Peter Tatchell writes…
Muslim cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi has boycotted an Interfaith Dialogue conference in Doha because it was attended by Jews. Vile anti-Semitism. Qaradawi told the Al-Arab daily of Qatar:
“I decided not to participate so I wouldn’t sit at the same platform alongside Jews who still violate Palestine and destroy mosques and as long as the Palestinian issue has not been resolved.”
Talk about sweeping generalisations and stereotyping. He damned all Jews; ignoring the fact that many Jewish people disagree with Israeli government policy. They support a just solution for the Palestinians.
Qaradawi also condones suicide bombing, the killing of civilians, female genital mutilation, forced veiling, wife-beating and the killing of Muslims who turn away from their faith. He also blames rape victims who dress immodestly and supports the execution of LGBT people.
When OutRage! and I protested against Qaradawi being hosted by the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, in 2004, much of the so-called “left” denounced us as racists, Islamophobes, imperialists and neo-cons. Sick! I’m a left-winger but nowadays too many leftists are apologists for Islamism, misogyny, anti-Semitism and homophobia.
