Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: un momento di razzismo anti-islamico (spettacolare retromarcia a sinistra)

http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/107318/lord-ahmed-backtracks-comments-jewish-conspiracy
 
 
Controversial peer Lord Ahmed’s attempted to rehabilitate his
reputation with the Jewish community this week over remarks about a
Jewish conspiracy he is said to have made.
Speaking ahead of his disciplinary hearing in front of the Labour
Party national executive next week, the peer gave his version of the
events which have led to his latest suspension from the party.
He acknowledged that he could not remember making the remarks, but
apologised unreservedly and said he would be “utterly devastated” if
it was proved that he had spoken in such terms.
Lord Ahmed was suspended by Labour in March after the Times uncovered
footage recorded in Pakistan in which he is said to have claimed -
while speaking in Urdu - that Jewish lawyers and media were
responsible for the length of a prison term he received for causing a
fatal car crash.
I would be utterly devastated to know that I have said that
He was jailed for 12 weeks for dangerous driving after a collision in
2007, in which a 28-year-old man was killed.
The 55-year-old Yorkshireman said he now wanted to repair his
reputation and turn his attention to working with the Jewish community
on matters of common interest to Muslims - kosher and halal meat,
circumcision and burial.
But he also revealed that he may leave Labour before the hearing,
complaining that he has not yet been presented with the video evidence
the Times used to compile its report.
“I’ve not made any decisions yet, but if I don’t have the evidence
against me, why should I appear before them? Not being a Labour peer
is something I am thinking about. I have been suspended twice before.
Maybe it is time for me to move on somewhere else.”
Following an interfaith event at the House of Lords on Tuesday, Lord
Ahmed said: “I’m not saying that I’ve never made a mistake or I’ve
never said something which might have been wrong and outrageous. I’ve
always admitted when I’ve done it.
“I do lots of interviews in Pakistan. I cannot recollect this
particular one. It was straight after I came out of prison. I went to
Pakistan to talk about the accident.
“I don’t keep copies of my interviews. I’m not a senior person. I’ve
been very open and very naive. I’ve talked to people honestly and
openly, sometimes controversially, about how I feel.”
He admitted that his use of the word “yahoodi” – Urdu for “Jew” – in
the interview was “outrageous”, but could offer no solid explanation
of what was said, or why.
In an attempt to clarify the situation, he said: “People make
mistakes, people say things… It wasn’t about the Jewish community. I
unreservedly apologised for using that word. One reason is because
there is no translation in Urdu of ‘Zionism’.”
So had he intended to suggest his prison sentence was the result of a
Zionist plot?
“No, I never said it was a plot. I have never said that at any time
during my political life. It’s not what I believe.
“I think what I’m saying to you is that in this context where I was
reported to have been talking about pressure from the newspapers it
could have been because of the accident. It was to do with my
confused, bitter situation and being in prison and coming out. It was
something I wanted to forget.”
Currently his attention was on attempting to clear his name over the
“Jewish conspiracy” allegation.
“I would love to get to the bottom of it,” he said. “If I can see the
film then we can put it to bed. I would be utterly devastated to know
that I have said that.
“The Labour Party hasn’t given me any evidence. If you are charging
somebody it is their basic right to see the evidence against them. How
can you defend yourself when you’ve not seen any evidence against
you?”
His initial apology to Labour leader Ed Miliband and the Jewish
community over the matter was rejected by communal leaders in March.
Lord Ahmed said: “I have not said anything directly against the
[Jewish] community. I can’t go and address the Jewish Board of
Deputies or the Community Security Trust because I don’t have any
relationship with them and I’ve not said anything against them.
“I have spoken to some of my colleagues here who are of the Jewish
faith and said ‘help me put this record straight’.
“I’m trying my best to correct what was reported but I do realise that
this is going to take a long time, to rebuild this trust and get back
to the work I used to do before.”
He added: “I don’t have a media advisor. I’m not a diplomatic person.
Yorkshire people are very blunt in what they have to say.
"But I can say to you, on oath, that it is not the individual Jewish
community [that I have any problem with]. From cradle to grave we have
the same beliefs.
“I may have made mistakes, I’m sorry. I want to work with my faith
communities where I have common things, about God, about the Prophets,
about halal and kosher, about burial, about circumcision, about things
we have in common.
“We will have political differences about Israel and Palestine, but
not over the faith and communities. If that’s how it ever came out it
was not how I intended it and I am sorry.”

 
http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/107318/lord-ahmed-backtracks-comments-jewish-conspiracy
 
 
 
 
Sempre link in ostrogoto.