UK needs 'Mandela test' - mayor

2005-08-24 17:09

London - London mayor Ken Livingstone said he would apply a so-called "Nelson Mandela test" to new British proposals announced on Wednesday to crack down on hardline Islamists after last month's deadly bombings.

Livingstone, a member of Prime Minister Tony Blair's governing Labour Party, said he would judge the clampdown on whether it would have ensnared supporters of the ex-president when he was earlier in prison after leading an armed anti-government faction.

He added that if Britain banned controversial Muslim cleric Yussef al-Qaradawi from entering the country, he would take the government to court.

Home secretary Charles Clarke announced he would use his powers to deport and exclude those engaging in "unacceptable behaviour".

Apartheid racist regime

Had the measures been in place 20 years ago, Livingstone asked: "Would the supporters of Nelson Mandela have been thrown out of this country because they were supporting the bombing campaign against the apartheid racist regime in South Africa?"

He said if so, the list should not be approved.

But, of people fomenting acts of violence and extremism in Britain, Livingstone said: "That must be stopped. That is really easy and clear, because in this society we have the ballot box.

"We can achieve change peacefully and democratically."

Glorifying terrorist violence

The 78-year-old cleric was known for his support of Palestinian suicide bombers and had been banned from the United States since 1999.

Clarke's list covered foreign citizens, whether in Britain or abroad, expressing views which "foment, justify or glorify terrorist violence".

But, said Livingstone: "If nobody else takes the government to the courts if they banned Dr al-Qaradawi, I will.

"I don't think he should be banned. He has opposed all acts of terrorism by al-Qaeda around the world. He urged Arabs to donate blood after September 11."

Most respected cleric

The London mayor welcomed the Egyptian-born, Qatar-based Qaradawi to the British capital in July 2004.

Livingstone called him "probably the most-respected, progressive Muslim cleric in the world" and warned that banning him from entering Britain would be "incredibly divisive".

The mayor said that if Clarke's clampdown was applied to the likes of Qaradawi, "there will be very few Muslim scholars or leaders who will ever be admitted to Britain because the vast majority of Muslims identify with the struggle of the Palestinian people.

"I see real parallels between what happens in Israel-Palestine today with the bombing campaign run by the African National Congress against the white apartheid regime 20 years ago in South Africa".

- AFP