Likens al-Qaradawi, who has been banned from America for abetting terrorism, to Pope John XXII
London Mayor Ken Livingstone, known for his left-wing and pro-ethnic minority views, has been staunchly defending Qatar-based Islamic scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi ever since the post 7/7 terror laws have tried to identify Islamic clerics, scholars and leaders unwanted in Britain.
So much so, that the mayor has likened al-Qaradawi, who has been banned from America accused of supporting suicide bombers, to Pope John XXII.
“Of all the Muslim leaders in the world today Sheikh Qaradawi is the most powerfully progressive force for change and for engaging Islam with western values,” Livingstone told the Commons home affairs select committee. “I think his is very similar to the position of POPE JOHN XXII,” said Livingstone, referring to the pontiff who reigned from 1958 to 1963, and known as a reforming pope credited with advancing co-operation with other religions.
An invitation to al Qaradawi to attend a peace rally after 7/7 was criticised by newspapers, gay rights groups and Jewish leaders who condemned the scholar for his reported comments on suicide bombers. Livingstone defended him arguing that many of the comments attributed to him were “from translated sources hostile to him”.
The mayor accepted that al Qaradawi did not condemn suicide bombing in Israel because Palestinians “only have their bodies” as weapons, but added that it was easy for those in the West to condemn all violence but said “I don’t know what I would be doing if I was in Uzbekistan dealing with that government”.
The Foreign Office gave an assessment that did not prevent al Qaradawi from entering UK, but the imam decided himself not to travel to Britain.
Asked about al-Qaradawi’s views on homosexuality Livingstone said “we are clearly not going to see Dr Qaradawi on a gay rights march - but you wouldn’t see the Pope on a gay rights march either and I would still be expected and allowed to meet him.”
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