Augean Stables

Today, London’s Muslim leaders called Mayor Ken Livingstone an outstanding mayor who stands against injustice and prejudice.

Mayor Livingstone invited Yusuf al-Qaradawi to speak at a conference in London in 2004. Al-Qaradawi avidly supports Palestinian suicide bombings against all Israeli civilian targets, considering “this type of martyrdom operation as an evidence of God’s justice.” He is a believer in Zionist plots to control the world. The European Council for Fatwa and Research, the prominent Muslim legal body (closely affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood) that he heads, used The Protocols of the Elders of Zion in a theological debate. He even issued a fatwa in December, 2003, endorsing the Saudi ban on Pokemon on the grounds that it is a Zionist-Masonic plot, and that the characters may be saying “Become a Jew”. Al-Qaradawi supports the execution of homosexuals in order to purify Muslim societies. Before the invasion of Iraq in 2003, he issued a fatwa declaring that those who died fighting the Americans would be considered a martyr. MEMRI alleges that Al-Qaradawi issued a fatwa proclaiming that “…all of the Americans in Iraq are combatants, there is no difference between civilians and soldiers, and one should fight them, since the American civilians came to Iraq in order to serve the occupation. The abduction and killing of Americans in Iraq is a [religious] obligation so as to cause them to leave Iraq immediately.” Al-Qaradawi denies making the fatwa.

Livingstone also compared Jewish Evening Standard reporter Oliver Finegold to a Nazi concentration camp guard upon discovering that the reporter was Jewish. The Mayor’s defense was that the parent newspaper company the reporter worked for supported anti-Semitism, and his dislike for the company triggered his response. The exchange, recorded by Finegold, went as follows:

Finegold: Mr Livingstone, Evening Standard. How did tonight go?

Livingstone: How awful for you. Have you thought of having treatment?

Finegold: How did tonight go?

Livingstone: Have you thought of having treatment?

Finegold: Was it a good party? What does it mean for you?

Livingstone: What did you do before? Were you a German war criminal?

Finegold: No, I’m Jewish, I wasn’t a German war criminal and I’m actually quite offended by that. So, how did tonight go?

Livingstone: Ah right, well you might be [Jewish], but actually you are just like a concentration camp guard, you are just doing it because you are paid to, aren’t you?

Finegold: Great, I have you on record for that. So, how was tonight?

Livingstone: It’s nothing to do with you because your paper is a load of scumbags and reactionary bigots.

Finegold: I’m a journalist and I’m doing my job. I’m only asking for a comment.

Livingstone: Well, work for a paper that doesn’t have a record of supporting fascism.

Mayor Livingstone verbally attacked two Indian-Jewish British businessmen, David and Simon Reuben, saying they could “go back to Iran” if they were not happy with their property development project for the 2012 Olympics.

Yet today, London’s Muslim leaders published an open letter in support of Livingstone on the grounds of his support for a multicultural society, and protecting against prejudice. After using Western keywords to back Livingstone, the signers of the letter get to the heart of their support- the Mayor’s rabid backing of the Palestinians and opposition to the war (he called George W. Bush the greatest threat to the world).

What a surreal situation- those who oppose civil rights and liberal freedoms support a mayor who does not uphold them on the grounds that he is their greatest champion.

Since June 2000, Ken Livingstone has been an outstanding mayor of London. He has stood out in support of a multicultural society and has supported the Muslim communities of the city against racism and Islamophobia as well as all other minorities against all types of prejudice.

His stands and policies have constantly championed justice in the Middle East and around the world, freedom for the Palestinians and withdrawal of occupying troops from Iraq; a rare trait of modern-day public figures.

He has enhanced London’s standing in the world and helped improve the lives of all of the city’s communities.

For those and many more traits continuously and consistently demonstrated by the Ken Livingstone, we the undersigned believe that it is in the best interest of the Muslim communities of London, and indeed all Londoners, to back Mr Livingstone in this year’s mayoral elections.

We pledge to continue our support for the mayor on all levels possible in order to secure his staying in office for a third term.

SIGNED …

Abdi Ismail, East African Society
Ali Alhadithi, Federation of Student Islamic Societies
Ahmed Amir, European Academy for Islamic Studies
Abdurahman Abu Daya, Al Hiwar TV
Abdallah Faliq, Islamic Forum Europe
Abdulmonem Haresha, Muslim Welfare House
Abdul Shaheed, North London Central Mosque
Ahmed Malik, Editor, Muslim Weekly
Ali Khan, Muslim Green Pages
Anas Altikriti, The Cordoba Foundation
Atif Choudry, Zaytoun Trading
Azad Ali, Muslim Community Radio
Belgacem Kahlalech, Algerian League in Britain President
Dilwar Hussain, London Muslim Centre
Dr Abdul Fattah Sa’ad, Al Muntada Al Islami
Dr Abdul Kareem Khaleel, Muslim heritage Centre
Dr Azzam Tamimi, Institute of Islamic Political Thought
Dr Daud Abdullah, An Noor Masjid Acton
Dr Kamal Helbawi, Centre for the Study of Terrorism
Dr Hafiz Al Karmi, Mayfair Mosque
Dr Hashim Charif, Amal Trust
Dr Ismail Jalisi, Muslim Association of Britain London
Dr Jameel Sharif, Salaam.co.uk
Dr Noureddine Miladi, Centre for Arab & Muslim Media Research
Fareed Sabri, Iraqi Communities in London
Fida Alaeddin, IslamExpo
Hashir Farooqi, IMPACT International
Hassan Muinudeen, Dawatul Islam
Imran Hamid, Muslim Health Network
Inayat Bunglawala, Islamic Society of Britain
Ismail Patel, Friends of Al Aqsa
Luqman Ali, Khayaal Theatre Company
M Iqbal Asaria, Afkar Consulting
Majid Azeer, Palestine Return Centre
Mohammad Ali, Islam Channel
Mohamed Basha, Arabic Cultural Community
Mohammad Habib ur Rahman, President Islamic Forum Europe
Mohamad Mounir Rai, Hounslow Jamia & Islamic Centre
Mohammad Kozbar, Lebanese League London
Mohammad Sawlaha, British Muslim Initiative
Mohamed Mumtaz, Crescent Relief
Munier Hagus, The Eritrean Muslim Community Association
Mustafa al Mansur, MOSAIC Foundation
Mohammad Zabadne
Mufti Barkatulla, Islamic Computing Centre in North London
Naja Mohammad, Sri Lank Islamic Forum- UK
Professor Tariq Ramadan, Oxford University / Lokahi Foundation
Ruhul Trafader, 1990 Trust
Riaz Wali, UK Islamic Mission
Riaz Ramzan, the Muslim Directory
Ruqqaya Collector, NUS Black Student
Salma Yaqoob, Vice Chair Respect
Salim Bhorat, Just Peace
Sheikh Haitham Al Haddad, Al Muntada Al Islami
Sheikh Islamil Gangat, Leyton Mosque
Sheikh Sulaiman Ghani, Tooting Mosque
Sir Iqbal Sacranie
Soumaya Ghannoushi, Academic and freelance writer
Tanzeem Wasiti, Muslim Solidarity Committee
Tariq Dhaal, Pakistani Community Centre Brent
Unaiza Malik
Yasmin Qureshi, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate
Zahir Birawi, Palestinian Forum in Britain