Criticism of Sadiq Khan over his links to Suliman Gani fell flat partly because Cameron and Fallon cocked up their attack lines, though the new mayor’s spin operation deserves credit too. Paddy Hennessy successfully convinced his mates in the Lobby that Gani was actually a Tory and not a Labour supporter – mainly on the basis of a selfie with a clueless Zac. The press quickly turned their fire on Zac over his key attack line apparently falling apart…
The truth, as the video above shows, is that Gani is an Islamo-Socialist Labour supporter who vocally backed Corbyn for the leadership. Gani occasionally opportunistically shared non-partisan platforms with some Tories and candidates too. Sadiq’s team impressively persuaded the Lobby that this was somehow equal to – or even worse than – Gani sharing platforms with Khan nine times and publicly endorsing the Labour leader. Meaning very difficult questions about Sadiq’s past associates were swerved. Paddy played the game very well…
Sadiq was grilled by Brillo during last night’s BBC mayoral debate on his links to radical imam Suliman Gani, a well-known name to Guido readers. Khan insisted he did not regret appearing on a platform with Gani but confessed he gave the impression he subscribed to his extremist views:
Andrew Neil: “Suliman Gani, who’s a supporter of Islamic State. You appeared on a platform with him nine times. During one of these times you must have found out what he really believed in?”
Sadiq Khan: “There are lots of campaigns and issues that I’ve been involved in as the chair of Liberty, as a human rights lawyer and as a politician which had cross-party support…”
AN: “Do you regret appearing on platforms with people like that?”
SK: “No, I regret giving the impression I subscribe to their views…”
Khan’s allies cry foul whenever he’s asked about this, but even he now admits it is an issue…
In the video above John McDonnell sits down for a cosy chat with Suliman Gani, the extremist imam who says women are “subservient” to men, condemns homosexuality and demands “justice” for an al-Qaeda terrorist. The pair became close while campaigning for the release of Shaker Aamer. Guido has given McDonnell several opportunities to condemn Gani’s views in the last 48 hours, he has decided to keep silent. One is a dangerous extremist whose beliefs challenge our way of life, the other is Suliman Gani…
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You won’t get a clearer case of a mayoral candidate misleading voters than in this LBC interview. Asked about his links to the radical imam Suliman Gani, Sadiq Khan pretends he only shared a platform with Gani because he wasn’t aware the extremist was present. Specifically talking about Gani, Sadiq insists:
“Nick, you will know this because you’re a pro. You turn up at these events, often they’re two, three, four hours long. You’re the seventeenth speaker, there are three more after you.”
Khan leads listeners to believe he didn’t know Gani was there because of the number of other speakers and the length of the event.
This is demonstrably untrue. The photo below shows Khan and Gani together, side by side:
There weren’t seventeen other speakers between Khan and Gani. There wasn’t a four hour time difference. They stood right next to each other. There is no way Khan wouldn’t have seen Gani, and there is no way he wouldn’t have known who Gani is – he is his personal imam and the pair have exchanged friendly emails. To suggest to listeners he has only ever shared a platform with Gani unknowingly is a blatant and deliberate untruth. Sadiq Khan, bang to rights fibbing to voters about his links to an al-Qaeda sympathising Islamic extremist.
Pictured above, Sadiq Khan and Suliman Gani, the radical imam at the Labour mayoral candidate’s local Tooting Islamic Centre. Gani is a known wrong ‘un, and is on the record describing women as “subservient” to men, condemning homosexuality and demanding “justice” for an al-Qaeda terrorist. Yet he is very close to Sadiq, as these personal emails obtained by Guido reveal.
In 2013, Khan wrote to Imam Gani to wish him a happy Eid:
From: KHAN, Sadiq
To: Suliman Gani
Sent: 7 Aug 2013, 19:33Dear Imam Gani
Asalaam O Alaikum
I would like to send my warmest wishes to you and your family for Eid-Ul-Fitr.
Gani replied the following morning with a friendly warning about why Khan should still be fasting:
From: Suliman Gani
To: KHAN, Sadiq
Sent: 8 Aug 2013, 06:22The irony is that Muslims who follow the God given commands rather than made decisions will be fasting tomorrow as the news has just come from South Africa that the only place that could possibly sight the moon in all of Africa/Asia/Europe could not sight it in clear weather – not even with binoculars and telescopes!!
Khan then replied to the radical imam minutes later apologising for failing to attend prayers at the Tooting Islamic Centre, before asking him about a moon-sighting, a Ramadan fasting convention:
From: KHAN, Sadiq
To: Suliman Gani
Sent: 8 Aug 2013, 06:28Assalam O Alaikum,
Sorry I missed Isha at TIC last night but assumed there had been a sighting?
Until now Khan hasn’t commented on his closeness to Gani, a very unsavoury character indeed…
Pic via Harry’s Place
Readers will be aware of the murder of Glasgow shopkeeper Asad Shah, an Ahmadi Muslim allegedly killed by another Muslim for wishing customers a Happy Easter. The case has provoked debate about persecution of the Ahmadi community perpetrated by Islamic extremists like Corbyn fanboy Suliman Gani. Gani is the imam of the Tooting Islamic Centre, and has repeatedly called on his followers to discriminate against Ahmadis. Chillingly, the cleric was even reportedly involved in a boycott of Ahmadi shopkeepers.
When he isn’t calling women “subservient“, Gani campaigns side by side with Jeremy Corbyn and arranges segregated public meetings with Labour MPs. Interestingly, he’s also Sadiq Khan’s local imam – the two have shared a platform on numerous occasions. It’s worth reading this 2010 interview where Khan is grilled about anti-Ahmadi sentiment preached at the Tooting Islamic Centre. His Tory opponent at the time had to be locked in a room for his own safety after being mistaken for an Ahmadi. Both Corbyn and Khan are well in with this wrong un…
