Posted on 07/07/2004 5:32:30 AM PDT by AngloSaxon
Controversial cleric visits UK
The cleric's supporters regard him as a moderating voice A Muslim cleric who is banned from entering the US has been given permission to visit Britain. Egyptian-born Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi has been accused of making anti-Semitic remarks and supporting suicide bombers.
Labour MP Louise Ellman said it would be "an outrage" to let him visit, and create "enormous security problems".
The Liverpool MP accused Dr Al-Qaradawi of encouraging women and children to be suicide bombers and seeking the destruction of Israel.
Mrs Ellman, who is a member of the Labour friends of Israel group, is calling for his speeches to be monitored.
He has been a consistent opponent of the extremism espoused by al-Qaeda
Inayat Bunglawala Muslim Association of Britain But the Muslim Association of Britain, which is hosting Dr Al-Qaradawi, regards him as a moderating voice.
Inayat Bunglawala, a spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain, echoed this view.
He said: "Dr Al-Qaradawi is deeply respected by millions of Muslims around the world.
"He has been a consistent opponent of the extremism espoused by al-Qaeda and similar groups and is regarded and regularly denounces the killing of innocent people in the 11 September attacks."
Mr Bunglawala said the cleric may be deemed to be controversial in the non-Muslim world for his "strong criticisms" of the Israeli government for its treatment of Palestinians.
US ban
The Muslim Association of Britain website said Dr Al-Qaradawi arrived in London on Monday for a week-long visit during which he would take part in a number of functions.
That included chairing the European Council of Fatwa and Research, which will open under the auspices of Mayor Ken Livingston at the Greater London Assembly in London on Wednesday, it said.
He is expected to preach at the Regents Park mosque in north London.
Dr Al-Qaradawi, who is based in Doha in Qatar, has been banned from the US since 1999.
Damn right - I know the feeling. Maybe in a few years time you'll be able to apply for refugee status fleeing from a repressive regime run by islamist eurocrats.
We'd be glad to have you, we need all the conservatives we can get. Especially if you're planning on producing your own batch ( of new conservatives, that is).
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