respect
25-04-2005, 02:23 PM
source: http://www.respectcoalition.com/?ite=709
Muslim Association backs Jewish ‘Respect’ candidate
21/04/2005
The Muslim Association of Britain, the second largest organization representing Muslims in Britain, today announced that they are endorsing Mark Krantz, Respect candidate for Stretford and Urmston, in the general election. This is the first time that the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) has backed a Jew as a parliamentary candidate. Anas Altikriti, a national MAB spokesperson, said:
“That Mark Krantz who is a Jew, is standing for Respect, and I, a Muslim, give him my full support, shows that what really matters is showing respect for people here and around the world. What matters is what is in the heart of people, whatever religion they come from.”
The Muslim Association assessed candidates positions on a number of key issues and issued a list of endorsed candidates. It was Mark Krantz’s record as a local campaigner against the war in Iraq and his commitment to the cause of the Palestinians that won their support.
On Iraq, Respect has consistently called for British troops to be withdrawn from Iraq, and Mark Krantz is Treasurer of the Stop the War Coalition in Greater Manchester.
On Palestine, Mark rejected support for the Israeli state as a youth, when he saw the brutality meted out to the Palestinian people. He has renounced his right to return to Israel as a Jew under Israeli law, and has fully embraced the struggle for Palestinian freedom and self-determination.
On civil liberties, Mark condemned Salford Labour Minister Hazel Blears’ statement that: “counter-terrorism powers will be disproportionately experienced by the Muslim community”. Respect opposes detention without trial, house arrest, special extradition powers and other repressive measures. These attacks on civil liberties do nothing to make our communities safer, they merely engender more fear.
By contrast Beverley Hughes backed Tony Blair on war in Iraq on every possible vote, despite the increasingly obvious lies about ‘weapons of mass destruction’. Mark Krantz challenged her to disassociate herself from Hazel Blears comment that Muslims should be targeted by ‘counter-terrorism’ powers:
“Targeting Muslims as potential terrorists is a disgraceful slur that gives confidence to the far right and fuels racist attacks. Beverley Hughes has been Tony Blair’s staunchest supporter on every unpopular measure taken by New Labour. She should disassociate herself from this attack by apologising to local Muslims and by calling for Greater Manchester police not to target Muslims disproportionately in her constituency.”
Muslim Association backs Jewish ‘Respect’ candidate
21/04/2005
The Muslim Association of Britain, the second largest organization representing Muslims in Britain, today announced that they are endorsing Mark Krantz, Respect candidate for Stretford and Urmston, in the general election. This is the first time that the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) has backed a Jew as a parliamentary candidate. Anas Altikriti, a national MAB spokesperson, said:
“That Mark Krantz who is a Jew, is standing for Respect, and I, a Muslim, give him my full support, shows that what really matters is showing respect for people here and around the world. What matters is what is in the heart of people, whatever religion they come from.”
The Muslim Association assessed candidates positions on a number of key issues and issued a list of endorsed candidates. It was Mark Krantz’s record as a local campaigner against the war in Iraq and his commitment to the cause of the Palestinians that won their support.
On Iraq, Respect has consistently called for British troops to be withdrawn from Iraq, and Mark Krantz is Treasurer of the Stop the War Coalition in Greater Manchester.
On Palestine, Mark rejected support for the Israeli state as a youth, when he saw the brutality meted out to the Palestinian people. He has renounced his right to return to Israel as a Jew under Israeli law, and has fully embraced the struggle for Palestinian freedom and self-determination.
On civil liberties, Mark condemned Salford Labour Minister Hazel Blears’ statement that: “counter-terrorism powers will be disproportionately experienced by the Muslim community”. Respect opposes detention without trial, house arrest, special extradition powers and other repressive measures. These attacks on civil liberties do nothing to make our communities safer, they merely engender more fear.
By contrast Beverley Hughes backed Tony Blair on war in Iraq on every possible vote, despite the increasingly obvious lies about ‘weapons of mass destruction’. Mark Krantz challenged her to disassociate herself from Hazel Blears comment that Muslims should be targeted by ‘counter-terrorism’ powers:
“Targeting Muslims as potential terrorists is a disgraceful slur that gives confidence to the far right and fuels racist attacks. Beverley Hughes has been Tony Blair’s staunchest supporter on every unpopular measure taken by New Labour. She should disassociate herself from this attack by apologising to local Muslims and by calling for Greater Manchester police not to target Muslims disproportionately in her constituency.”