The Muslim News - Boris reassures Muslims of his support

Issue 233, Friday 26 September 2008 - 26 Ramadan 1423

Boris reassures Muslims of his support

By Ahmed J Versi

In an exclusive interview, Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, reassured the Muslim community that he would continue in the step of his predecessor Ken Livingstone on supporting diversity and equality projects.
“One thing I decided very early on was that the only way to run London is to support diversity and to recognise that you have got to be proactive and give encouragement and support to all communities,” Johnson said. He added that it was important to “celebrate the achievements of communities” in London that make the city so attractive. “London would not be London and it wouldn’t be the greatest city on earth if it wasn’t for the hundreds of communities who live here.”
There were concerns that programmes like ‘Eid in the Square’, ‘Diwali in the Square’ held in Trafalgar Square and other faith based events would not be supported nor funded. However, he said he was “totally behind that” and would “support that completely.”
Muslims were also concerned about the Mayor’s and of his new Director of Policy, Anthony Browne’s negative remarks on Islam in the Spectator magazine. For example, Browne argued in July 24, 2004 that Islam wants to conquer the world etc. “I understand completely people’s concerns,” he said and argued that one has to “distinguish between the kind of slightly careless polemical things people may say in their journalistic capacity which can be drawn out and used against them. You have to distinguish between that and what they really want to do in London.”
Johnson gave assurance that Browne was “utterly committed to a glorious multi racial multi ethnic, multi faith London in which we emphasise the achievements of all communities and he will be going out of his way to prove that point.”
Muslims make up at least a quarter of the 40% minority communities in London and Johnson said he would be “engaging” with the Muslim community. There had been propaganda against him in the last elections which he believed was “very serious” and found it “offensive and upsetting.” He therefore said he wishes to “knock on the head” such “suspicions and anxieties”.
When Johnson found out about his Muslim ancestry, he feels that “with more understanding there would be less conflicts”. When he found out that his great grandfather knew the Qur’an by heart, “I immediately bought the Qur’an and I have been learning Arabic. Actually it is not that difficult as the script. It has very simple alphabets.” He said he was making progress and to prove it, he recited the kalimah – La ilaha illa Allah. Muhammad Rasulullah (There is no deity except God. Muhammad is His Messenger).

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