· Statement of support for London incumbent
· Rival Johnson criticises 'divide and rule' politics

Prominent Muslim organisations and individuals have pledged to back Ken Livingstone as mayor of London, saying it is in the "best interest" of Muslims to vote for him in this year's elections on May 1. A statement, published today in full on the Guardian's website, praises Livingstone for his continued support of a multicultural society and for protecting Muslim communities against racism and Islamophobia.

The 63 signatories include Mohammed Ali, the chief executive of the Islam Channel, which claims to have an audience of millions, Professor Tariq Ramadan and Dilwar Hussain from the London Muslim Centre, part of the East London Mosque.

They said: "His stands and policies have constantly championed justice in the Middle East ... freedom for the Palestinians and withdrawal of occupying troops from Iraq; a rare trait of modern-day public figures. He has enhanced London's standing in the world and helped improve the lives of all of the city's communities. "We pledge to continue our support for the mayor on all levels possible in order to secure his staying in office for a third term."

Ihtisham Hibatullah from the British Muslim Initiative, which organised the statement, said Livingstone was doing more to help Muslim communities than other mayoral candidates. "He supports religious freedom. He's committed to developing skills of alienated communities and he's doing great work on social cohesion. These signatories are major players; they have reach and come the elections there will be a huge mobilisation of the Muslim vote."

Livingstone's criticism of US and UK foreign policy has increased his popularity among Muslims and he has appeared at events such as IslamExpo, which attracts tens of thousands of people every year.

The mayor welcomed the statement, saying that London's prosperity and good community relations were based on openness and tolerance. "The fundamental basis of London's openness and choice is that every Londoner should be able to live their life as they freely choose with the sole condition that they do not prevent others doing the same," he said.

His courting of Muslim groups and leaders sparked controversy in 2004, when he invited Islamic scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi to a conference about female students wearing hijab. Among his fiercest critics was gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who condemned the invitation because of al-Qaradawi's support for "female genital mutilation, wife-beating, the execution of homosexuals in Islamic states, the destruction of the Jewish people, the use of suicide bombs against innocent civilians and the blaming of rape victims who do not dress with sufficient modesty".

His rival, Conservative candidate Boris Johnson, said he was "not remotely worried" by the statement of support and warned against "divide and rule" politics. "When anything is signed by so-called community leaders I take it with a big pinch of salt," he said. "My grandfather was a Muslim and so was my great-grandfather. I am proud of my Muslim ancestry. But I want to talk about the interests of Londoners. I don't care what religion they are. I want to look after people from all communities."

http://politics.guardian.co.uk

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