London Mayor Ken Livingstone's Defense of Islamist Cleric Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi (MEMRI)

MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute) ^ | January 13, 2005

[Stoat]

Announcement - No. 16

January 13, 2005

No.16

London Mayor Ken Livingstone's Defense of Islamist Cleric Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi
 

 

This past summer, Islamist cleric Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi visited London to establish the International Council of Muslim Clerics. He was hosted by London Mayor Ken Livingstone at City Hall. The visit was surrounded by criticism of Mayor Livingstone for hosting the sheikh, who is considered a spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, and who also heads The European Council for Fatwa and Research.

In response to the continued criticism, Mayor Livingstone called a January 11, 2005 press conference, at which he released a report defending Sheikh Al-Qaradhawiand demanded that the British media apologize for condemning Al-Qaradhawi's visit.

In his report and during the press conference, Mayor Livingstone singled out MEMRI as the source of documents and translations which he dismisses. To view segments from the press conference, which was covered by Al-Jazeera, see MEMRITV Clip No. 480, 'Al-Jazeera TV Reports London Mayor Accusations against: MEMRI' at http://memritv.org/Search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=480.

MEMRI will soon be issuing an official response, as well as additional new material on Qaradhawi.

The following is a compilation of media research material on Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi, done by MEMRI over the past few years. It includes: 1) MEMRI TV clips of Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi; 2) MEMRI Special Reports about Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi; 3) MEMRI Special Dispatches of Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi's writings and interviews.

MEMRI TV Clips

 

#480 - Al-Jazeera TV Reports London Mayor Accusations against: MEMRI Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) - 1/11/2005

 

#470 - Tsunami Reactions (9) - Sheik Al-Qaradhawi: Disaster a Punishment for Sex Tourism Qatar TV - 1/7/2005

 

#392 - Sheik Al-Qaradhawi: Wife Beating Yes, Homosexuality No. Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) - 11/28/2004

 

#382 - Sheik Al-Qaradhawi: "I Have Forbidden the Killing of Americans... But I Asked, "Who Is A Civilian?" Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) - 11/20/2004

 

#96 - Sheikh Qaradhawi: American Culture And Judaism Spread Violence In The World Qatar TV - 5/30/2004

 

#94 - Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi against Including Jews in Dialogue between Religions Qatar TV - 5/28/2004

 

#82 - Sheikh Dr. Yousef Al-Qaradhawi about the Murder of American Citizen, Nick Berg Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar)

 

#45 - Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi in Favor of Suicide Operations Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) - 4/25/2004

 

#31 - Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi Reacts to the Murder of Four Americans in Al-Fallujah: 'How could you punish an entire people because four corpses were mutilated?' Qatar TV - 4/9/2004

 

MEMRI Special Reports and Special Dispatches

MEMRI Special Report No. 30, July 8, 2004, "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi in London to Establish 'The International Council of Muslim Clerics'";
http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sr&ID=SR3004

MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 794, October 6, 2004, 'Reactions to Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi's Fatwa Calling for the Abduction and Killing of American Civilians in Iraq';
http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP79404

MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 753, July 27, 2004, "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: 'There is No Dialogue between Us and the Jews Except by the Sword and the Rifle'"; http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP75304

MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 740, July 7, 2004, "Criticism of Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi's 'Islamist Democracy' Doctrine"; http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP74004

MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 828, December 14, 2004, ' Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: Resistance in Iraq is a Duty of Every Muslim';
http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP82804

MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 447, December 6, 2002, 'Leading Sunni Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi and Other Sheikhs Herald the Coming Conquest of Rome';
http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP44702

MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 277, September 25, 2001, "Terror in America (10): Prominent leader of the Muslim Brotherhood Movement, Sheikh Yussef Al-Qaradhawi: 'Islamic religious law dictates that we join the Taliban's Jihad, not the US coalition; It is forbidden to attack American citizens, but permitted to attack the American military'";
http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP27701

MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 531, June 27, 2003, "Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi: 'We Gave Up On Haifa and Jaffa;' 'I Am Opposed to Attacks in Islamic Countries'";
http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP53103

MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 542, July 24, 2003, 'Al-Qaradhawi Speaks In Favor of Suicide Operations at an Islamic Conference in Sweden'
http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP54203

[kb2614]

Ole reliable "Red" Ken strikes again. Another terrorist appeasing commie.

[Sender]

Livingstone is an idiot. He condemns Bush as the greatest danger to the world and welcomes terrorists. How exactly did he end up as mayor?

[Guillermo]

Wow, a leftist bowing at the foot of a Jihadist?

Who'da thunk it!!

[Stoat]

Livingstone is an idiot. He condemns Bush as the greatest danger to the world and welcomes terrorists. How exactly did he end up as mayor?

I would imagine in the same way that Hildabeest ended up as Senator and Carter ended up as President....he most likely hoodwinked the people who work for a living and don't have endless hours to follow every political nuance into believing that he was not quite the dangerous, raving Marxist that he is.  Our British Friends are far too intelligent to have put him in office without being misled or brazenly lied to. 

Perhaps a British Freeper who is familiar with Red Ken's election might help us to understand exactly what happened?

[Stoat]

Wow, a leftist bowing at the foot of a Jihadist?

Who'da thunk it!!

(Using best Gomer Pyle imitation)

"Well, surprise, surprise, surprise!"

[fieldmarshaldj]

And following up the discussion of yesterday's Mexican politics... here is the crown jewel in the UK political crown, the Communist Labour Mayor of London, "Red" Ken Livingstone.

[Eva]

Is Mayor Livingstone stupid or deceptive?

[Eva]

Check out this one.

[Eva]

Sean Hannity just mentioned this.

[Stoat]

Is Mayor Livingstone stupid or deceptive?

Hello Eva,

Thank you so much for the ping and for your comments.  As to your question, I believe that Red Ken is profoundly misinformed and breathtakingly blind to even the most obvious lessons of history.  Like so many of the hard Left, his ideology is blinding him to obvious realities....I suppose the case can be made that this is stupidity.

Yes, I believe that he is also deceptive, as most of the hard Left are, in that his worldview forces him to spin deceptively....the truth simply doesn't work for him and those of his ilk.

Thanks again for finding this old thread....it's proof of what a great resource FR is as a knowledge storehouse.

 

My prayers and heartfelt good wishes go out to our dear British Friends on this very dark day......hopefully these evil acts will only serve to strengthen their legendary resolve.

 

 

[Eva]

It really bothers me that no one remembered anything about this mayor and took everything that he said at face value. I couldn't even listen to him speak without wanting to throw up. Of course, my son was over there, in the midst of it.

[Stoat]

It really bothers me that no one remembered anything about this mayor and took everything that he said at face value.

Well, I dunno....I've been listening to talk radio all day today and everyone has commended Red Ken for his statements regarding today's terror attacks but in the same breath always have mentioned what a tremendous departure his comments today were from his tone in previous statements.  The sources that I've been listening to haven't been letting him slide; they've been acknowledging his honorable statements of today while simultaneously reminding us of his completely different statements of times past.  Please don't let your heart be excessively troubled....I don't think that he's being quite as slick as he would like to be.

I couldn't even listen to him speak without wanting to throw up.

I understand your feelings.....it's hard to spend time watching a Marxist, regardless of what he's saying, isn't it?

Of course, my son was over there, in the midst of it.

I'm terribly sorry to hear of this Eva.  I hope that he and all of his friends and acquaintances have escaped harm in this matter.

[Grampa Dave]

It is past time for London to elect a new mayor and not one, who loves the mass murdering Jihadists:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1024351/posts

Consider the Source (Mayor of London calls Bush "greatest threat to life on planet")
Sacred Cow Burgers ^ | 11/18/2003 | Sacred Cow Burgers


Posted on 11/18/2003 12:28:18 PM PST by Prime Choice



So Mayor of London Livingstone says President Bush is the "greatest threat to life on the planet", huh?
Is it any wonder who puts these ridiculous ideas in his head?