[news] Mayor Apologizes, Invites Qaradawi Back To London

[Ishaq]

Mayor Apologizes, Invites Qaradawi Back To London

http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2004-07/13/article02.shtml

LONDON, July 13 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Apologizing on 
behalf of the people of London for the fuss that overshadowed the 
current visit by Sheikh Yussef Al-Qaradawi, London Mayor invited the 
prominent Muslim scholar back to the United Kingdom next October.

"On behalf of the people of London, I want to apologize to the Sheikh 
for the outbreak of xenophobia and hysteria in some sections of the 
tabloid press which demonstrated an underlying ignorance of Islam," Ken 
Livingstone said Monday, July 12, reported British daily the Independent.

Attending the Pro-Hijab Conference, held at the Greater London Authority 
under his auspices, Livingstone said he was honored to invite Qaradawi 
back to Britain for another lecture tour, reported the Dehavilland web 
site Tuesday, July 13.

Dr Qaradawi welcomed the invitation to attend the European Social Forum 
at Alexander Palace next October, where the issue of banning Hijab in 
some parts of Western Europe, will be one of the main themes.

"I would like this invitation. I would hope to meet him (Livingstone) 
again."

The London mayor praised Qaradawi as "a moderate scholar, held in 
respect throughout the Muslim world" who preaches tolerance and respect 
for others.

He stressed that the veteran scholar does not hold the views which 
others had attributed to him, according to the Independent.

Livingstone went on to say that "ignorance and misrepresentation" by the 
media might be due to the lack of members of staff on newspapers drawn 
from the ethnic minorities, making them unrepresentative of the 
population they serve.

He suggested it was an issue he would look at during his term of office.

"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.

Livingstone also questioned Tory leader, Michael Howard's "knee-jerk 
reaction" to 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.

In his address before the conference, Sheikh Qaradawi said plurality and 
diversity were necessary in society and pointed out that it was not just 
Islam that encouraged women to dress modestly - Judaism and Christianity 
had similar traditions.

"If a woman can wear a mini skirt or a sleeveless top, why can't she 
wear a headscarf? Banning it is against religious freedom," he said.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews has launched a vile campaign 
against Qaradawi's visit and presented an alleged "dossier" against him 
to police.

However, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) concluded Friday, July 9, 
that there was no legal ground to prosecute Sheikh Qaradawi.

"We have advised the Metropolitan Police that there is insufficient 
evidence that a criminal offence has been committed," ruled the CPS.

Sheikh Qaradawi has condemned those who judged his works without having 
read them.

Addressing 3,500 worshippers during Friday prayers in London's Central 
Mosque, the scholar said he was being misrepresented.

He further accused some parties of the press of deliberately distorting 
his views without trying or even caring to read any of his books and 
lectures, or watching his frequent TV appearances.

The controversy was sparked by a British MP, who urged Home Secretary 
David Blunkett to deny the renowned scholar access to London.

Louise Ellman, Labour member for Liverpool Liverside, is a member of the 
Labour Friends of Israel group and had delivered several speeches before 
Israeli groups in London like Poale Zion.

Last December, she triggered a similar row by using parliamentary 
privilege to claim that the MAB supported terrorism and promoted 
anti-Jews hatred.
________________________________________________________
Montreal Muslim News Network - http://www.montrealmuslimnews.net

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