On Polling Day, Friends of Muslim Community Organiser Suliman Gani Launch Petition Demanding Apology from David Cameron for Making False Allegations Against Him
5.5.16
Please sign and share the petition, calling for David Cameron to apologise to Suliman Gani, which currently has over 1,100 signatures.
Yesterday evening, friends of Suliman Gani launched a petition on Change.org, urging Prime Minister David Cameron to retract allegations he made two weeks ago about Muslim community organiser Suliman Gani. At Prime Minister’s Questions, David Cameron called him a supporter of Islamic State (IS), when nothing could be further from the truth. Mr Gani has, in fact, appeared at an event called ‘The Evils of Isis’, at which he condemned their actions, and has repeatedly explained how their actions are un-Islamic.
The Prime Minister’s false allegations were part of an effort to undermine Sadiq Khan prior to today’s London Mayoral elections, which also involved Zac Goldsmith, who called Mr. Gani “one of the most repellent figures in this country”, while failing to remember that he had a photo taken with Mr. Gani at an event last year, and also failing to recognise that Mr. Gani has long expressed support for and interest in the Conservative Party.
Today, as Londoners go to the polls to vote for the capital’s next Mayor, please sign and share the petition, and please vote wisely.
Mr. Gani’s friends, who include the campaigners Joanne MacInnes and Joy Hurcombe, the neurologist and campaigner Dr. David Nicholl, the author Anna Perera and myself, call on David Cameron to “retract his words and issue a full and unreserved apology in the House of Commons at the earliest opportunity,” and remind him of the code of conduct for all government ministers, including himself, which he updated last October. Paragraph 1.2.c states: “It is of paramount importance that ministers give accurate and truthful information to Parliament, correcting any inadvertent error at the earliest opportunity. Ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation.”
I first wrote about the various slanders against Suliman Gani two weeks ago, in an article entitled, David Cameron, Zac Goldsmith and Andrew Neil Owe Suliman Gani An Apology for Calling Him “Repellent” and an IS Supporter, which was very well received. Since then, others have become involved in challenging the vile allegations made by David Cameron and Zac Goldsmith; in particular, the journalist Peter Oborne, formerly the chief political commentator of the Daily Telegraph, from which he resigned last year.
Peter Oborne is one of the few establishment figures to tackle racism and Islamophobia where he sees them being used cynically by politicians for political gain — or even as a genuine manifestation of their own biased worldview — and on Monday he published an open letter on Middle East Eye entitled, Open letter to Downing Street: You still owe Suliman Gani an apology, which is well worth reading.
At the same time, I was editing a petition for Suliman Gani that was first drafted by the campaigner Joy Hurcombe, and which was launched yesterday evening by another campaigning friend, Joanne MacInnes. It had been another busy day, as David Cameron repeated his lies about Suliman Gani at Prime Minister’s Questions, and Mr. Gani himself got a few high-profile opportunities to answer back — on ITV News, where he said, “I wish I could sue the Prime Minister,” and on Sky News. Also check out the Daily Mirror‘s coverage.
The text of the petition is below:
David Cameron must apologise to Suliman Gani
On 20th April, during Prime Minister’s Question Time, David Cameron made a damaging and unfounded allegation about Suliman Gani, a British citizen, a teacher and broadcaster, and the former imam of Tooting Islamic Centre, which we call on him to retract.
Seeking to undermine Labour’s Mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan, he said that Khan had shared platforms with extremists, and proceeded to name Suliman Gani, describing him as a supporter of Islamic State (IS). Nothing could be further from the truth. Suliman Gani is a man of peace and a campaigner for human rights who has spoken out publicly against the evils of IS and has regularly engaged in events designed to bring different faiths together.
This personal, disgraceful attack on a well-known and widely respected figure in the Muslim community was made using parliamentary privilege and if expressed outside Parliament would be regarded as defamatory and libellous.
It has caused great distress to Suliman Gani and his family, as well as the many members of the Muslim community and other communities who know him. The Prime Minister must follow the code of conduct for all government ministers, including himself, which he updated last October. Paragraph 1.2.c states: “It is of paramount importance that ministers give accurate and truthful information to Parliament, correcting any inadvertent error at the earliest opportunity. Ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation.”
The Prime Minister must retract his words and issue a full and unreserved apology in the House of Commons at the earliest opportunity.
Please support this appeal from friends of Suliman Gani.
Joanne MacInnes
Joy Hurcombe
Dr. David Nicholl
Anna Perera
Andy Worthington
Imogen Tranchell
Ray Silk
Helen White
Andy Worthington is a freelance investigative journalist, activist, author, photographer, film-maker and singer-songwriter (the lead singer and main songwriter for the London-based band The Four Fathers, whose debut album, ‘Love and War,’ is available for download or on CD via Bandcamp — also see here). He is the co-founder of the Close Guantánamo campaign (and the Countdown to Close Guantánamo initiative, launched in January 2016), the co-director of We Stand With Shaker, which called for the release from Guantánamo of Shaker Aamer, the last British resident in the prison (finally freed on October 30, 2015), and the author of The Guantánamo Files: The Stories of the 774 Detainees in America’s Illegal Prison (published by Pluto Press, distributed by the University of Chicago Press in the US, and available from Amazon, including a Kindle edition — click on the following for the US and the UK) and of two other books: Stonehenge: Celebration and Subversion and The Battle of the Beanfield. He is also the co-director (with Polly Nash) of the documentary film, “Outside the Law: Stories from Guantánamo” (available on DVD here — or here for the US).
To receive new articles in your inbox, please subscribe to Andy’s RSS feed — and he can also be found on Facebook (and here), Twitter, Flickr and YouTube. Also see the six-part definitive Guantánamo prisoner list, and The Complete Guantánamo Files, an ongoing, 70-part, million-word series drawing on files released by WikiLeaks in April 2011. Also see the definitive Guantánamo habeas list, the full military commissions list, and the chronological list of all Andy’s articles.
Please also consider joining the Close Guantánamo campaign, and, if you appreciate Andy’s work, feel free to make a donation.
Who's still at Guantánamo?
89 Responses
Andy Worthington says...
When I posted this on Facebook, I wrote:
As Londoners vote for a new Mayor, here’s my latest article, promoting the petition on Change.org that was launched last night (and which I helped to write), calling on David Cameron to publicly apologise to Muslim community leader Suliman Gani for falsely claiming that he is a supporter of Islamic State (IS), when nothing could be further from the truth. This has been part of a dirty smear cmapaign designed to undermine Sadiq Khan, but it has damaged the reputation of a peaceful man (Suliman), and hopefully it will damage the Tories in the polls.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 11:03 am
Andy Worthington says...
Mahfuja Ahmed wrote:
Thanks Andy will share
...on May 5th, 2016 at 11:16 am
Andy Worthington says...
Mahfuja Ahmed wrote:
And have signed
...on May 5th, 2016 at 11:16 am
Andy Worthington says...
Thanks, Mahfuja. Much appreciated.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 11:16 am
Colin Bodiam says...
Good on you, Mr. Worthington!
...on May 5th, 2016 at 11:17 am
Andy Worthington says...
Mohammed Zakaria wrote:
signed and shared!
...on May 5th, 2016 at 11:17 am
Andy Worthington says...
You are most welcome, Mr. Bodiam!
...on May 5th, 2016 at 11:17 am
Andy Worthington says...
Thanks, Mohammed. Good to hear from you.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 11:17 am
Andy Worthington says...
Thanks to the many friends who have signed. We now have over 1,100 signatures, but we need many, many more. Please can you sign it and share it with everyone you know who cares about the importance of the Prime Minister not getting away with telling blatant lies, and callously damaging Suliman Gani’s reputation.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 11:18 am
Andy Worthington says...
Hanan Baghdadi wrote:
That’s how people ended up in Guantanamo isn’t it ! a free for all say anything about anyone ! no accountability
You’re great Andy, will sign.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 11:18 am
Andy Worthington says...
Thanks, Hanan. Great to hear from you.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 11:18 am
Andy Worthington says...
Julia Igaz wrote:
Thank you for starting petition, signed and shared.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 11:19 am
Andy Worthington says...
Thanks for your interest, Julia!
...on May 5th, 2016 at 11:19 am
Andy Worthington says...
Julia Igaz wrote:
Islam has Zero to do with ISIS, Mr Gani is fellow campaginer of Human Rights. Unbelievable putting him and his family at risk and fear over blatent lies and general public carry on in a state of apathy, wtf …
...on May 5th, 2016 at 11:20 am
Andy Worthington says...
Thanks for your comments, Julia.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 11:20 am
Andy Worthington says...
Marion Heads wrote:
Signed and shared Andy
...on May 5th, 2016 at 1:29 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Thanks, Marion! Great to hear from you.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 1:29 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Pippa Jones wrote:
1,249 SIGNATURES NOW Andy. Well done
...on May 5th, 2016 at 1:29 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Thanks, Pippa. Just trying to do what’s right. What annoys me about the Tories almost as much as their cruelty and stupidity is the way they have so thoroughly embraced the black propaganda techniques of Lynton Crosby, always appealing to people’s worst instincts. It is their fault that there is so much hatred in Britain today. They are incapable of providing genuine leadership.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 1:30 pm
Andy Worthington says...
We now have exactly 1,300 signatures. Please help us get to 1,500 asap!
...on May 5th, 2016 at 1:30 pm
Carol Grayson says...
Signed and shared… the government never learns and has been caught out before in a Judicial Review for “misinformation, flawed thinking”… and on it goes! Can we believe anything governments say?
...on May 5th, 2016 at 2:36 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Thanks, Carol. I’m hoping the Tories’ dirty game in London backfires on them. They deserve it. They must have been a bit humiliated to find that Suliman was going to vote for them, and realising that they were probably going to lose many conservative (small ‘c’) Muslim votes because of their racism.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 6:30 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Patricia Sheerin-Richman wrote:
Signed and shared.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 6:31 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Thanks, Patricia. An extra boot into the Tories on this election day in London!
...on May 5th, 2016 at 6:31 pm
Andy Worthington says...
1,540 signatories now. Please keep them coming! Surely more than 1,540 people know what a lying waste of space David Cameron is?
...on May 5th, 2016 at 6:31 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Katrina Conn wrote:
I’ve signed and shared the petition. Hopefully Cameron will apologise.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 6:37 pm
Andy Worthington says...
I think we’d better not hold our breaths for the apology, Katrina, but it is important to make a stand. It is disgraceful how the Tories made a decision to play with a man’s reputation in a dirty little Islamophobic effort to undermine Sadiq Khan.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 6:37 pm
Andy Worthington says...
David Knopfler wrote, in response to 25, above:
I think you’re confusing public opinion with FB algorithms
...on May 5th, 2016 at 6:47 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Just trying to round up everyone who dislikes the way in which Cameron lies when told to, David, as part of the Tories’ relentless and depressing black propaganda machine. As I have said elsewhere today, I hold them personally responsible for helping to foster the various petty hatreds that permeate Britain today like a virus – the racism, the Islamophobia, the anti-immigrant sentiment, the anti-EU sentiment, the targeting of the unemployed, the disabled, the assault on social housing, the attacks on our hospitals, our doctors, our schools, our teachers. I am so very much hoping they lose London.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 6:47 pm
Andy Worthington says...
If I can just mention another petition, can you please sign and share “Britain must not turn its back on child refugees in Europe,” which has 69,776 signatures, so just over 30,000 signatures are still needed asap to make it eligible for Parliamentary debate. I understand that the revised amendment to the Immigration Bill that it supports, after the Tories refused to support accepting child refugees, goes back to the House on May 9: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/128833
...on May 5th, 2016 at 6:55 pm
Andy Worthington says...
David Knopfler wrote:
Andy, they’ve had more than a little help en-route from The Parliamentary Labour Party, the Lib/Dems, UKIP and others. If it’s a resounding victory for Corbyn they’ll say that all this publicity gave him the anti-Semite vote
...on May 5th, 2016 at 8:35 pm
Andy Worthington says...
I’m just crossing my fingers that we get the Tories out of London and hopefully elsewhere, David – and I’m so fed up with the manufactured anti-Semitic scandal that’s supposed to unseat Jeremy Corbyn. I was away at the weekend at a wedding in Scotland, and relieved that I was able to get away from the endless headlines and earnest presenters on supposedly rational news channels (hello, BBC) pretending that there was some sort of anti-Semitic scandal going on, as though there’s no dirt on the Tories. As if …
...on May 5th, 2016 at 8:35 pm
Andy Worthington says...
1,682 signatures now. Can we get to 2,000 by tomorrow morning?
...on May 5th, 2016 at 8:40 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Carol Anne Grayson wrote:
Lets try… Agree Andy with your comments on Tories and I expect to be in legal wrangles once again as they are also shafting widows who husbands they killed planning to remove our allowances… however Hillsborough gave me renewed hope and a new lawyer.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 10:12 pm
Andy Worthington says...
These butchers will cut whatever they can, Carol, so nothing surprises me. I’m glad to hear that the Hillsborough ruling has given you renewed hope, and I hope it has a good knock-on effect on tackling long-standing injustices.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 10:12 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Carol Anne Grayson wrote:
Thanks Andy… let the games begin…
...on May 5th, 2016 at 10:12 pm
Andy Worthington says...
🙂 Carol.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 10:12 pm
Andy Worthington says...
1,815 signatures now. Thanks, everyone. Please keep signing and sharing.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 10:16 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Laura Lance wrote:
Signed. Thank you, Andy, for your unfailing commitment to this work.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 10:21 pm
Andy Worthington says...
You’re welcome, Laura. Thanks for your support.
...on May 5th, 2016 at 10:21 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Sharing the ITV News video, Mohammed Zakaria wrote:
Cameron won’t repeat the lies outside of parliament as he will not have imunity! But Imam Gani should carry on going to all media outlets challenging Cameron to do so!
Any lawyers prepared to work on a no win no fee? We will raise money through crowdfunding!
Andy Worthington has shared a petition on change.org as have I, please sign and share!
Cameron, Goldsmith need to pay the price for such disgusting islamophobic lies!
See: https://www.facebook.com/ITVLondon/videos/10153564942962944
https://www.facebook.com/vivavivapalestina/posts/10206466533804228
...on May 6th, 2016 at 9:57 am
Andy Worthington says...
Thanks, Mohammed. Interesting call for a lawyer to take this on. Great idea!
...on May 6th, 2016 at 9:58 am
Andy Worthington says...
Mohammed Zakaria wrote:
They wanted a dirty campaign, let’s get some mileage out of this! I think if Goldsmith loses he will regret hiring his campaign manager! We should definitely get crowd funding if Cameron dares to repeat. Will keep an eye out to see if any one else in Conservative party have repeated the defamatory remarks against Mr. Gani outside of Parliament.
...on May 6th, 2016 at 10:00 am
Andy Worthington says...
Yes, we all need to be vigilant, Mohammed. My guess is that the slander will immediately stop now the election’s over, but that’s why we need to keep the pressure on Cameron with this petition.
...on May 6th, 2016 at 10:00 am
Andy Worthington says...
We made it to 2,000. It’s currently on 2.006. Next stop: 2,500. Please keep signing and sharing today, in the run-up to the announcement of the results in the London Mayoral election. And check out Andrew Boff, leader of the Tories on the GLA, laying into Goldsmith’s campaign. He said the negative campaigning about Muslims “was effectively saying that people of conservative religious views are not to be trusted and you should not share a platform with them. That’s outrageous.” He added that the campaign had “done real damage” and had “blown up bridges” the Conservatives had built with London’s Muslim communities.
See: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/may/06/zac-goldsmith-attacked-by-senior-tory-over-tactics-in-london-mayor-election
...on May 6th, 2016 at 10:14 am
Andy Worthington says...
2,219 signatures now. Please keep them coming! And in the meantime, we’re close to having confirmation about how badly the Tories’ racist ploy backfired, with Sadiq Khan’s victory: http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2016/05/06/ha-ha-the-tories-lose-london/
...on May 6th, 2016 at 10:54 pm
Andy Worthington says...
2,400 signatures now. Please keep signing and sharing. I thought the Tories would drop this as soon as the election was over, but defence secretary Michael Fallon was on the Today programme this morning, where he repeated the false allegation that Suliman Gani is an IS supporter, and specifically mentioned Daesh by name. Mr. Fallon can expect a call from lawyers soon, for defamation.
...on May 7th, 2016 at 12:49 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Mohammed Zakaria wrote:
Brilliant Andy. We need to keep an our eyes and ears open for any other MP’s (even labour) making these defamatory statements.
...on May 7th, 2016 at 12:50 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Yes indeed, Mohammed. I’d be surprised if any Labour MPs get involved, as it’s been such a disaster for the Tories, but then again politicians aren’t always sensible, are they? Michael Fallon being a case in point.
...on May 7th, 2016 at 12:51 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Mohammed Zakaria wrote:
Andy I am thinking the likes of Mann who attacked Ken Livingstone, I can see the likes of him making such comments.
...on May 7th, 2016 at 1:15 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Oh yes, he’s a nasty piece of work, Mohammed!
...on May 7th, 2016 at 1:15 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Javier Rodriguez wrote:
Owen Jones tweeted: “Suliman Gani should sue Michael Fallon for repeating the libel that he’s a supporter of ISIS on Radio 4 this morning.”
https://twitter.com/OwenJones84/status/728874015792762880
...on May 7th, 2016 at 6:30 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Javier Rodriguez wrote:
Suliman Gani tweeted: “I am seeking legal action against the Defence Secretary and would like a public retraction of his comments.”
https://twitter.com/sulimangani/status/728904937338474496
...on May 7th, 2016 at 6:31 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Thanks, Javier. Yes, those of us behind the peitititon have been on this. Anyone who signed should have had an update from Joanne MacInnes.
...on May 7th, 2016 at 6:31 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Javier Rodriguez wrote:
Andy I am shocked that Michael Fallon repeated the slurs without parliamentary privilege. ………
...on May 7th, 2016 at 6:32 pm
Andy Worthington says...
I think he’s already backtracking on it, Javier. Apparently he took Andrew Neil’s unfounded allegations at face value without checking them. Because of course no former editor of the Sunday Times would tell lies, would they? (sarcastic laugh)
See: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/london-imam-says-he-will-sue-uk-defence-minister-over-support-allegations-2068148412
...on May 7th, 2016 at 6:32 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Javier Rodriguez wrote:
Andy, I’d sue him for defamation……..
...on May 7th, 2016 at 6:32 pm
Andy Worthington says...
I think that’s the plan, Javier!
...on May 7th, 2016 at 6:33 pm
Trevor says...
He’s a twat – keep up the good work
...on May 7th, 2016 at 8:33 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Thanks, Trevor. Good to hear from you.
...on May 7th, 2016 at 11:29 pm
Mohammed Khan says...
It really doesn’t meet the standards of stature of the British Prime minister to make such a false allegations and racist comments. I condemn his comments in strongest terms. So he may apologise unreservedly.
...on May 7th, 2016 at 11:32 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Thank you, Mohammed. Very good to hear from you.
...on May 7th, 2016 at 11:37 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Angie Graham wrote, in response to 47, above:
That is appalling Andy!!!
...on May 7th, 2016 at 11:38 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Yes indeed, Angie. I think Fallon not checking his facts shows the disdain the Tories have for Muslims in general.
...on May 7th, 2016 at 11:39 pm
Andy Worthington says...
So there’s been some great activity on the petition – it’s now on 2,628 signatures. Next target – 3,000, by sometime tomorrow, hopefully.
...on May 7th, 2016 at 11:39 pm
Andy Worthington says...
UPDATE: Here’s Peter Oborne’s latest article on David Cameron’s failure to apologise for calling Muslim community organiser Shaykh Suliman Gani a supporter of Islamic State (IS), which couldn’t be further from the truth. At the weekend, Mr. Gani was threatened in the street. As Peter Oborne says, “Words matter. Especially when they are uttered by the prime minister.”
http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/david-cameron-has-moral-duty-set-record-straight-suliman-gani-1793321227
...on May 10th, 2016 at 9:58 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Not only was Suliman Gani threatened, but also another Tory joined the lies – defence secretary Michael Fallon, who told the Today programme on Saturday morning that Mr. Gani was a supporter of Islamic state, or, as he put it, unlike his colleagues, Daesh. Fallon took his lead from Andrew Neil without checking his facts, and his decision to name Daesh was a step on from No. 10’s cynical claim that there was, essentially, no difference between speaking approvingly on an Islamic State, i.e. a state run according to Islamic law (as Mr. Gani is alleged to have done) and speaking approvingly of Islamic State (IS) aka Daesh, the terrorising force currently wreaking havoc in the Middle East. Fallon has been threatened with legal action, as he doesn’t have the Parliamentary privilege Cameron depended on when he was delivering his lies in Parliament.
...on May 10th, 2016 at 9:58 pm
Andy Worthington says...
If you haven’t yet signed the petition, “David Cameron must apologise to Suliman Gani,” it’s here, and currently has 3,198 signatures: https://www.change.org/p/calling-on-friends-of-suliman-gani-join-us-in-urging-david-cameron-to-apologise-and-retract-his-false-allegations
...on May 10th, 2016 at 9:59 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Ismail Timol wrote:
I really hope Shaykh Suliman Gani is suing Fallon as this Tory government needs to be brought to justice!
...on May 11th, 2016 at 8:31 am
Andy Worthington says...
Yes, exactly, Ismail. Their have always been disdainful of the truth, but increasingly, since their election victory last year, they appear to be out of control.
...on May 11th, 2016 at 8:31 am
Andy Worthington says...
Patricia Sheerin-Richman wrote:
Several MPs have campaigned alongside Suliman on human rights issues and I’d like to hear them speaking up on his behalf.
...on May 11th, 2016 at 8:34 am
Andy Worthington says...
And I’m hoping something like that is going to happen, Patricia.
...on May 11th, 2016 at 8:34 am
Andy Worthington says...
Patricia Sheerin-Richman wrote:
Check out Suliman’s FB page. He recorded some videos at Monday’s GJC meeeting.
...on May 11th, 2016 at 8:36 am
Andy Worthington says...
Thanks, Patricia. Will do.
...on May 11th, 2016 at 8:36 am
Andy Worthington says...
This is moi but there are several more: Noel, Dave, Katrina etc. https://www.facebook.com/SGani99/videos/678300372308837/
...on May 11th, 2016 at 8:37 am
Andy Worthington says...
Thanks, Patricia. Other videos here: https://www.facebook.com/SGani99/videos?fref=photo
...on May 11th, 2016 at 8:37 am
Andy Worthington says...
Tony Simpson wrote:
Signed and shared.
...on May 11th, 2016 at 8:37 am
Andy Worthington says...
Thanks, Tony.
...on May 11th, 2016 at 8:37 am
Andy Worthington says...
3,286 signatures now. Please keep signing and sharing.
...on May 11th, 2016 at 8:37 am
Andy Worthington says...
UPDATE – So here’s the latest development:
“David Cameron offers half-apology to Imam he accused of supporting ISIS,” as the Daily Mirror describes it, accurately:
“In a half-apology, sneaked out at 7.30pm tonight, the Prime Minister said he was referring to reports that Suliman Gani, a Conservative Party supporter, supported the concept of an Islamic State.” The Mirror added: “The Prime Minister is clear this does not mean Mr Ghani supports the organisation Daesh and he apologises to him for any misunderstanding.”
The distinction between supporting the concept of an Islamic State and the Islamic State organisation currently terrorising the Middle East is huge, and is one that, it seems to me, David Cameron deliberately ignored to play a dirty political game.
The half-apology followed an apology this afternoon by defence secretary Michael Fallon, who had called Mr. Gani a Daesh supporter on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday. He blamed the BBC, having taken his information from Andrew Neil, who had falsely accused Mr. Gani of being an IS supporter during a London Mayoral debate. The BBC had already apologised for Andrew Neil’s comments, but Fallon blamed the BBC for him not doing his own homework.
See: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-offers-half-apology-7949174
...on May 11th, 2016 at 8:58 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Javier Rodriguez wrote:
Impressed that he managed a half-apology…… My expectations of Cameron are very low though.
...on May 11th, 2016 at 9:16 pm
Andy Worthington says...
David Knopfler wrote:
Watch the half-apology be buried along with the news that the economy is again in recession with stories that terror threat level from Northern Ireland has been raised.
...on May 11th, 2016 at 9:16 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Javier Rodriguez wrote:
David Knopfler I’m impressed it got a mention in the Mirror……
...on May 11th, 2016 at 9:17 pm
Andy Worthington says...
My expectations are as low as possible, Javier. Not only is he in charge of the most disgusting and disgraceful government in living memory, but he called a referendum on the EU because he was too much of a coward to take on critics in his own party (and UKIP), and now he has been caught telling lies about a Muslim community leader in a feeble effort to keep Sadiq Khan our of City Hall that has done nothing but alienate large numbers of Muslims, many of whom had, up until this point, been ideologically inclined to support the Tories.
...on May 11th, 2016 at 9:17 pm
Andy Worthington says...
David Knopfler wrote:
Andy, unfortunately I have to entirely agree
...on May 11th, 2016 at 9:18 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Yes, the shameful manipulation of the news will, I’m sure, continue unabated, David. Perhaps this will all somehow become Jeremy Corbyn’s fault.
...on May 11th, 2016 at 9:18 pm
Andy Worthington says...
David Knopfler wrote:
Andy, we badly need a return of Yes Minister, Spitting Image and The Thick of it
...on May 11th, 2016 at 9:18 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Patricia Sheerin-Richman wrote:
How come I heard the defamatory remarks on prime time tv and radio but have not heard the “apologies”?
...on May 11th, 2016 at 9:19 pm
Andy Worthington says...
Yes, funny that, Patricia. And I think we need a veritable tsunami of satire, David!
...on May 11th, 2016 at 9:19 pm