LONDON,
April 14, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – The Mayor of London, Ken
Livingstone, has met with Muslim leaders to appeal to Muslims to vote
Labour in the coming elections or at the very least vote for the
Labour candidates who oppose the US-British occupation of Iraq.
“I
want to make a specific appeal to the Muslim communities with regard
to the general election. I know many Muslims are angry with some of
the actions of the Labour government. But I would ask you to remember
that this election will choose the government.
“I
would appeal to the Muslim communities in their own self-interest to
vote Labour but to those who refuse to vote Labour across the board, I
would say, at the very least, vote for the very many Labour candidates
who opposed the war in Iraq,” Livingstone made the appeal in a
significant event organized by the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB)
and hosted by the Muslim Welfare House.
Mayor
Livingstone, known for his wide popularity among the sizable Muslim
community of three million people, highlighted the vital role of
Muslims past and present as well as the importance of what is yet to
come on all levels and what is expected of Muslims in this regard, the
MAB said in a press release sent to IslamOnline.net Wednesday, April
13.
“Over
the last three years, Britain’s Muslim communities have advanced
dramatically to constituting themselves as a more and more confident
and powerful political force in towns and cities throughout
Britain,” Livingstone addressed the 40 Muslim representatives at the
meeting.
“They
have done so on a clear and progressive agenda of opposition to the
invasion of Iraq, justice for Palestine, support for religious freedom
and defence of civil liberties.”
Welcomed
The
appeal apparently won the support of Muslim leaders attending the
meeting, at a time some of Conservative Party candidates call for the
expulsion of asylum seekers, some of them hailed from Muslim countries
for political or economic reasons.
President
of MAB Ahmed Sheikh thanked the Mayor for his initiative and said MAB
has called upon British Muslims to vote for candidates who were
against the Iraq invasion and support the withdrawal of British
troops, who oppose the Anti-terror legislation, are supportive of
local needs of the minority and stand for the rights of the oppressed
particularly the Palestinians.
Anas
Altikriti of MAB, stated that never before had the Muslim vote been so
enthusiastic, positive and well-structured and never before had any of
the main parties realized the importance that is attached to Muslims
and their performance in a General Election.
Tanzeem
Wasiti from the Muslim Council of Britain commented that MCB is
therefore launching its policy document, Electing to Listen,
and highlighting the ten key questions to be asked to all prospective
parliamentary candidates.
“We
hope that the major political parties will listen to legitimate
concerns of the community and reflect those concerns in their
policies,” said Wasiti.
MCB
said it will also be revealing their selection of constituencies
around the United Kingdom with substantial Muslim populations where
they shall be holding regional meetings with parliamentary candidates.
Muslim
leaders from the main political parties will also attend and publicly
join the effort to urge British Muslims to participate more actively
in mainstream politics.
Among
the people who attended the meeting with Livingstone was Yasmin
Qureshi, Labour prospective candidate for Brent East who stressed that
she will be a voice raising the concerns of British Muslims within the
Labour party and in the House of Commons whether on domestic issues
such as education and housing or government policy on Iraq and
Palestine.
A
number of contributors all welcomed the organization of the event at
this crucial moment of time and hailed the Mayor of London as a great
friend of Muslims and all religious and ethnic minorities “that make
up the diverse and richly colorful picture of the capital”.
Tense
Relations
Relations
between the Labour government and British Muslims have witnessed a
rising deterioration, especially following the government’s decision
to scrap its proposed Anti-Religious Hatred law.
Prime
Minister Tony Blair was warned by Muslim leaders that there could be a
further backlash among Muslims supporting Labour at the forthcoming
general election if he again reneged on his pledge to outlaw the
incitement of religious hatred.
If
passed, the Anti-Religious Hatred law would make it illegal to incite
violence and discrimination against any religious group.
Instead,
the government forced through the Anti-Terrorism bill which Muslim
leaders see as a threat to confiscate freedoms and civil rights.
