Call to Halt Rally of Islamic Homophobes

KENILWORTH, 2 JULY 2004 — The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) is calling on London’s mayor, Ken Livingstone, to ban a rally by the extremist and ultra-homophobic Islamic group Al-Muhajiroun.

In a letter to Mr Livingstone, GALHA says the publicity for the rally, due to take place in Trafalgar Square on 25 July, refers to “Islam’s unique social system which eliminates sexual deviancy.” The group has proposed that homosexuality should carry the death penalty. This, GALHA asserts, is clearly promoting the killing of gay people.

It is understood that in 2002 the Greater London Authority (GLA) refused permission for Al-Muhajiroun to stage a similar rally, but it went ahead anyway.

A spokesperson for GALHA said: “This rally is obviously intended to stir up hatred against gay people and other groups and should be stopped. This will be an opportunity for the GLA and the police to demonstrate that they are serious about protecting gay people from this kind of hatemongering and incitement.”