Opinion Editorials, May, 2016

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Imam Sulaiman Ghani campaigning with Sadiq Khan (then MP, now Mayor of London), 2016	PM apologises for Sulaiman Ghani Islamic State 'misunderstanding', May 11, 2016 itv

Prime Minister's Apology to Imam Sulaiman Ghani: Muslim Council of Britain Calls for an Inquiry into Islamophobia in the Conservative Party
The Muslim Council of Britain today welcomed the Prime Minister's apology to Imam Sulaiman Ghani, a south London imam who was falsely accused by the Prime Minister of supporting Daesh terrorists. The allegation was also repeated by the Defence Secretary.

Dr Shuja Shafi, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain said: "I welcome the Prime Minister's long overdue apology to Imam Sulaiman Ghani, a London imam who has thus far been unable to challenge claims made in Parliament that he supports Daesh or terrorism. As a result of these smears, we understand that Imam Ghani has been subject to abuse and threats on his life." 

"I call on both the Prime Minister and the Defence Secretary to make that apology in Parliament as well. Imam Ghani became the innocent casualty of a wider Islamophobic attack on the now Mayor of London and the Conservative Party needs to apologise for this too."

"Such smear-by-association has become all too common for Muslims and Muslim organisations. It is a cancer blighting sections of our political and media class and has infected the solemn business of government."
"For the real extremists we are all opposed to, such tactics will only provide fresh new examples of a society not willing to accept Muslims for who they are."
"I also call for an urgent review of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party. Just as the Labour Party is rightly conducting an inquiry into antisemitism, it is important for the Conservative Party to reflect upon the extent of Islamophobia in its own ranks. We should have zero tolerance for both antisemitism and Islamophobia."

"We urge the Conservative Party to reflect and learn from this disreputable period of campaigning so that we can all draw a line and move on."

The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK's largest Muslim umbrella body with over 500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques,
charities and schools.

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PM apologises for Sulaiman Ghani Islamic State 'misunderstanding'

ITV, Thu 12 May 2016

The prime minister has apologised for "any misunderstanding" after calling former imam Sulaiman Ghani a supporter of so-called Islamic State, Downing Street has said.

David Cameron made the comments about Mr Ghani in the House of Commons when he accused Sadiq Khan of sharing a platform with extremists "again and again and again" during the London mayoral race.

During Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron told MPs: "I am concerned about Labour’s candidate as mayor of London who has appeared as again and again and again.

"The leader of the Labour party is saying it is disgraceful. Let me tell him, Sulaiman Ghani. The honorable member for Tooting has appeared on a platform with him nine times.

"This man supports IS [Islamic State]. I think they are shouting down this point because they don’t want to hear the truth."

Downing Street said Mr Cameron was referring to reports Mr Ghani supports "an" Islamic state.

A Number 10 spokesman said: "In reference to the Prime Minister's comments on Sulaiman Ghani, the Prime Minister was referring to reports that he supports an Islamic state.

"The Prime Minister is clear this does not mean Mr Ghani supports the organisation Daesh and he apologises to him for any misunderstanding."

Mr Ghani, a former imam at the Tooting Islamic Centre, has threatened legal action after being described as a supporter of the jihadist group.

Mr Khan beat Zac Goldsmith, the Conservative candidate, to become the new London mayor in elections last week.

http://www.itv.com/news/2016-05-11/cameron-apologises-for-sulaiman-ghani-is-misunderstanding/

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