KEN LIVINGSTONE has promised to turn London into a "beacon" for the words of the Prophet Mohammed in a sermon at one of the capital's most controversial mosques. Mr Livingstone, Labour's candidate for mayor of London, pledged to "educate the mass of Londoners" in Islam, saying: "That will help to cement our city as a beacon that demonstrates the meaning of the words of the Prophet."
Mr Livingstone described Mohammed's words as "an agenda for all humanity" and the Prophet's last sermon, telling his audience: "I want to spend the next four years making sure that every non-Muslim in London knows and understands (its) words and message." He promised the congregation he would "make your life a bit easier financially".
Mr Livingstone was speaking at last Friday's Jummah prayer at the North London Central Mosque, also known as Finsbury Park Mosque, formerly controlled by the terrorist recruiter Abu Hamza.
He was removed in 2003 but the mosque is now controlled by the Muslim Association of Britain, which has been linked to Hamas, the banned terrorist group.
A man who has acted as spokesman for the current leadership, Azzam Tamimi, is on record as supporting suicide bombings.
One of the mosque's current directors, Mohammed Sawalha, is described by the BBC as a former senior figure in Hamas who "is said to have masterminded much of Hamas's political and military strategy" from London.
In 2009 Mr Sawalha signed the Istanbul Declaration that calls for attacks against the allies of Israel, which include the UK. The Government interpreted it as calling for attacks on British troops.
― James Mitchell, Monday, 19 March 2012 08:33 (thirteen years ago)