Gerard Batten, a London MEP and UKIP’s spokesman on immigration
Wed Feb 5, 2014 8:19AM GMT
The UK Independence Party (UKIP) has been embroiled in another controversy following remarks by one of its politicians demanding Muslims sign a declaration denouncing certain parts of the Holy Qur’an.
Gerard Batten, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for London and UKIP’s immigration spokesman, called on British Muslims to sign a special code of conduct, The Guardian reported on Tuesday.
The document, titled “charter of Muslim understanding” and commissioned in 2006, claims some parts of the Holy Qur’an promote violence and must be discarded.
Batten, who leads the party’s list for European elections in May, also urged a ban on building new mosques across Europe.
The provocative remarks have sparked a wave of outcry and condemnation. Several British MPs have denounced them as shocking.
Labour’s shadow London minister Sadiq Khan said he was “appalled at the ignorance” shown by the lawmaker “when speaking about the faith that I and hundreds of thousands of British Muslims practice.”
Tory MP Rehman Chishti also urged UKIP to axe Batten, saying, “If [UKIP leader] Nigel Farage had any credibility, he would quite clearly not allow this individual to stand for office…”
The remarks come at a time that Muslims in Europe increasingly complain of Islamophobia amid new laws, which restrict them in religious practices and dress code.
UKIP also wants Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU) and plans to reduce the inflow of immigrants to the country.
SSM/HMV
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