Hawzah News Agency - (Walsall - UK) - Walsall Jamia Masjid Ghausia, in Birchills, lodged a formal complaint to the authority over the leader’s alleged “inappropriate conduct” on occasions during the first Covid-19 lockdown.

Councilor Bird confirmed an inquiry is being carried out by the council’s monitoring officer, Tony Cox, and strongly refuted the allegations made against him.

He said he had acted in the best interests of the whole Walsall community throughout the pandemic.

Committee members of the mosque said Councilor Bird had "hurled abuse" towards worshippers and made unannounced visits to funerals making “false allegations”.

The mosque committee said they were being supported by the national Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) organization with their complaint.

Dr Salim Khan said: “Since April 2020, Mike Bird has made several unannounced visits to the Mosque and funerals conducted at Streetly Cemetery where he hurled abuse at worshippers and mourners, according to several eyewitness reports.

“Mike Bird has continuously made several false allegations against the Mosque for their delivery of funerals, with no evidence to support his unfounded accusations.

“The Mosque have ensured that they facilitated funeral in accordance with Walsall Council’s Covid-19 guidelines their procedures have been consulted with Public Health and are acknowledged by Christen Walker, Walsall Council’s principal bereavement services officer.

“Due to Mike Bird’s unacceptable conduct, which appears to be in clear breach of Walsall Council’s code of conduct, a formal complaint against him has been submitted.”

Dr Khan called upon the authority to suspend Councilor Bird from his public duty while it is investigated.