Tories condemn Rochdale's 'Muslim leader'

Mohammed Shafiq

Controversial Conservative blogger Donal Blaney and Tory MEP Daniel Hannan have criticised the views of Rochdale-based director of muslim youth organisation, The Ramadhan Foundation, Mohammed Shafiq, after he spoke out on the current Prince Harry revelation.

Mr Shafiq has spoken out against the comments made by Prince Harry in a video diary in which the Prince named one of his army colleagues 'paki' and this has led to criticism of Mr Shafiq in the Tories' online blogs.

Yesterday the Sunday Times described Mr Shafiq as a 'Muslim leader' and quoted his views on Prince Harry's remarks.

Mr Shafiq sent out the following comment to media outlets, including Rochdale Online.

“I am deeply shocked and saddened at Prince Harry’s racism which upsets and offends many British Asians. The use of this sort of racism has no justification and I am saddened by those that are advocating using this term is not racist.

"Prince Harry as a public figure must ensure that he promotes equality and tolerance and this rant whether today or three years ago is sickening and he should be thoroughly ashamed of himself.

"Whilst accepting his apology he needs to show his commitment to anti racism by visiting the British Asian community and show his remorse, his parents have a distinguished record of tolerance and respect for the UK’s diversity and we hope he learns to understand and accept that terms he used are unacceptable in any circumstances.

"It’s time for real remorse.”

Donal Blaney has described Mr Shafiq has having 'the ego the size of a mosque' and said in his blog: "The notion that calling a mate by such a nickname that he himself did not find offensive is "sickening" is laughable. To call it "racism" demeans a powerful word that is now bandied about by the left so often as to have become virtually meaningless other than as a tool to silence those (usually on the right) with whom one disagrees."

Mr Blaney pointed to Mr Shafiq's website to justify his comments, on which Mr Shafiq describes himself as 'a major contributor on media outlets and my views are well received by all' and that he is 'the first to be contacted by many media outlets on muslim issues'.

"Mohammed Shafiq speaks for nobody but himself," said Mr Blaney. "For The Sunday Times to have called him a "muslim leader" is dangerous and wrong. He is not elected by muslims at all - or anyone else. He is what he is: a left-wing community agitator who, despite his protestations of wanting to unite society, seems more intent on dividing society. His attack on Prince Harry should be seen in this light."

Meanwhile Daniel Hannan MEP, in his blog for the Telegraph, has backed his Tory colleague. He said: "Unsurprisingly, Mr Shafiq came up with a suitably Spartish attack on the prince. And he may, for all I know, have a point. But the fact remains that no one, Muslim or non-Muslim, has ever elected him to any office. Why is he described as "Muslim leader"? Whom does he lead?"

Responding to the Tories' comments, Mr Shafiq told Rochdale Online: "I did not call Prince Harry a racist, I said that his comments were racist, and I have never called myself a Muslim leader, those were the words used by the newspaper.

"I do not speak on behalf of the Muslim or Pakistani community, I speak on behalf of a Foundation.

"The word 'Paki' is an oppressive and derogatory term. I stand by my comments and I do not believe the Conservatives have a good track record when it comes to defending racial issues.”