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David Cameron apologises after saying ex-imam 'supported Islamic State' David Cameron apologises after saying ex-imam 'supported Islamic State'
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron has apologised for “any misunderstanding” after calling former imam Sulaiman Ghani a supporter of Islamic State, Downing Street has said. David Cameron has issued an apology to Suliman Gani, the Muslim cleric he accused of supporting Islamic State in the House of Commons, saying he regrets “any misunderstanding” that had arisen.
In the run-up to the local elections, the prime minister used question time in the Commons to accuse Labour’s mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan of repeatedly sharing a platform with the ex-cleric, who he branded a backer of the jihadi organisation. The prime minister had been under mounting pressure to respond after the defence secretary Michael Fallon said sorry to Gani, who had begun legal action against him for repeating the claim that he supported the extremist group outside the Commons, where parliamentary privilege does not apply.
The premier told MPs: “Sulaiman Ghani, Mr Khan has appeared on a platform with him nine times. Cameron had claimed Gani was a “supporter of IS”, in heated exchanges in the Commons in April, when he questioned the judgment of London mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan for repeatedly sharing a platform with him.
“This man supports IS. He even shared a platform ... I think they are shouting down this point because they don’t want to hear the truth. On Wednesday night, a No 10 spokesman said: “In reference to the prime minister’s omments on Suliman Gani, the prime minister was referring to reports that he supports an Islamic state. Theprime minister is clear this does not mean Mr Gani supports the organisation Daesh [Isis] and he apologises to him for any misunderstanding.”
“Anyone can make a mistake about who they appear on a platform with. We’re not always responsible for what our political opponents say. But if you do it time after time after time it is right to question your judgment.” LBC radio revealed on Wednesday that lawyers acting for Gani had instructed his lawyers to sue Fallon after he repeated the remarks about him outside the Commons and specifically referred to Daesh, another name for Isis.
Downing Street said Cameron was referring to reports that Ghani supports “an” Islamic state, as opposed to Isis. Gani, who was previously the imam at the Tooting Islamic centre, found himself at the heart of a Conservative attack on Labour’s candidate, Sadiq Khan, in the run-up to the London mayoral elections.
A Number 10 spokesman said: “In reference to the prime minister’s comments on Sulaiman Ghani, the prime minister was referring to reports that he supports an Islamic state. The prime minister is clear this does not mean Mr Ghani supports the organisation Daesh [Isis] and he apologises to him for any misunderstanding.” Cameron and the Tory candidate, Zac Goldsmith, said Khan had shown poor judgment by sharing a platform with Gani nine times. The prime minister, speaking in the House of Commons, said Gani supported Isis and held questionable views about women and gay people.
More details to follow Cameron’s spokesman sought to play down the controversy on Wednesday, saying the prime minister had engaged in a positive phone conversation with Khan, who won a convincing victory over his Conservative rival.
“Keep going on about the campaign for the next four years: that’s fine; but we’re focused on the future. We’re focused on jobs, policing and housing, he said.”
Asked at prime minister’s questions by the Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, to apologise for the tone of the Goldsmith campaign, which was seen as divisive by many observers, including some senior Conservatives, Cameron refused.
Immediately afterwards, a Downing Street spokesman conceded that Gani had in fact supported “the creation of an Islamic state,” rather than backing the extremist organisation, but insisted Cameron would not apologise, before finally issuing a statement on Wednesday night.
A spokesman for Fallon insisted the defence secetary had been quoting the BBC reporter Andrew Neil. “Michael made clear he was quoting a claim by Andrew Neil on a BBC mayoral debate programme. He was unaware of the clarification and apology that the BBC had issued on Neil’s claim.
“Had he been aware, he would not of course have quoted him and, as soon as he became aware, he put the record straight. He naturally apologises for this inadvertent error.”
Gani told LBC that he feared for his life as well as those of his family and children. He said he was “deeply shocked and greatly disheartened” that instead of getting an apology from the prime minister, Fallon reiterated the comments “without any shred of evidence”.
“It is really stressful, my family are upset,” he said. “I am utterly shocked that someone of such a high-ranking position, the defence secretary, can make such a preposterous statement.”
Gani said the use of the word Daesh by Fallon made clear what the allegation was, adding that he had no choice but to take legal action. “I need to take this matter as far as I can stretch it and unless I get a retraction I don’t think I can continue living peacefully among so many people who don’t know me,” he said.
He said he was very concerned about the safety and security of his family because people might use the prime minister’s statement to attack him. Gani said he had been unable to eat because of stress, and added: “I have been treated very badly.”