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January 30, 2008

UK: Brown Refuses To State If Islamist Qaradawi Will Be Banned

An interesting exchange took place in the House of Commons today. Prime Minister Gordon Brown was asked by David Cameron, the leader of the opposition Tory party, about Yusuf al-Qaradawi.

As mentioned earlier, civil servants and figures within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have urged that 81-year old Qaradawi should be allowed into Britain to receive health care.

Qaradawi is the "spiritual leader" of the Muslim Brother hood. He supports suicide bombings against Israeli civilians, the execution of homosexuals and apostates, and supports the killing of coalition forces in Iraq. He came to Britain in 2004 as a guest of London's leftist mayor, Ken Livingstone.

News from the Herald (with video of the parliamentary exchange), the Guardian and the Press Association.

Yesterday, David Cameron demanded a ban on the entry of "preachers of hate" to Britain. He mentioned Qaradawi, accusing Brown of dithering in the light of press reports about the Sheikh's entry. Cameron said that Qaradawi and Ibrahim Moussawi, head of head of Hezbollah's "viciously anti-Semitic TV station", Al-Manar (who recently spoke in Manchester) were "dangerous and divisive" and should not be allowed into Britain. Cameron also urged a British ban on Hizbollah and also Hizb ut-Tahrir.

Cameron had earlier called for Hizb ut-Tahrir to be banned on July 4, 2007, when Brown had only been Prime Minister for a week. Brown had then refused to address the issue, claiming he had only been Prime Minister for five days.

Today, Cameron went on the offensive in parliament. This is the exchange that took place earlier today:
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Cameron: "Thank you Mr Speaker. What people will have heard is that he (Brown) cannot answer a straight question. (Laughter from the Tory side). Let's try another one. "

"Keeping our streets safe means tackling terrorism. Now, two months ago I identified and named specifically in this house a number of preachers of hate who should not be allowed into this country. So, will the Prime Minister confirm that the Government has accepted this as well, and he won't be allowing Yusuf al-Qaradawi into Britain. Yes or no?"

Brown: "Mr Speaker. An announcement will be made on that very soon. loud jeering from Tories. I, I, I have - I have - I have to tell him - I have to tell him that we don't expel people from this country other than through proper judicial processes. Two hundred people have been expelled from the country in the last two years - 70 percent (he means individuals, not percent) for unacceptable behaviour, 130 on grounds of national security. We are not slow to expel people who should not be in this country. The fact of the matter - The fact of the matter is - We have got to go through the proper judicial processes and he for one should appreciate that."

Cameron: "This isn't about expelling someone. This guy wants to come to our country and we don't think he should be allowed in. He was banned by a former Conservative Home Secretary, so why won't the Government ban him? Let me tell you what this man believes, Yusuf al-Qaradawi. He thinks gay people should be executed and he encourages people to turn their bodies into bombs. So why can't the Prime Minister tell us his decision now? Does he think Yusuf al-Qaradawi should be allowed in or not? A simple one. Yes or no?"

(Labour front benchers, such as Harriet Harman and Jack Straw attempt to look impassive)

Brown: "M-M-Mr Speaker, he is not in our country. He Louder jeers from the oppositionThe issue is - the issue is - should he - "

Speaker of the House: "Order.. Order.. Order.. We still want the prime minister to answer the question with - Order - in his way (loud and resounding laughter from the opposition. The speaker smiles at the joke.) In his own way, without shouting him down... In his own way. The Prime minister..."

Brown: "Mr Speaker... Mr Speaker - In 2006 a decision was made not to exclude him. We are looking at that again. He has applied to come into this country. A decision will be made in due course. I have to say it's got to go through the proper judicial processes. But he has not been allowed into this country at this stage."
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The performance by Brown was weak, and obviously a source of embarrassment to cabinet front benchers. His skills as an orator are poor, and his difficulty in delivering clear answers to clear questions - a failing he displays in his televised interviews - reflects badly upon him and his ability to be seen as a true leader.

The Brown "bounce" that once was praised by the press in the first months of Brown's unelected rise to power seems to have lost all its elasticity. Blair at least was able to sound sincere and passionate. Brown has no such ability, and is clearly embarrassing the closest members of his own "team".

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at January 30, 2008 7:40 PM

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