Incumbent Mayor Ken Livingstone has welcomed the support of more than sixty Muslim organisations and leaders in his bid for re-election in May’s third GLA elections.
The British Muslim Initiative has issued a signed declaration stating:
“Since June 2000, Ken Livingstone has been an outstanding Mayor of London. He has stood out in support of a multi-cultural society and has supported the Muslim communities of the city against racism and Islamophobia as well as all other minorities against all types of prejudice. His stands and policies have constantly championed justice in the Middle East and around the world, freedom for the Palestinians and withdrawal of occupying troops from Iraq; a rare trait of modern-day public figures.
He has enhanced London’s standing in the world and helped improve the lives of all of the city’s communities. For those and many more traits continuously and consistently demonstrated by the Ken Livingstone, we the undersigned believe that it is in the best interest of the Muslim communities of London, and indeed all Londoners, to back Mr. Livingstone in this year’s mayoral elections.
We pledge to continue our support for the Mayor on all levels possible in order to secure his staying in office for a third term.”
The BMI describes itself as “an organisation which seeks to fight racism and Islamaphobia, combat the challenges Muslims face around the world, encourage Muslim participation in British public life, and improve relations between the West and the Muslim world.”
Welcoming the endorsement Mr Livingstone said ‘London’s prosperity and good community relations are based on openness and tolerance. One of my proudest achievements is that over the last seven years racist attacks in London have fallen by almost 60 per cent.”
“The fundamental basis of London’s openness and choice is that every Londoner should be able to live their life as they freely chose with the sole condition that they do not prevent others doing the same. This approach, in the last thirty years, has taken London from riots of the early 1980s to being the most tolerant city on earth and my aim as Mayor remains to represent every Londoner.”
