He has since recanted and now calls for all Muslims to abandon violence.The dentist also featured in immigration hearings involving an asylum seeker suspected of providing a safe house for Kamel Bourgass, an Algerian terrorist jailed for life for stabbing PC Stephen Oake to death in Manchester in 2003.Mr Butt, the immigration hearing was told, was introduced by his brother to the asylum seeker, who at various points claimed three different identities.The tribunal was told that Mr Butt was "a respectable and responsible person who wishes to help devout and practising Muslims in difficulty".He "did not regard the use of false names as unusual for asylum seekers".The headscarf incident is alleged to have happened in 2005, at a time when between 4,000 and 8,000 people in Bury were unable to find an NHS dentist.
According to the charges, Mr Butt "asked to speak to Patient A in private."In the course of conversation with Patient A you: (a) asked whether she was Muslim; (b) told her words to the effect that, in order to receive treatment from you, she needed to wear appropriate Islamic dress; (c) quoted to her parts of the Ahadith."The Ahadith is a series of instructions on behaviour attributed to Prophet Mohammed but not written as part of the Koran.The charge continues:"You told Patient A that, if she did not wear a headscarf, she would need to register with another dentist.You instructed your dental nurse to give Patient A her headscarf."The dental nurse took Patient A to another room where she was given the nurse's headscarf to wear. "In seeking to impose an Islamic dress code on Patient A in order for treatment to be provided you undermined public confidence in the profession by discriminating against Patient A."If the charges are upheld, the Porsche- driving dentist will be found guilty of serious professional misconduct.Penalties can range from a public warning to suspension and being struck off.Tory MP Sir Paul Beresford, a former minister and a dentist, said: "When a patient comes to see me I have no concern with their religion. I do not ask Muslim patients to read the Bible."My practice tries to respect religious belief. For example, during Ramadan we try to help Muslim patients by making sure they do not have to swallow water when they are fasting. We do not ask patients to become Christians."Women staff at Mr Butt's Bury practice do not routinely wear headscarves while at work.One female patient said: "I think it is a pretty outrageous thing to ask but I have never felt as if I am being discriminated against at this practice as a Western woman."If I was then I would certainly make a full complaint. If it is true then it shows a reverse prejudice bordering on racism."Mr Butt was involved in another controversial incident earlier this year when police stopped his Porsche 911 and said they could not read its customised number plate.
The dentist recorded the subsequent search of the car on his mobile phone and passed the video to the BBC, which broadcast it on a local news bulletin. It shows Mr Butt asking an officer: "Are you a racist?"The dentist was then arrested for racially aggravated behaviour. There were no charges, and a complaint against the police by Mr Butt is still being considered.Mr Butt was unavailable for comment yesterday. Staff at his practice said he was on holiday.
As in the days of Noah...