http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=4040
Keith Dovkants, Evening Standard
An advocate of http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=2417, the Standard reveals today.
For the past year, the group has been working on a strategy to win an estimated 200,000 Muslim votes in an effort to re-elect the Mayor.
It includes a campaign of vilification aimed at his Conservative rival, http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=4148. It is being waged by Muslims 4 Ken, led by 39-year-old lecturer Anas Altikriti and Palestinian-born Azzam Tamimi, a supporter of Hamas, the militant group dedicated to the creation of an Islamic state of Palestine.
While Mr Altikriti says he abhors violence and favours dialogue to further the Muslim cause, Mr Tamimi has praised suicide bombers and said he would volunteer for a suicide mission in Palestine. Muslims 4 Ken moves into overdrive this week after months of lobbying for Mr Livingstone among Muslim community leaders, in mosques and among political organisations.
The Islamic alliance backing the Mayor is based in east London and has already drawn on wide support from the area’s Bangladeshi community. Muslims 4 Ken grew from Mr Livingstone’s links with activists and his generous sponsorship of Muslim causes. Mr Altikriti was instrumental in the Mayor’s patronage of Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the Islamic cleric who was welcomed by Mr Livingstone to City Hall. The Mayor’s critics believe his praise of Mr al-Qaradawi was part of a cynical plan to exploit the Muslim vote. Mr al-Qaradawi is banned from Britain over fears his presence may not be conducive to “security and peace”.
The last two weeks of the election campaign will see a sustained attack on Mr Johnson based on claims that he is anti-Islam.