Paul Goodman MP: Boris Johnson defeated Islamic extremists as well as Ken Livingstone

Paul Goodman, MP for Wycombe and a Shadow DCLG Minister, welcomes Boris Johnson's victory as good news for community cohesion.

This result isn’t just a wonderful victory for Boris and the termination of Livingstone.  It’s also a defeat for the campaign – an exceptionally dirty one, at that - waged against Boris by a small band of separatists claiming to act in the name of all London’s Muslims. The effects of Boris’ win will be felt not only in the capital, but nationwide – and they’re worth probing in detail.

This campaign’s aim was to attack Boris as an Islamophobe; swing Muslim voters unanimously behind Livingstone; deliver the election for him; emerge, thereby, as a leading force in British Islam, and thus send an uncompromising message to the main political parties – follow our line, or there’ll be electoral consequences.

Its first shots were fired in January, when it was claimed that over fifty Islamic organisations in London had written to the Guardian endorsing Livingstone.  (It later emerged that some of the letter’s signatories had written only in a “personal capacity”.)  Its final salvo was the desperate advert, placed recently in the London Bengali paper “Janomot”, implying that Boris, as Mayor, would ban the Koran.

So who was behind this advert, and the campaign as a whole?  It was produced by a group called the British Muslim Initiative (BMI).  BMI’s website contains a section headed “About Us”.  Readers who click on it will learn that the organisation was “formed by justice, peace and human rights campaigners”.

These campaigners presumably include Azzam Tamimi and Anas Tikriti, whose Guardian columns are prominently advertised on the site.  Also advertised on the site is “Muslims 4 Ken”, whose leading lights, according to the Evening Standard, are…Anas Tikriti and Azzam Tamini.

Tikriti is a former President of the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) – which is, in effect, the British branch of the Muslim Brotherhood and which, therefore, has links to Hamas.  It’s been claimed that Tamini issued communiques on behalf of Hamas during the 1990s.  He’s certainly on record as supporting suicide bombings against civilians in Israel.

The Government’s stance towards the Brotherhood, or Ikhwan, is ambiguous.  The MAB is one of the four founding members of the Government-supported Mosques and Imams Advisory Board (MINAB).  A pamphlet for Policy Exchange by Martin Bright, the New Statesman journalist, caused a sensation when it revealed, in leaked Foreign Office memos, deep divisions within Whitehall about to what degree to engage with the Brotherhood abroad, if at all.

Some in the Foreign Office, and elsewhere, argue that the Brotherhood contains reforming and liberalising elements.  This is very hard to square with the blueprint which it recently published for government in Egypt, which called for women and Christians to be banned from the top offices of state, and for a council of clerics with the power to reject legislation deemed to be incompatible with the sharia – the arrangement that pertains in Iran.

But if the Government’s attitude towards the Brotherhood is ambiguous, David Cameron’s view is clear.  Tikriti is also President of the Cordoba Foundation, which earlier this year held a public debate with Hizb-ut-Tahrir supported by Tower Hamlets Council.  David criticised the decision publicly, and few weeks later asked Gordon Brown in the Commons: “Why has his Government allowed public money to end up in the hands of extremist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood?”  Michael Gove has written insightfully about the origins of the Brotherhood in his book “Celsius 7/7”.

Brown, of course, only barred one of the Brotherhood’s leading supporters, Shaykh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, from Britain after pressure from David.  Dame Pauline Neville-Jones has summed up Qaradawi’s views succinctly: “He is opposed to secularism, believes that all Muslims (and non-Muslims) shoud live under sharia law, that relations between men and women should be restricted, and wives subject to husbands, that the penalty for homosexuality is death, and that no once Muslim territory should be relinquished.”  Qaradawi is also on record as supporting attacks against “the occupation” in Iraq (including, one must assume, British troops).

And Qaradawi, of course, was publicly embraced when he last visited London by…Livingstone.  The Egyptian cleric was a key ally in the ex-Mayor’s re-election bid.  As, of course, were the MAB, the BMI, and “Muslims 4 Ken”.

There can be no objection whatsoever to these organisations campaigning for and against whoever they wish.  If MAB wants to give prominent support on its website to the Respect councillor Salma Yaqoob, who once described 7/7 as a “reprisal attack”, it is of course at liberty to do so.  This is a free country, unlike Iran, some of whose governing arrangements the Brotherhood want to replicate.

Similarly, if the BMI and “Muslims 4 Ken” want to back Livingstone and attack Boris, that’s their right.  It would be helpful to voters were Tamini and Tikriti to be more upfront about their role, and the assault on Boris as a hater of Islam was a lie, but this is politics, separatist-style, and it’s perhaps unwise to get too excited.

But this Mayoral election has three important lessons for politicians in general and the Conservative Party in particular.

First, there’s no such thing as the Muslim block vote, to be delivered up to suitably grateful candidates by key special interest groups.  Very many Muslims will have voted for Boris on Thursday.  While I was in Reading last Saturday canvassing with Muslim Conservatives from Wycombe, other local Wycombe Muslims were campaigning in London with David and Boris.  They were part of a bigger force led during recent weeks by my colleague Baroness Warsi, Syed Kamall, and London Muslim councillors.  It’s significant that Muslim Conservatives are now able to hit the streets in growing numbers – a sign of how the Party is changing and of how our support is widening.

Members of this force were the target, like Boris, of vicious personal assault by separatists.  Much of it was conducted (and vigorously contested) by e-mail.  This whole campaign seems to have backfired in some quarters.  Reports have emerged of exasperated Muslims protesting against the politicisation of their mosques by pro-Livingstone campaigners.  British Muslims come from a wide variety of religious, national, ethnic and linguistic backgrounds.  It’s patronising and insulting to assume that they are a single compliant entity, passively awaiting voting instructions from the Muslim Brotherhood or anyone else.

Second, Muslims’ concerns as voters are much the same as other people’s – safer streets, better transport, transparency, value for money.  Muslims want to practice their religion.  They don’t believe that this means voting for extremism.  We must remain a warm home for mainstream Islam and a cold place for separatism, whether based on religion or race.

Third, a candidate can endure attacks by the MAB, the BMI, Muslims 4 Ken – and other separatists – rise above them, build a broad coalition, and win.  He or she doesn’t have to – as Livingstone did – collaborate in the building-up of extremism.  Boris will govern in London for people from all religious backgrounds and none.  His is a famous Conservative win, and it will help community cohesion as a whole.

Comments

[Adam-]

Well said, sir.

[Tom W.]

Excellent development. I'll be glad to see the last of Red Ken and his despot-loving ways.

Congratulations, London and the UK. You done good, as some of us say on this side of the pond.

[Sajid Javid]

Congrats Boris on a well deserved win.

Ken did huge damage to London and its image. Now you can begin to put that right.

[Sam]

From my perspective as an American casual observer of British politics, I see this catastrophic defeat of Nu-Labour, including Red Ken, as an expression of disgust over the suicidal policies over the last decade or more. The UK, under Nu-Labour ahas been trying very hard indeed to do everything possible to sbotage their own culture and way of life and I think the people have had it.

This is desperate grasping in an effort to see a reversal of what has been happening to the country and the Conservatives have a chance now to start that.

I wish luck to my British cousins and if the effort fails, I hope freedom loving Brits who reject socialism in all it's pernicious forms will consider emigrating here to the States. Perhaps you can warn us of a similar fate.

[Denny, Alaska]

Let's hope Johnson's election signals the (re)emergence of British sense and sensibility.

[Tony Makara]

Livingstone always tried to cultivate an image as being a radical politician who kept company with equally radical figures both here and around the world. This was not any sort of tacit support for these groups and individuals but rather was a case of Mr Livingstone building his own curriculum vitae and personal profile. Dialogue with radical groups is vital if we are to develop an understanding as to their core objectives, however such dialogue should be tempered by certain conditions and discourse only undertaken in camera and not party to great fanfare and self-serving publicity. Ken Livingstone used these groups and these groups recognizing Livingstone's vanity used him.

[DOS]

What a really excellent article this is (as usual from this writer - I wish he was my MP), and what a great, liberating moment Boris's victory may prove to be.

[Patrick Ratnaraja]

"It’s significant that Muslim Conservatives are now able to hit the streets in growing numbers – a sign of how the Party is changing and of how our support is widening"

I don't agree with this because I was at the meeting organised for Boris Johnson by the Conservative Mulism forum. Guess how many people were there: Less than 50!

When we make a statement, we have to be very careful that such is to the point and credible. The reality is tht the writer has ignored the anti-Islamic sentiments of the Conservatives especially at a time when we should be honourable in our respects to various faiths and that includes Islam.

[Svejk]

Oh go away.

Rubbish article with tenuous linkage between all groupings, leading to wild extrapolations about 'community cohesion'. Boris won the election, there's no need for shoddy hatchet jobs anymore; really, they're quite insulting to the intelligence.

Also, as a counterpoint to your stress on 'community cohesion' - wasn't Boris' whole 'doughnut' strategy formulated on exploiting the social cleavage between outer and inner London?

[Dontmakemelaugh]

A pre election address by Boris in the East London Advertiser.

ELECTION EXCLUSIVE by Mike Brooke

TORY London Mayor candidate Boris Johnson revealed he has Muslim ancestors when he arrived in East London on the campaign trail in the heart of Whitechapel's Bangladeshi community.

He spoke to community leaders at the Eshaat Ul Islam mosque in a bid to capture 'the Muslim vote,' as his Labour rival Ken Livingstone did three days later in Brick Lane.

"I won't score political points," Johnson told his madrassa religious school hosts.

"I am disappointed by reports of my opponents scurrilously spreading damaging lies about my attitude to the Muslim faith.

"My great-grandfather knew the Koran by heart and I am proud of my Islamic ancestry."

He attacked 'Islamophobia' and accused critics of blaming society's tensions blindly on Muslim extremists.

"Islam is a religion of peace and has made huge contributions to the development of our society," Johnson continued.

"I passionately believe that if more Londoners understood the deep relationship between Islam and Christianity, there would be less Islamophobia."

The Tory front-runner currently leading opinion polls arrived in the East End with a pledge to tackle 'hate' crime.

"It's a sad reality that crime remains a major problem in London," he told his hosts.

"Ordinary Muslims have become a target of 'hate' following atrocities such as 7/7.

"This situation is unacceptable. As Mayor, I will not stand idly by and will take responsibility for tackling the problem."

He plans to chair the Metropolitan Police Authority if he gets the keys to the Mayor's Office at City Hall.

"This will not only make the police more accountable," he adds.

"It will also give the Mayor more opportunity to get police out on the streets.

"People across London want to see fresh thinking and new ideas to tackle the rising gun and knife crime to make the capital safer for all our children."

Johnson told the Muslim leaders he wants to see more women and Black and ethnic officers in the Met Police.

Johnson's visit the heart of London's Bangladeshi quarter in the East End came three days ahead of rival Livingstone's visit to Friday prayers at the famous Brick Lane Jamme Masjid mosque.

All three major party contenders for Mayor have now done the 'Brick Lane' circuit"

Mr Goodman says: ""Second, Muslims’ concerns as voters are much the same as other people’s – safer streets, better transport, transparency, value for money. Muslims want to practice their religion. They don’t believe that this means voting for extremism. We must remain a warm home for mainstream Islam and a cold place for separatism, whether based on religion or race"

So what do "mainstream Islam" practitioners believe in Mr Goodman? Could it be Sharia Law, or has that been tossed out of the window with livingstone and the emergence of our saviour Boris.
Borris believes we should give amnesty to illegal immigrants, some of whom, I do not doubt would include a number of exremists.
I do not wish to get into a very lengthy comment, but I will return to the speech of Boris later. Some of us could pick holes in that speech. It would appear that Mr Goodman believes that we can easily manage the further Islamification of a Christian Britain without too much trouble, but would it be the same Britain?

[Deputy Editor]

Very well said Paul.

[James, Swadlincote]

I went and glanced at The Spectator recently and found a link to a Polly Toynbee [sounds posh] article....

"Just before the grammar school row he complained: 'We have taken away the old ladder of social mobility, the academic selection that used to form a way out for the bright children of poor families.' How will London parents react to the tone of this?" - Seems to me London sounded with a resounding agreement!

[Andrew Ian Dodge]

This is an excellent piece and well put. I do hope that Boris & Co investigate what went on with Ken & his Islamists palls while he was in power.

[Charles Tannock MEP]

It was disgraceful the way Livingstone in recent weeks started to cosy-up to that islamist apologist George Galloway and I was delighted that his Respect party ( a bizarre alliance of islamists and Trots united only in their hatred of the west, particularly the US and Israel and capitalism) only got 2% of the vote which particularly delighted me after their invective against me and Theresa Villiers back in 2004 at the last Euroelection!

[Umbrella man]

Ken was a stain on Britain's worldwide reputation.

The Islamists' best friend is no more.

Hallelujah!

[Graham Fraser]

Why do politicians have to repeat the same dogmatic public relation mantras with regards to the RoP®? It's all a load of rot.

[Miranda]

Interesting article Mr Goodman, thank you.

[Carl H.]

From across the pond - good riddance to Red Ken. Bad luck to him.

[Dontmakemelaugh]

I do not believe for one moment, of course, that Boris has cosied up to Islamists as has Livingstone and Galloway, but there are paragraphs in his speech reported in the East London Advertiser that I disagree with - but let us be generous and not go over old ground. There are arguments refuting Boris's assertions.

But let us ask Boris and Paul Johnson, both of whom are apparently well up on Islam, what the moderate Muslim believes in, in relation to the teaching of Muhammad and the observing of the tenets of the religion.
Where does Boris, the Conservatives and Paul Johnson stand in relation to the application for the building of the mega mosque in Stratford. Do they agree with some Muslims, said to say, that it would increase the risk of radical influence allegedly by those providing the finance for the building? Or do they believe, as do the majority of Londoners that it should be built (irony).
I shall be going to bed about 11pm?

[Dontmakemelaugh]

Apologies: should read "Paul Goodman" not Paul Johnson

[Philip]

Good article, although I would share Dontmakemelaugh's concern (1056) if Mr Goodman accepts further Islamification of Britain.

[David, Mississippi USA]

As an American it's my perception that the British are much closer to the dangers the world has available. In my opinion the election of Boris Johnson is a sober understanding of this by the people of London. It gives me hope here that despite ad hominen attacks and the fog of elections that the truth will eventually be revealed, and that an informed electorate can make a rational decision.

London, show the way.

[woodentop]

Well done Paul Goodman on this brave and thoughtful article!

[Sally Roberts]

Charles Tannock @13:30 - well said and I remember those scurrilous attacks on you and Theresa! I hope you and Syed Kamall will be doing much to further links in London with the many moderate and peace-loving Muslims in the run up to next year.

[Dontmakemelaugh]

Having read the speech by Mr Goodman and referred to and praised by Melanie Phillips (not noted for her enthusiasm for Islam) on the 16th November 2006 as: "This MP gets it" or words to that effect I am pleased to know of the remarkable change for the good that Mr Goodman now sees between the relationship between Muslims and the indigenous population. It is contrary to his speech which is fully reproduced by Melanie Phillips. Having read the speech I can see that Mr Goodman, he has a large Muslim contingent in his constituency, is no longer so much worried about Islam in Britain - which is all too the good. But my question on his, Boris and the Conservative party views on the building of the mega mosque , alleged financed and supported by radical, fundamental Islamists remains unanswered? (and I didn't go to bed until midnight).
Here is the last part of Mr Goodman's speech as produced originally by Melanie Phillips. Read it all by Googling. It is reassuring to note his change in attitude.

"This Queen’s Speech thus presents us with a choice-we can either take an approach that tends to lurch from pacification in the wake of future highly charged public rows, such as the veils controversy, to panic in the wake of future terrorist attacks, which we are, alas, told are only too likely to happen, or we can rise to the challenge in an informed, decent and consistent way. In facing the challenge, Opposition Members must acknowledge and be mindful of the fact that Ministers have a responsibility that none of the rest of us at present has to bear. George Orwell once wrote of the ‘deep, deep sleep of England, from which I sometimes fear that we shall never wake till we are jerked out of it by the roar of bombs. ‘On 7/7, we heard the roar of bombs in London. I sometimes worry that the deep, deep sleep that Orwell described in the 1930s is still here in relation to Islamism in sections of the Government, parts of the political and media establishment, the House and the country. This is one of the most urgent problems facing us, and if we are in that deep, deep sleep, it is time for all of us to wake up.

I am pleased to say that those sentiments (I assume it is because we now have a Conservative leader of London) no longer apply and, as Mr Goodman says, Britain should remain a warm home for mainstream Islam (but Trevor Phillips isn't too keen on multiculturalism, especially the sort that does not want to integrate)

So, good article Mr Goodman, but what about the alleged radical mega mosque Mr Goodman - or have you fallen asleep again?

[Anas Altikriti]

Paul Goodman's piece is symptomatic of all that's wrong with politics and politicians today. Neither Mr. Goodman nor his party have ever asked to meet up with myself or with any of the organisations that he has so steadily listed, yet he hesitates not for a second to label me and those organisations as extremists. In fact his whole argument seems to suggest that all Muslims who voted for Ken Livingstone are on the extreme side, and that only those who voted for his party are 'moderates'. Really? A very awkward take on democracy and free will of the electorate by one of our Rt. Hons.!!
Let me state for the record that I risked my life and travelled to Iraq in 2005 and 2006 to negotiate the release of one British, An American and two Canadian hostages from a Christian Peace organisation, three of whom were released four months later. Some confused extremist I must be!
Also, foolishly, if I may so so myself, Mr. Goodman sleepwalks into the tired old arguments and lines (mostly false, by the way) regarding Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, while opting to forget (or maybe he doesn't even know yet) that only last year, his party leader received alongside then PM Blair, Sheikh Ali Gomaa, the Grand Mufti of Egypt, with such high praise as labelling him as the Wise Mufti, when actually Sheikh Gomaa carries identical views to those of Qaradwi on most issues, and more hard-lined ones on issues such as female circumcision! Hypocritical is such an over-used term...alas!
Instead of diving into seas which he cannot navigate, Mr. Goodman should have asked himself and invited his colleagues to ask why the majority of the 2.5 million UK Muslims (around 85%) still see his party as being beyond the pale and utterly unelectable. Maybe it's the silly vitriole such as the one he chose to copy and paste (I note that once again, the same typos, including Azzam Tamimi's mis-spelt name -Tamini- have occurred). For God's sake Tory people, get yourself some decent researchers and typists that could properly do the work for you! You could well become the next government of the country for God's sake, yet you couldn't get your facts nor the names of those you despise right!! Shape up people...this is serious business!!

[Anas Altikriti]

Oh, and to those on this thread raising the issue of the 'Mega-Mosque'...please stop being silly. There is no Mega-Mosque! The organisation that legally owns the land, purchased it more than 10 years ago when it was (and still largely is) waste land, and way before London even contemplated bidding for the Olympics. If built, the mosque will house nothing like the suggested 20,000 people often reported (I even heard once that it was going to accommodate 100,000...more than double the numbers of every single Muslim in the area!!) and will cost £10m to construct. Latest news is that the owners have precisely none of that amount yet. So according to facts and to statements by the legal owners of the land, there are no plans to build the mosque in the next 10 years or so. However, let's assume that somehow the £10m suddenly became available...why should anyone have the right to tell the owners of the land what to do or not to do on in? I don't recall a similar furore within conservative circles regarding plans to establish super casinos throughout the country...or maybe that's a different matter all together?!! So once again...stop being silly!

[Common Sense]

We are coming to power and when we do people like you will be cast to furthest margins of debate where you belong. And while you're there you can have the pleasure of seeing many decent, moderate Muslims who you despise being welcomed to the heart of the Conservative Party.

Al-Tikriti = Muslim Brotherhood = extremist trash.

[Anas Altikriti]

Common Sense: Really? That's the name you've chose to hide behind?? And since we're on the subject, I'd appreciate my name being spelt correctly. I have, after all, given you a couple of clues already! As for your threat to cast me 'to furthest margins of debate where you belong', well I have to say that it simply shows what an idiot you are. I seriously hope that the stupid mindset you bear is in a fringe minority within the Conservative party, otherwise we're all doomed, you first. Power or no power. Also, I do not despise any Muslims (or non-Muslim for that matter) for being part of the Conservative party or any other. I've been campaigning for Muslims to get involved in politics for 2 decades, and I don't care who they join as long as they get engaged and actively particpate in politics. Disagreeing on and arguing the political issues is part of the process, and I'm happy to accept that and take part in presenting my views. Clearly you don't. Now, who's the extremist between us?

[Dontmakemelaugh]

However, let's assume that somehow the £10m suddenly became available...why should anyone have the right to tell the owners of the land what to do or not to do on in?
Posted by: Anas Altikriti | May 04, 2008 at 12:03

Obtaining 10 million for those wishing to build the mosque would be no problem. Such a building would require planning permission, as all such building would whether you own the land or not.
I have no desire to see Britain home to the largest mosque in Europe - no more than Saudia Arabia, Iran, Syria, Egypt etc has any desire to see the largest churches built in their lands. Each to his own. Britain is tolerant but predominately Christian society and that (despite our politicians) and that is the way we want and need to keep it. You castigate the Conservatives; I do not know why, they can't even answer a simple question about building the mega mosque and Mr Goodman believes that Britain should be a warm welcoming place for mainstream Islam (whatever that means). So what is your gripe Altikrity - are n't you a mainstream Muslim or do you consider yourself to be a mainstream Muslim? I have difficulty working it all out. Perhaps you can assist with definition of a "mainstream Muslim". Thanks.

[TomH]

Dear Anas Altikriti,

No one has any problems with you campaigning for Labour and it may well be that some of your colleagues were over-zealous when they accused Boris of wanting to ban the Quran. It is fantastic that British Muslim participation in politics is growing in this country. What is required is a measured debate so that muslims of whichever tradition/background are able to make objective decisions as to which party Labour, Conservative, Liberal, Plaid Cymru, SNP, etc. best supports their view on crime, europe, nhs, education, tax etc.

I think what may be upsetting some people on this blog is the so-called view of your Muslims4Ken colleague (Azzam Tamini), which Paul Goodman refers to when he says, "He’s certainly on record as supporting suicide bombings against civilians in Israel". Do you know if he really believe that?

[Dontmakemelaugh]

I think what may be upsetting some people on this blog is the so-called view of your Muslims4Ken colleague (Azzam Tamini), which Paul Goodman refers to when he says, "He’s certainly on record as supporting suicide bombings against civilians in Israel". Do you know if he really believe that?

Posted by: TomH | May 04, 2008 at 19:51

The point is TomH should we believe what Tamini says in the form of a denial. Ever heard of Taqiyya? The process by which fundamentalist Muslims believe that they are allowed by their religion to lie in order to further and achieve its objectives?

In his address to Parliament in November 2006 Mr Goodman stated that he knew little about Islam. We hope that he has rectified that situation. It would be wise if many more were familiar with the life and teaching of their prophet. If you did that TomH you would not bother putting such question to those that are accused by Mr Goodman and such as being Islamists.

[Anas Altikriti]

Dear TomH,
Thank you for your measured response and for the point you put forward.
Allow me to clarify a few things:
1) I did not campaign for Labour. I am not a Labour supporter not a Labour member. Throughout my history (you can google me), my main aim has always been to get Muslims off their backsides and into all walks of society, simply because I see a better and more prosperous Britain with everyone playing their full role, fuliflling their responsibilities and claiming their rights. Also because I sincerely believe that getting Muslims, and especially young Muslims fully engaged with politics is one of the best antidotes to the attempts of the preachers of hate and division to intice frustrated and alienated youngsters into paths that lead them towards destructive ideas and methods. I don't care whether they choose to become Labour, Tories, Lib Dems or Greens, as long as they become positively and contructively active. In fact, I've actually endorsed many a Conservative campaign to be elected in numerous constituencies in the past, including Ken Clark in the last general elections.I will be campaigning for some members of the SNP in the next elections, Plyd Cymru in Wales, as well as the array of candidates from virtually every single party, based on the issues which you mentioned, and which are very relevant to every individual, Muslim and otherwise, living in Britain.
2) We did not make the claim that Boris would ban the Quran. He clearly did not. However, what we did say is that the BNP called on their supporters to offer their second preference vote to Boris, and the BNP does quite unashamedly call for the banning of the Quran as well as the Hijab in public places. We also noted that Boris had rejected the BNP's support, but remained very uneasy as to why the BNP felt comformatble offering their second vote to Boris in the first place.
3) The case of Azzam Tamimi (not Tamini) is quite clear. Dr. Tamimi is an intellectual from the Palestinian city of Hebron, which his mother was forced to leave as an 18 year-old and which he never got to see. He has spent his entire life fighting for the rights of Palestinians to live in the homes and on the lands that they rightfully and legally own. He was asked on Hard Talk by Tim Sebastian a couple of years ago about the issue of Suicide Bombings in Palestine, and his response (as it has been for years now) was that when someone is unarmed yet faces one of the most powerful military machines in the world, that person will fight back with whatever means he or she have, including truning their own bodies into bombs to hurt their enemies and opressors. He also stated that he wished it did not have to happen and that justice would prevail and all lives spared. Upon that Tim Sebastian asked him whether he would do the same. He said: If I was in that position, yes I would. No one has the right to rid Azzam Tamimi or anyone else of the conviction they possess in regards with something as dear to them as their homelands. However, Azzam Tamimi is noted for his decades of fighting violence and extremism here in the UK, and was praised in The Sun editorial in July 2005 for his courageous and noteworthy stand in condemning the attacks on London on 7/7, as mindless crimes. His position is the same pertaining to every other incident of terrorism in the world where innocent people are targetted. While the Hard Talk incident is much narrated and exploited, without the wider picture it's very difficult to be fair.
4) Most importantly in this context, Azzam Tamimi had nothing to do with the campaign supporting Ken Livingstone, apart from voicing his personal individual support for him. Other than that he had nothing whatsoever to do with the campaign. Not an iota, and that is where the Evening Standard and numerous other elements used the support of Azzam Tamimi as an individual for Ken Livingstone to tarnish the outgoing mayor as being backed by suicide bomber sympathisers claiming that he somehow ran the campaign. Should it then follow that by suggesting that Boris Johnson was being supported by the BNP, virtue of the abovementioned point made??
I hope I've clarified some issues here.

[Anas Altikriti]

Dontmakemelaugh:
It's not clever when you attempt to bamboozle people with awkward terms that make you seem like you know what you're talking about.
Taqiyya is a practice that is restricted to Shi'a Muslims, and not even all Shi'a Muslims. It is totally forbidden in all other strands of Islam, extreme or otherwise. In my book, Taqiyya is lying or hypocrisy.
Essentially what you are saying is that even if I, Azzam Tamimi or anyone else said something remotely acceptable, it should never be accepted simply because we have a hidden agenda and we're lying through our teeth. So it's a case of damned if you do, and damned if you don't. That is utterly ridiculous.

[Brian]

Congratulations Boris, great job.

Great news for New Labour. The body language between Boris and "The Toff" was abvious for all to see. They do not like each other.
Saying that, as a 40 year labour Party member, I am pleased at the demise of "Londonistan Ken", and looking forward to "Boris'isms" in the future.

[woodentop]

"Taqiyya is a practice that is restricted to Shi'a Muslims, and not even all Shi'a Muslims. It is totally forbidden in all other strands of Islam, extreme or otherwise. In my book, Taqiyya is lying or hypocrisy."

So, Mr Al Tikriti, how do we know that you are not using the practice of Taqiyya in stating the above?

It is rather like one of those well-known logic puzzles where you have two people (for example a prisoner and a prison guard), one of whom is lying and one of whom is telling the truth and you have to work out which one is the liar and which one is the honest party!

[Anas Altikriti]

COMMENT OVERWRITTEN FOR PERSONAL ABUSE.

[Yusuf Smith]

The perception that Boris Johnson is an Islamophobe was quite justified, actually, by the articles he commissioned, and wrote, after the July 2005 bombings and the riots in France in the autumn of 2005. They were heavily skewed towards blaming Islam and suggesting that Muslims were conspiring to take over Europe (Patrick Sookhdeo) and that Muslims were on the verge of out-breeding white people (Mark Steyn). Johnson himself called Islam "viciously sectarian" and offered the example of the man who assassinated Theo Van Gogh who refused to sympathise with Van Gogh's mother. No Muslim view was offered at all. Given that the Spectator was edited by a Tory MP and that it is commonly associated with the party, it reflects badly on the party as a whole for it to offer such a jaundiced view of a community.

As for why Johnson won the election, I suspect that Livingstone lost it for other reasons, being as he was an arrogant jerk who was out of touch and associated with an unpopular Labour party anyway, but he was not a client of the Muslim Brotherhood or any other group - they supported him in the election because he was not Boris Johnson.

[ricki akhter hussein]

Apart from the London Mayoral most amazing election result!,
The results of local council elections in England and Wales proved a great disappointment for the ruling Labour party, in fact they were their worst results for over 40 years, pushing the party into third
place behind the Conservatives and Liberals.
Labour's policies have been unpopular for a long time,especially on Iraq,
and as they have been in power for over a decade the blame cannot be laid at anybody else's doorstep.

Effectively, Britain now has a minority government,government that does not represent the will of the people, which is supported by very few people amongst the electorate, but which is nonetheless able to drive through unpopular policies due to an overwhelming majority in parliament??

Most Sincerely

Ricki Akhter Hussein
Chairman: High Wycombe-Community Advocates

[Anas Altikriti]

To the moderator: My previous post did not contain any personal abuse at all. I simply invited woodentop to read my previous entry on Taqiyya again and get my position on the matter therefrom. I thought I had made it absolutely clear that I see Taqiyya (once again practiced only by a minute element of people) as lying, and I claim not to lie.

I also have a problem with people seemingly entering into a discussion with a pre-determined position that the opposite is lying anyway, even if what he or she say some reasonable things. That is an intellectual cul-de-sac, and extremely unhelpful to any dialogue process. We have a choice; either discuss and debate and take people at face value, or just scrap the whole thing and sit in our own respective corners unwilling to understand or appreciate the other.

[Rebecca]

Congratulations to the Boris Johnstone, the Conservative candidate, on becoming the new Mayor of London. Congratulations too to the Conservative Party and David Cameron for the well deserved wins in the council elections.

Thanks too to Paul Goodman for a well written and well researched article 'Boris Johnson defeated Islamic extremists as well as Ken Livingstone' that refutes the claims of the Muslims4Ken in Anas Altikriti's 'We got out the vote': http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/anas_altikriti/2008/05/we_got_out_the_vote.html
Playing the religion card did not win them votes because Boris as the international media like the Azerbaijan press acknowledge (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/): "Boris Johnson is Turkish-origin British. He is great grandson of last interior minister of the Ottoman Empire Ali Kemal."

But Boris' victory is a two-edged sword as more than one political commentator has noted. Boris may have won the 'battle' for London Mayor but its only a battle in a larger 'war' for votes and that is the next general election which the Conservative Party should win given their enormous victory in the current council elections and the significant 20 point lead David Cameron has over Gordon Brown in popularity polls.

Choosing Boris as their candidate was always a risk because of the 'buffoon' image (that Ken Livingstone derided as a 'joke') and his unfortunate history of gaffes. The reason he won inspite of these flaws was that the Conservative Party realizing they had to keep a check on the maverick MP had throughout the election campaign kept 'minders' to ensure Boris kept on his serious face on without playing the bufoon and without making too many gaffes and that policy paid dividends in the results.

It is therefore imperative that the Conservative Party dont get too complacent resting on their victory but in their own (as well as Boris' ) interests that they continue to keep 'minders' who keep Boris away from any gaffes and negative publicity because a good effective local government in London run by the a Mayor who is the Conservative Party's candidate will reflect on the next general election results. But if Boris slips up the Conservative Party will have an image problem that could cost them not just votes in the next general election but a very real possibility of David Cameron being the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

[Common Sense]

Anas Al-Tikriti is very happy to create a misleading impression. When he says he's not a supporter of the Labour Party, he's telling the truth: at the last European elections he headed the Respect list in Yorkshire and Humberside!

This man is condemned by his own actions as an extremist. A political associate of George Galloway is not someone the Conservative Party should even be talking to, even without the covert Muslim Brotherhood links.

Now go away, dribbling Islamist.

[Dontmakemelaugh]

Reply to post by: Anas Altikriti | May 05, 2008 at 00:07
Anas Altikriti: The life and teachings of your Prophet are becoming more widely known in the West (hopefully quicker) and I believe they will be rejected as being incompatible with our all liberalism and values.
I have read enough of your creed and religion to reject it completely and if those that wish to embrace Islam and all it stands for so be it. At long as they remain peaceful and adopt a policy of live and let live there will be no problem (but I doubt they will). When I look around at the world, however, I see that many wars, strife (Fitna) involve Muslims. The "Religion of Peace"? The founder of Islam was not a man of peace, but of conquest. The Saudi flag displays the sword (the sword of conquest) and bears the inscription "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Messenger". I beg to differ.

It was one of your clerics who said, "The wombs of our women will conquer the West".
You condemn the BNP (I am not a member), but you should remember that the British public were never consulted on letting in multiculuralism into Britain.

I feel Mr Altikriti that we have little in common so I will not be continuing this thread. You have shown that when push comes to shove you will return to your roots. Do not be surprised if we return to ours.

It would appear that "Common Sense" has sussed you out. You are still practising the deception of Taqiyya, apparently.

[BoxerM]

"the British public were never consulted on letting in multiculuralism into Britain."

I don't think the Arabs, Africans, Indians, Chinese, Native Americans or Australian Aborigines were consulted about letting the British in either??

[woodentop]

BoxerM - since when did two "wrongs" make a right? In any event, in the case of India and Hong Kong the British left much which was good.

[A Kafur]

Sir
You say we must "remain a warm home for mainstream Islam"..... I cannot agree.

Mainstream Islam, (whether Muslims obey it or not, are aware of it or not, or agree with it or not) is a vile dicate, a theology and administration of surpression,fostering abuse and segregation, denying basic human rights world domination by insisting upon submission under threat of death. A theology that places the death sentence on those who may choose to leave it.

It is a fatal mistake to regard Islam as another peaceful religion....it is no such thing..... it will blanket our country and when the time is right will operate as dictated by the Koran and seek to estab lish supremacy over the other religions. This is the dictate of the Koran.

I fear that before MPs rush to "embrace Islam" they first see what Islam is all about....... Read the koran sir.

Islam must be kept close for one reason, and that is to keep an eye on it!

Your article otherwise was very good and balanced.

[wendy mann]

"Boris Johnson defeated Islamic extremists as well as Ken Livingstone"

maybe a better representation is:

"Ken Livinstone defeated by Neo-Conservative Zionist extremists as well as Boris Johnson."

there are always two sides to any coin.

the anti semitism directed towards muslims and islam is palpable in this article.

im curious to know why there is so much ire directed towards qaradawi whilst israel is able to create according to the UN
humanitariarian disaster in gaza. why it is acceptable for the killing of 3 innocent palestinians each and every day, why it can go without any comment that 1000 palestinian children have been murdered and yet not one israeli has been convicted for any one of those deaths.

with respect to qaradawi , he reflects the same attitude towards homosexuals as do anglicans, catholics and orthodox jews, it is a sin in all of these faiths. the koran does not ezxact any punishment for homosexuality. as far as im aware i do not know of any vigilante group of muslims in either the uk, european continent or north america that is seeking out homosexuals , though i am aware of many such non muslim groups, in fact we all can recall the ex bnp nail bomber that attacked soho dont we?

islam states quite clearly that men and women are equal, it states that their roles are different. in that context we wouldnt claim that men make better mothers than women .. would we?

it is possible to take quotes out of context and claim it is islam or muslims that are to blame.

the fact is extremism comes in all colors and all faiths, the issue is why are you in denial with respect to our extremism and our acts of inhumanity.

why should bigotry be left unchallenged, why shouldnt our policies be challenged - after all that is why we have the friends of israel lobby group amongst many others isnt it?

why not provide the whole story and the whole of the context and not just the bit that suits prejudices?

in fact why are so many afraid of an honest debate instead of this caricature and deceits that clearly isnt borne out of ignorance but out of malevolance.

[wendy mann]

woodentop:

i think what is instructive for you is that many individuals with extreme opinions never view themselves as anything but mainstream.

i also find it curious how many non muslims know more than many scholarly and respected muslims about islam and the koran and importantly that information is mainly sought from our 'reputable' tabloids.

european identity has been based upon the dislike of islam and its christianity. as we have become more secular we have as europeans tried to assert our identity through our hatred of islam and muslims.

we in europe fail to acknowledge the significant common heritage that we have received and shared with the muslim world, instead we choose to ignore it and over compensate with our greek roman heritage.

we in fact have more in common with islam than not.

what we have to remember is that it was european christendom that killed 6 million jewish people,we should recognise historically that we have been persecuting not only muslims but jewish people too, after all in muslim spain jewish people were protected, when the crusading christians took spain they not only wiped off the map its islamic heritage it sought to remove any jewish people too, even our adventures in jerusalem did not protect anyone.

so we should understand our heritage and our evils too, after all it is we who with deceits are invading iraq, it is we who are seeking to uphold despotic regimes in that region against the will of the ordinary folk on the streets.

we support zionists over and above judaism and the ordinary jewish person in israel. zionists are people who pervert religious texts for personal greed and political gain. they are of all faiths be it muslim, christian , hindu jewish and of no faith. we should not confuse zionists with the ordinary jewish person because they are entirely different from one another.

it is a shame that you define your ignorance of islam, of cultural attitudes and of your heritage so blatantly here but i have to say that you are not alone in this respect.

[A Kafur]

Wendy mann

Firstly...yes religion says homosexuality is sinful...but ISLAMIC sharia is the only one putting them to death even today (I can show you many many pictures).
Read the news and SEE with your blind eyes that MUSLIM youths are terrifying and killing in Amsterdam.

Are you so damned stupid that you dont see the muslim "honour killings", the forced marriages of girls barely out of puberty .
Do you not know enough of the Koran (medinan) to see that it lays down its requirements of domination of ALL other religions and non muslims.Dont you understand its intolerences and its demands as you sit here hand wringing on its behalf!
This ideology is a political entity, its not just a religion, its after consuming all in its path....
To Islam there is only the "house of Islam" or the "House of war"..... we are "Kafur"...the Koran derides and condems us for over two thirds of its publication.
Islam cannot be "Modified" or "Europeanised" it can only dominate us into submission.

Dont have the front to get on here and compare it to other religions...it is a cancer that wants to eat this side of the earth now it has consumed the other side in the East.

As far as others saying that WE are the aggressors historically, well they dont know their history.... ISLAM has dominated many countries throughout history...history is littered with death because of it.

Islam is avowed to take over the western world... The ayotollahs say they will do it "by the womb"........

[Julie]

Muslims seeking out homosexuals

Yes, Kafir is correct. Muslims here in Holland are laying in wait for homosexual men as they leave their places of entertainment, and attacking them.

Three gay men have been killed to date but many more injured.All they want to do is go home after a night out, but they are being attacked. The governments trying to tackle it with police.

Although the Quoran doesnt say anything about homosexuals, the Quoranic Sharia Law does, it gives four choices of death to the gay person either Crushing under a wall as its topped on them,being tied and thrown from a cliff top,being cut in two with a sword and im sorry I cannot remember the next method...but it isnt just hanging. The poor soul has to CHOOSE one method.

People just do not know these things generally.