The Muslim Association of Britain is appalled by the decision to suspend Mayor of London Ken Livingstone from office for four weeks. Londoners must decry this decision against Mr Livingstone whose achievements and service of the city of London are appreciated and recognised by everyone, friend or foe. Under his leadership, unprecedented steps were made towards establishing London as a model city of achievement, multiculturalism and diversity. This was clearly demonstrated by the choice of London to host the 2012 Olympics, achieved through the tireless work of the team led by the Mayor of London.
The removal of a figure elected and re-elected by hundreds of thousands of Londoners at the decision of a non-elected body is a serious below to democracy. In a democracy leaders and politicians are elected by the people, and are likewise removed from office by the electorate or for breaking the law. This dangerous decision against the choice of Londoners seriously undermines the essence and values of democracy.
Furthermore this decision makes a mockery of the values of free speech, which over the last few weeks everyone has rallied to defend and to re-assert as one of the foundations of our democratic society. Mr Livingstone comments have been blown out of all proportion, and cannot in any way justify this unprecedented blow to the values of freedom and democracy.
The Muslim Association of Britain and the Muslim community- which constitutes a significant proportion of Londoners- deplore this unfair decision, demand its reversal, and express solidarity with the elected Mayor of London Ken Livingstone. We appeal to all to stand by the Mayor of London and by the values of democracy, and to denounce this interference by a non-elected body to overturn the choice of the people of London .
Muslim Association of Britain
24th February 2006
The news that London Mayor Ken Livingstone is to face a one month suspension over comments made to an ''Evening Standard'' journalist was a surprise to many across the political spectrum when it was announced on Friday.

Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron, who would take over the Mayor's duties in the event of a suspension, said "This decision is absurd - millions of Londoners elected the Mayor, and three unelected officials remove him. An elected Mayor should only be removed by the law or by the electorate, not by an unelected body."

Support was also received from the Stop the War Coalition, who said in a statement that they were appalled - "Ken Livingstone was elected by millions of Londoners and he has been suspended by an unelected quango". The Trades Union Congress also condemned the statement, praising the Mayor's "absolute commitment and exemplary and consistent record in opposing racism of any form". The National Assembly Against Racism Vice Chair said that they were "outraged" at the decision, also praising the Mayor's record of anti-racism campaigning.

The Board Of Deputies Of British Jews suggested that the Mayor had been "the architect of his own misfortune" by failing to apologise over the incident, but said that they had not sought anything other than an expression of regret.

The Muslim Association of Britain argued that the suspension was a serious blow to democracy and free speech by undermining "the essence and values of democracy".

The Chairman of the London Jewish Forum Adrian Cohen welcomed the decision, but suggestion that it should never have reached the point of a suspension "when a simple apology could have avoided all the pain caused to so many Jewish Londoners", a sentiment echoed by the Jewish Leadership Council.

The Editor of the Evening Standard, whose journalist is at the centre of the controversy, claimed that the journalist had behaved impeccably and accused Mr Livingstone of being stubborn.