Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Cameron apologises for calling imam IS supporter

British Prime Minister David Cameron has apologised to an imam after wrongly branding him a supporter of the Islamic State jihadist group.

Cameron used a rare parliamentary device to set the record straight, having made the accusation in the lower House of Commons.


In the run-up to the London mayoral election won by opposition Labour candidate Sadiq Khan, Conservative leader Cameron on two separate occasions said Khan had repeatedly shared a platform with the imam.

“Sulaiman Ghani, Mr Khan has appeared on a platform with him nine times. This man supports IS,” Cameron said.

IS is also known by the Arabic acronym Daesh.

In his apology, which appeared in parliament’s official record, Cameron said: “I was referring to reports that Mr Ghani supports an Islamic state.

“I am clear that this does not mean Mr Ghani supports the organisation Daesh and I apologise to him for any misunderstanding.”

Because Cameron’s allegations were made in parliament, he was covered by legal immunity.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon apologised on Wednesday for his “inadvertent error” in echoing the comments in a radio interview. Ghani is in discussions with lawyers over possible legal action.

Shuja Shafi, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain umbrella group, said: “As a result of these smears, we understand that Imam Ghani has been subject to abuse and threats on his life.

“Imam Ghani became the innocent casualty of a wider Islamophobic attack on the now mayor of London and the Conservative Party needs to apologise for this too.”

More For You

Protesters rally against China's planned mega-embassy in London

A protestor is detained by the police during a demonstration against the proposed site of the new Chinese Embassy, outside Royal Mint Court, in London. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso

Protesters rally against China's planned mega-embassy in London

HUNDREDS of demonstrators protested at a site earmarked for Beijing's controversial new embassy in London over human rights and security concerns.

The new embassy -- if approved by the UK government -- would be the "biggest Chinese embassy in Europe", one lawmaker said earlier.

Keep ReadingShow less
Indian man arrested in US for alleged sexual assault

Singh is charged with “assault with sexual motivation” (Photo for representation: iStock)

Indian man arrested in US for alleged sexual assault

AN INDIAN national is among four persons arrested by US immigration authorities over charges related to sexual assault.

Jaspal Singh, 29, an Indian citizen was arrested on January 29 in Tukwila, Washington.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer sacks minister over WhatsApp messages

Andrew Gwynne (Photo: UK parliament)

Starmer sacks minister over WhatsApp messages

A Labour party lawmaker said he regretted "badly misjudged" comments after prime minister Keir Starmer sacked him as a minister.

It is the latest bump in the road Starmer's government has hit in its first seven months in power despite a landslide election victory in July last year.

Keep ReadingShow less
modi-bjp-reuters

BJP supporters celebrate in New Delhi. (Photo: Reuters)

Modi's BJP wins Delhi assembly election after 27 years

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that "development had won" as his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured victory in Delhi’s local elections, ending a 27-year gap since it last controlled the capital’s legislature.

"Development has won, good governance has won," Modi said after Delhi’s former chief minister, a key opposition leader, conceded defeat.

Keep ReadingShow less