By IRNA
London : More than 60 Muslim organisations and individuals have taken the unprecedented decision to declare their support for the re-election of Ken Livingstone as London mayor.
A joint pledge, published by the British Muslim Initiative (BMI) Thursday, said that Livingstone – a left-wing member of the ruling Labour Party – had been an outstanding mayor since he became the capital’s first elected mayor in 2000.
“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,” it said.
“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,” the statement read.
BMI, which includes members from the Muslim Association of Britain and Muslim Council of Britain, was set up two years ago to combat Islamophobia, encourage Muslim participation in British public life, and improve Muslim relations with the West.
Their call comes after the main opposition Conservatives selected former prominent frontbench spokesman Boris Johnson as its candidate to stand against Livingstone in the third elections for London mayor in May.
Johnson, a former editor of the right-wing Spectator magazine and with flamboyant character, is seeking to rival the idiosyncratic personality of Livingstone, whose popularity remains high in opinion polls.
The BMI declaration said that the current mayor, who helped to win the 2012 Olympics, had “enhanced London’s standing in the world and helped improve the lives of all of the city’s communities.” “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,” it declared.
But Johnson was reported to have dismissed the campaign, saying that he was “not remotely worried” by the statement of support and warned against “divide and rule” politics.
“When anything is signed by so-called community leaders, I take it with a big pinch of salt,” he said.
“My grandfather was a Muslim and so was my great-grandfather. I am proud of my Muslim ancestry,” he was quoted saying by the Guardian newspaper Thursday.
Analysts have suggested that the capital’s 10 per cent Muslim population, four times the national average, could be decisive in the outcome of May’s vote, which is also expected to be the closest yet.