George Galloway has issued a typically snide denial that he has any connection to Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the airliner bomber.
Advisory from George Galloway MP
Re: Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab
I have had several calls from the media about a meeting at which I am alleged to have spoken, organised by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab,apparently a former president of the Islamic Society at UCL London.
There is no truth in this. It seems to be based on a YouTube video trailing a series of meetings entitled War on Terror at UCL in which excerpts from my Sky interview with Anna Botting were cut in. This canard was first raised yesterday by an alleged stringer from the New York Times who at first claimed this meeting occurred on January 29, 2007 and then, after a series of emails, said that he had made a ‘typo’ and that the real date was 2008.
To the best of my knowledge I have never met Abdulmutallab. I certainly did not agree to speak at any meeting organised by him and my House of Commons electronic diary confirms that I have not spoken at the UCL Islamic Society in the last three years. Several other of those alleged to have been invited also have no knowledge of any meeting,
This is an attempted smear by someone who has been repeatedly told that there was no truth in the allegation and who cannot provide even a scintilla of ‘evidence’, other than the Youtube video. I could easily produce a YouTube trailer of a meeting at Glasgow Concert Hall where Barack Obama was billed to host a seance where John Lennon would be brought back to life. This would have about the same credibility.
There is no truth in any of this.
George Galloway MP
Contact: Ron McKay 07980 675998
Here is the announcement of the meeting, posted on an Islamic forum by “Farouk1986” (Abdulmutallab’s screen name):
Farouk1986
post Jan 26 2007, 04:28 PMThe War on Terror Week In University College London, Gower Street.
In September 2001, following the attacks on the World Trade Centre, the U.S. and it’s allies launched an offensive on the perpetrators of the WTC attacks in what was to become known as the global War On Terror. Five years on, with the death of thousands of innocent lives and thousands more detained illegally without trial or judgement, UCLU Islamic Society, in collaboration with UCLU Stop The War and Amnesty societies, hosts an entire week dedicated to analyse the war on terror; it’s justifications, it’s realities and it’s effects.
Joining us for what will surely be a fascinating week will be some of the most prolific speakers in the country including, George Galloway (MP), Yvonne Ridley (Broadcaster), Moazzam Begg (Former Detainee at Guantanamo Bay), Victoria Britain (Journalist for The Guardian) and many more!
To check out the trailer for the week, go to www.uclisoc.com
Details:
“The War Goes On…” George Galloway (MP Bethnal Green & Bow), Yvonne Ridley (Author & Broadcaster) – A look at the current status of the war on terror.
Monday 29th January @ 5:15pm, JZ Young Lecture Theatre“Bring our boys home” Moazzam Begg (Former detainee at Guantanamo Bay)
– Highlighting the plight of the British detainees in the UK
Tuesday 30th January @ 5:15pm, Archaeology Lecture Theatre“Road to Guantanamo” Martin Mubanga, The Tipton Three (Former detainees at Guantanamo Bay) & one of the actors from the film “Road to Guantanamo” – Includes extracts of the film and a Q&A with the panel.
Wednesday 30th January @ 2:30pm, Chemistry Auditorium“Torture: By any means necessary” Victoria Brittain (Journalist for The Guardian), Louise Christian (leading civil rights lawyer), Geoffrey Bindman (Chair of the British Institute of Human Rights) & Phil Shiner (Public Interest Lawyer) – A panel discussion on the use of torture and human rights issue arising from the War on Terror detentions.
Thursday 1st February @ 5:15pm, Roberts G08 Lecture TheatreRefreshments provided!
“Jihad vs Terrorism” Asim Qureshi (Human Rights lawyer for Cageprisoners) – A discussion on the Islamic position with regards to Jihad and other topical issues.
Friday 2nd February @ 5:15pm, Chadwick Lecture TheatreWassalamu Alaykum
This post has been edited by Farouk1986: Jan 26 2007, 04:29 PM
Here is the promotional video for the event.
According to an Islamic student society newsletter (pdf), Galloway did not attend only because he was ill:
The fact that the lecture theatre was packed with people sitting on every available stair well in advance and with so many people turned away, speaks for itself. In all fairness much of this was because they were expecting George Galloway, who unfortunately couldn’t turn up for health reasons. Even so he was replaced by Chris Nineham, who did a terrific job of highlighting the injustices taking place in the name of freedom.
Other speakers such as Yvonne Ridley and Moazzam begg helped keep the week informative, relevant and always entertaining. The audience got involved with a good mixture of Muslim and Non-Muslim attendees asking tough questions of the speakers.
Here are pictures of the Tipton 3, one of whom admitted to joining a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan in Channel 4’s “Lie Lab”, Ridley, Nineham and Asim Qureshi at the event.
Perhaps Abdulmuttalab found Asim Qureshi especially inspiring.
We embrace the mercy. We embrace every single thing that is set upon us and we deal with it because we have no fear. So when we see the example of our brothers and sisters fighting in Chechnya, Iraq, Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan then we know where the example lies. When we see Hezbollah defeating the armies of Israel, we know what the solution is and where the victory lies. We know that it is incumbent upon all of us to support the jihad of our brothers and sisters in these countries when they are facing the oppression of the west.
