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Islamic leaders back Livingstone re-election bid
Nicholas Cecil, Political Correspondent03.01.08
Leading Muslims have backed Ken Livingstone to win a third term as London Mayor.
They issued a statement hailing him for supporting multicultural society, fighting Islamophobia and racism, and protecting Muslim communities.
The signatories said it was in the "best interest" of Muslims for Mr Livingstone to be re-elected on 1 May.
Tory mayoral challenger Boris Johnson insisted he was "not remotely worried" by the show of support for his rival. He said: "When anything is signed by so-called community leaders I take it with a big pinch of salt.
"My grandfather was a Muslim and so was my great-grandfather. I am proud of my Muslim ancestry. But I want to talk about the interests of Londoners. I don't care what religion they are. I want to look after people from all communities."
The statement, published on the Guardian website, is signed by 63 individuals or groups including Mohammed Ali, chief executive of the Islam Channel, Professor Tariq Ramadan and Dilwar Hussain from the London Muslim Centre, part of East London Mosque.
Praising Mr Livingstone, it states: "His stands and policies have constantly championed justice in the Middle East ... 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. 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."
Ihtisham Hibatullah of the British Muslim Initiative, which is behind the statement, argued that Mr Livingstone was doing more to help Muslim communities than Mr Johnson or Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick. He also claimed the Muslim leaders involved could mobilise many voters to back Mr Livingstone.
The Mayor welcomed the statement, saying: "The fundamental basis of London's openness and choice is that every Londoner should be able to live their life as they freely choose with the sole condition that they do not prevent others doing the same."
However, the Mayor has been engulfed in controversy in the past after he invited Islamic scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi to a conference about female students wearing hijab.
Mr al-Qaradawi has been accused of supporting female genital mutilation, wife-beating, the execution of homosexuals in Islamic states, the destruction of the Jewish people, and the use of suicide bombs against civilians.
Reader views (17)
Its about time people of London look for alternative as New Labour already failed to represent ordinary people and their needs. Three main parties are in favour of the rich but most vulnerable facing destruction, as the main three parties privatisation agenda. The most Muslim's are not rich, that any leaders of Muslim organisation can back Ken or Boris. If Muslims wants to vote New Labour then why not Tories? What difference between the two? They both are on neoliberal agenda, both implements privatisation, both the parties in favour of war in Iraq and Afghanistan even Palestinians occupation by Israeli. Nor Ken or Boris can change party policy as their higher echelons have implemented. I would rather urge Londoners to vote for working parties, atlist voices will be raised for working people in London, for the future of our children.
- Mr Nuruzzaman Hira, Camden , London
Once again good old Ken has got his head in the clouds, what about the rest of us, we the minority now? Cheers Ken.
- Tom Taaffe, Sunbury
Mr. Livingstone is right!
I have freely chosen not to pay his congestion tax and not to vote for him (twice). I applaud Mr. Livingstone in allowing and encouraging others to do the same.
And there was me thinking the guy was a total hypocrite who had forgotten who pays his wages!
- Jimbob, Kensington
Even more reason not to vote for him.
- Michael Cohen, London
Nothing to do with the huge Mosque being built is it?
- Robin Hunter, Sutton,UK
You sound unfairly sarcastic, Simon!
It isn't essentially the grants which are capable of winning other people's hearts; pleasant and friendly words, on the other hand, doubtlessly are!
Take a good look at how the Muslim community and Islam are, quite often, described by some of your Tory leaders in their irresponsible statements! Even this (Reader Views) section isn't an exception; every Tom, Dick and Harry very conveniently chooses to vent their bias against the Muslim/Islam.
Can you tell me in all fairness as to how the Muslim community living in London/UK should reciprocate? And do you really think all Muslims are bad?
Happy New Year to you!
- Nadeem Asghar, London, UK.
How Londoners can continue to support such a person for mayor is beyond the understanding of most visitors to London.
- Pk, Richmond
I hope this will backfire on Livingstone.
I don't want the Mayor of London to owe anything to any religious group. In some respects I think London has turned for the worse under Livingstone's stewardship.
Religion used to be private matter.
He won't be getting my vote.
- Steve, Clapham
The Guardian blog by said Muslims has had to be closed down, probably because it didn't go their way. Most of the responses were negative to say the least.
The backers got it woefully wrong. The Mayor of London should not have to concern himself/herself with matters other than running London for the people who live there.
For myself, I am voting for Paddick but I would vote for a donkey rather than for Ken Livingstone.
- Sarah Vey, London UK
Great! One more fanstastic reason to boot this man out of the office as soon as possible!
- Sunny Kim, Cork
Red Ken is the only choice. One of the few politicians who has the guts to tell the truth about Middle Eastern politics. Boris is such a poser. I've seen him cycling around London, there's no way that plum would be cycling unless he wanted to win the election for mayor.
- Hugo, London
Livingstone is desperate to cling on to power. He would enlist the support of the common sewer rat if they were able to vote.
- Richard, Greater London, England
"Do they all receive grants from the Mayor?"
This would be very funny, if it weren't such a justified question. Heaven help us Londoners.
- Robert Zimmerman, London
"He also claimed the Muslim leaders involved could mobilise many voters to back Mr Livingstone."
I'm sure they can, and I hope that the electoral invigilators are reading this closely.
- Sarah N., London
Come on Boris you can do it - we all now Ken's a power-hungry headline grabber. I hope muslims think for themselves rather than get coralled by the leaders - what an absolute disgrace - it's about the community as a whole not marginalising religious groups in London more and more. Make London great again not a scared politically correct nanny state.
- Al, London
As a Christian, I do not back Ken and I hope most Londoners will not do so.
- Bill, London
Do they all receive grants from the Mayor?
- Simon, London
