Livingstone invites al Qaradawi back to London
The Mayor of London yesterday invited controversial Muslim cleric, Yusuf al Qaradawi, back to Britain for another lecture tour.
Ken Livingstone offered Dr al Qaradawi the chance to speak at a three-day conference in October, saying it would be an “honour.”
Dr al Qaradawi has been chastised in certain sections of the press for allegedly describing Palestinian suicide bombers as “martyrs”.
Gay rights groups also claim he described homosexuality as a “disease” and some women’s rights groups claim he has advocated a husband’s right to beat his wife.
However many Muslims regard him as a moderating voice, citing his condemnation of the Bali bombings and the September 11 attacks.
Speaking at a City Hall conference on an Islamic woman’s right to wear the hijab headdress, Mr Livingstone said he wanted to apologise – on behalf of Londoners – “for the outburst of xenophobia in sections of the media.”
“It is not the first time it has happened. Many of us have been victims of this in the past when the press write speeches that were not made from a meeting you never attended,” he added.
Mr Livingstone went on to question Tory leader, Michael Howard’s “knee-jerk reaction” to Dr al Qaradawi’s visit.
“The Leader of the Opposition, having been Home Secretary on the occasion when Professor al Qaradawi came to this country five times and did not see it was necessary to ban him then, suddenly has a knee-jerk reaction to ban him now that we have a Labour government,” he added.
Dr al Qaradawi said he “welcomed” the invitation to attend the European Social Forum at Alexander Palace.
Speaking through an interpreter, he said: “I would like this invitation. I would hope to meet him again.”
Dr al Qaradawi has been banned from the US for the last five years.
