general would be incompatible with his recent actions."
In a response, also published in the Guardian newspaper, Abdullah called her remarks a "misguided and ill-advised attempt to exercise control"[10] stated his intention to remain in position.
Subsequently, he announced his intention to sue Hazel Blears, in respect of her office, should she not retract her letter and issue an apology by 15 April 2009.