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The
memo said Qaradawi's view on Palestine and Iraq are not unusual
amongst mainstream Muslims.
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CAIRO,
September 4, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – A restricted British memo
issued after the London terrorist attacks recommended giving entry
visa to renowned Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, The
Observer revealed on Sunday, September 4.
"Exclusion
... could turn Muslim opinion further against the UK and encourage
some to move to violence against British targets," cautioned the
memo, written by Mockbul Ali, the Foreign Communication Office (FCO)'s
Islamic issues adviser.
It
noted that John Sawers, the Foreign Office's director-general,
supported giving the visa to the moderate scholar.
The
memo came in response to a request from the Home Office on whether
Qaradawi, head of the Dublin-based International Association of Muslim
Scholars (IAMS), should be given an entry visa should he seeks one.
Following
the attacks, carried out by four British Muslims and claimed by Al-Qaeda,
London issued guidelines of "unacceptable behavior" under
which it can deport and ban Muslim scholars accused of fomenting,
justifying and glorifying acts of terror and violence.
Ken
Livingstone, the Mayor of London, has threatened to take the British
government to court if it banned Qaradawi from entering the country
under the controversial guidelines.
"I
don't think he should be banned. He has opposed all acts of terrorism
by Al-Qaeda around the world. He urged Arabs to donate blood after
September 11," he underlined.
Qaradawi
swiftly condemn the grisly London attacks as running counter to the
tents of Islam.
Mainstream
The
memo recognized that Qaradawi's views on issues like the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict and Iraq reflect the mainstream opinion
in the Muslim world.
"We
certainly do not agree with Qaradawi's views on Israel and Iraq, but
we have to recognize that they are not unusual amongst Muslims.
"Refusing
entry on these grounds would also open a Pandora's box in relation to
entry clearance for others in the Muslim world," read the
document.
The
same argument was earlier upheld by Livingstone, who warned against
exploiting the new guidelines against the likes of Qaradawi.
"…there
will be very few Muslim scholars or leaders that will ever be admitted
to Britain because the vast majority of Muslims identify with the
struggle of the Palestinian people".
Qaradawi
said that resisting the foreign occupation forces in Iraq and the
Palestinian territories are a duty for all Muslims.
The
venerable scholar, also a trustee of the Oxford University Center for
Islamic Studies, repeatedly drew the line between the Israeli
occupation and Jews.
"We
do not fight Israelis because they are Jews, but because they took our
land, killed our children and profaned our holy places," he had
said.
Livingstone
apologized in July last year to Qaradawi "on behalf of the people
of London" for the media fuss that overshadowed his last visit to
Britain.
He
had criticized the Washington-based Middle East Media Research
Institute (MEMRI), which is led by a former Israeli intelligence
officer, for fueling the hatred campaign.
