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Opponent of London’s Mega-Mosque offers Christian choice

The leading opponent to the proposed Olympics Mega-Mosque, to be built in West Ham, London, today launched his campaign for Mayor and the London Assembly next door to the Olympics Mosque site. If approved, it will be Europe's largest, reports .

“Europe's biggest mosque project at West Ham must be challenged for the sake of open diverse London," says Councillor Alan Craig,

Cllr Craig -- who leads the Christian Peoples Alliance group on London's Newham Council -- says the mosque and the fundamentalist Islamic sect behind it, pose major issues for the future of London, especially after leading Muslim groups followed Ken Livingstone's stance on the Mosque by endorsing his mayoral effort.

Cllr Craig is running as candidate for London Mayor and first candidate for the London Assembly party list for both the Christian Peoples Alliance and the Christian Party. The joint ticket is offering Londoners The Christian Choice.

Cllr Craig is prominent locally for working with local people against town hall inertia. He has gained national and international profile for his evidence-based, reasoned but hard-hitting campaign against the separatist Islamic sect Tablighi Jamaat and their plans for the mega-mosque close to the 2012 Olympics. The mosque location is just a mile from Alan Craig's home and from the ward area he represents as a Newham councillor.

Speaking at his London Mayoral launch next to the proposed site in West Ham, Cllr Craig said: “Londoners are right to be proud of our diverse and multi-ethnic capital where openness and tolerance are vital for our thriving world-class city. This proposed national landmark mosque stands for separateness and secrecy and against social cohesion. It will do London no good.

“Ken Livingstone has tried to shut down democratic debate by smearing legitimate opponents and condemning the campaign against the mosque. Yet the same Ken Livingstone has publicly hugged and welcomed an intolerant gay-stoning, wife-beating fundamentalist like Sheikh al-Qaradawi to City Hall on Londoners’ behalf.

“The Mayor’s equalities mask is slipping and his political faith-bias is showing. The aim of my campaign will be to unite Londoners around a more optimistic and positive approach, rooted in the Christian ethic of love for our neighbor.”

Concern about the mosque will be one part of the The Christian Choice election effort, "Hope for London 2008." The campaign has five key commitments: Back families and marriage, End the culture of youth violence, More affordable homes, Reject the Olympics mega mosque, Tackle inequality with more jobs.

In 2000 and 2004, nearly 100,000 people gave a vote to the CPA. If the same number vote for The Christian Choice list this time, Alan Craig will cross the 5 percent threshold for the London Assembly. Second on the list is Christian Party activist, Paula Warren, a UK-born businesswoman and single mother of Caribbean parentage.

Attending the launch in support of Alan Craig's stance on the mosque is Dr Irfan al-Alawi, Director of the Centre for Islamic Pluralism.

Biography of Alan Craig

A media release from Craig's campaign says: "Alan has what it takes to run London. He has spent the past 25 years living and working to bring social justice in the most deprived neighborhood in the capital, Canning Town.

"He understands how poverty grips families and how crime impacts communities. As Leader of the Opposition on Newham Council, he has campaigned to give hope to people -- and has taken a bold stand on issues such as the proposed London Casino planned for Newham, the Excel arms fair, imposed regeneration, post office closures and the proposal of the Labour Council to 'develop' Green Street Market with a supermarket, against local wishes.

Unlike other Mayoral candidates, Alan has first-hand knowledge of how a successful business climate is vital to bringing London the jobs it needs, the release states.

"He went from taking his MBA at business school to chief executive of a multi-million pound international group of manufacturing companies, responsible for employing 2,500 people. Then, converted to Christianity in his late 20s, Alan left business management, moved to the East End of London and committed himself to running an after-care home for young offenders on their release from prison."

From 1995 until a few years ago, Alan Craig was director of the Mayflower Family Centre in Canning Town, founded by Bishop David Shepherd. He was elected as local councillor in Newham in 2002 and continues to work for some of London's most deprived and vulnerable people.

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[02/13/2008]

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