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| Britain |
| U.K.: Controversial Muslim Cleric Tests The Limits Of British Tolerance |
| 2004-07-12 |
| London Mayor Ken Livingstone offered a warm public greeting to Sheik Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the Egyptian-born Muslim writer and theologian, near the end of a weeklong speaking tour of Britain. "You are truly welcome, welcome to London, a city of all faiths," Livingstone said. But not all Britons have been as welcoming. The controversial cleric's tour has raised protests from politicians, Jews, gays, and even some British Muslims. "It is inflammatory, it is damaging for race relations in this country." Al-Qaradawi, who is 77, has condoned suicide bombings as an acceptable tactic for Palestinians -- a view that has banned him from traveling to the United States. But he is a frequent visitor to Britain. His arrival sparked a sharp exchange in the British Parliament between Prime Minister Tony Blair and opposition leader Michael Howard. "When I was home secretary [interior minister], I used my powers to ban people whose presence here was not conducive to the public good. I banned them. Why doesn't [Blair's] home secretary do the same?" Howard said. Blair's reply was similarly heated. "This is not a party political issue, for goodness' sake. We are totally opposed, as is everyone, to people coming to this country and using it as a platform for views in support of terrorism or extremism of any sort at all," Blair said. |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |