From the muslim rag Oct 2010
London, (IRNA): A former leader of Tower Hamlets Council in east London has defied being de-selected as a Labour candidate after an Islamophobic campaign against him to become the first elected Muslim mayor in Britain.
Standing as an independent, Lutfur Rahman secured 51.76% of the vote, more than double the number gained by Labour’s official candidate, Helal Uddin Abbas, in Thursday’s election in the London Borough of Tower Hamlet, the most populous Muslim area in the UK.
The Bangladeshi-born former council leader was originally selected by the local Labour Party as its officially candidate last month to stand in the borough’s first mayor elections.
But his candidacy was withdrawn by Labour’s ruling National Executive Council after a smear campaign against him, when he was accused of being funded by the Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE), which the media presented as an extremist organisation with a hidden agenda.
Those criticising the de-selection included former London mayor Ken Livingstone, who said it was 'utterly unacceptable' and 'ignored the views of the local electorate'.
Tower Hamlets is divided into two parliamentary constituencies, including Bethnal Green and Bow, which was won in May’s general election by Labour candidate Rushanara Ali, one of three Muslim women to enter the House of Commons.
The other constituency is Poplar and Limehouse, won by Labour’s Jim Fitzpatrick, who controversially joined in the campaign against Rahman, claiming the IFE had “infiltrated” the council and local party.
Rahman, who grew up in Tower Hamlets, is a qualified solicitor specialising in family and children’s law. He was elected twice for the council in 2002 and 2006 before becoming its elected leader in 2008.
London, (IRNA): A former leader of Tower Hamlets Council in east London has defied being de-selected as a Labour candidate after an Islamophobic campaign against him to become the first elected Muslim mayor in Britain.
Standing as an independent, Lutfur Rahman secured 51.76% of the vote, more than double the number gained by Labour’s official candidate, Helal Uddin Abbas, in Thursday’s election in the London Borough of Tower Hamlet, the most populous Muslim area in the UK.
The Bangladeshi-born former council leader was originally selected by the local Labour Party as its officially candidate last month to stand in the borough’s first mayor elections.
But his candidacy was withdrawn by Labour’s ruling National Executive Council after a smear campaign against him, when he was accused of being funded by the Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE), which the media presented as an extremist organisation with a hidden agenda.
Those criticising the de-selection included former London mayor Ken Livingstone, who said it was 'utterly unacceptable' and 'ignored the views of the local electorate'.
Tower Hamlets is divided into two parliamentary constituencies, including Bethnal Green and Bow, which was won in May’s general election by Labour candidate Rushanara Ali, one of three Muslim women to enter the House of Commons.
The other constituency is Poplar and Limehouse, won by Labour’s Jim Fitzpatrick, who controversially joined in the campaign against Rahman, claiming the IFE had “infiltrated” the council and local party.
Rahman, who grew up in Tower Hamlets, is a qualified solicitor specialising in family and children’s law. He was elected twice for the council in 2002 and 2006 before becoming its elected leader in 2008.
