Concerns over mega mosque campaigner's Tory candidacy
Deep concerns have been expressed that a London Islamist leader, who wants to build the biggest mosque in Europe, is standing in local council elections as a Tory candidate, having had no previous connections with the Conservative party.
Mufti Shah Sadruddin, who’s been campaigning for a 12,000 capacity mega-mosque near Britain’s Olympic Stadium, is also known to be a supporter of Respect MP, George Galloway, and openly promotes sharia law and the practices of Islamic states.
The fundamentalist Islamic sect, Tablighi Jamaat, has appealed against Newham Council’s decision to reject its application for an extension of their use of the current mosque site, in order to extend its capacity from 2,500 to 12,000.
Director of the campaign group, MegaMosqueNoThanks.com, Alan Craig, warns that the issue will become highly political when it goes before the Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, for the final decision later this year.
“The issue will then become immersed in the pre-election party politics ahead of next May's General Election, and it is matter of concern that a number of hard-line supporters of Respect's George Galloway and of the mega-mosque plan, are infiltrating Eric Pickles' Tory Party locally,” says Alan.
Mayor’s concerns
London Mayor Boris Johnson is believed to be concerned that the Tories are being manipulated as a vehicle of convenience to promote other causes including that of the Respect Party and the mega-mosque campaign.
Mr Sadruddin has been urging all Muslims to vote for any party that stands the best chance of removing the borough’s current mayor, Labour’s Sir Robin Wales, as a way of punishing his opposition to the mega-mosque project.
Mega mosque appeal
The fundamentalist Islamic sect Tablighi Jamaat, is appealing against Newham Council’s rejection of its application to create the largest mosque in Europe.
Alan Craig, Campaign director for MegaMosqueNoThanks.com, is also disturbed by these developments: "On sheer planning grounds there is a cast-iron case for the Planning Inspector to agree with Newham Council and to recommend rejection of the mega-mosque trustees' appeal.
"Unfortunately our experience at a previous Planning Inquiry is that Planning Inspectors do not always take the obvious, right or sensible decision.”
Political
Mr Craig added: "We need to support Newham Council’s opposition to this application. It will become a hot political issue in the run-up to the General Election.
"There's all to play for - and all to pray for."
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