Boris chooses the wrong mosque for his message about Islam

Last week Boris Johnson encouraged people to learn more about Islam:

”That’s why I urge people, particularly during Ramadan, to find out more about Islam, increase your understanding and learning, even fast for a day with your Muslim neighbour and break your fast at the local mosque. I would be very surprised if you didn’t find that you share more in common than you thought.”

Fair enough but the Mayor of London chose to issue this message at the East London Mosque.

We learn from the excellent Harry's Place that...

• The ELM's imam, Abdul Qayum, is a signatory of the pro-Hamas Istanbul declaration.
• "In sermons at the mosque, Qayum himself has praised Hamas, denied that they are terrorists, cast Israel as an enemy of Allah that will be crushed, and compared Israel to Pharaoh, Genghis Khan, the crusaders, and Hitler."
• The ELM is due to be addressed by Anas al Tikriti, who supports the murder of coalition soldiers in Iraq.

Read the full Harry's Place post. Boris could hardly have chosen a mosque less appropriate to his message that the average Londoner has much in common with Muslims.

Tim Montgomerie