George Galloway has denied claims made by Jemima Khan in the New Statesman that he converted to Islam in a ceremony in London more than 10 years ago.
The newly elected MP for Bradford West does not deny being a Muslim, but says Khan's claim of a conversion in a hotel in Kilburn, north-west London, is "simply and categorically untrue".
Galloway is often asked about his faith but refuses to answer, saying hisreligion is a "personal matter" of no import to his political activities. He recently married his fourth wife in what has been reported was a Muslim ceremony in Amsterdam.
In a statement entitled "The Staggers has fallen on its face", Galloway responded to the New Statesman piece by saying: "The opening paragraph of Jemima Khan's piece in the New Statesman [referring to an alleged conversion ceremony] is totally untrue. Moreover, I told her it was fallacious when she put it to me. I have never attended any such ceremony in Kilburn, Karachi or Kathmandu. It is simply and categorically untrue."
Khan's piece starts with the claim that Galloway converted at a ceremony attended by members of the Muslim Association of Britain. "Those close to him know this. The rest of the world, including his Muslim constituents, does not," writes Khan. She goes on to describe Galloway's reaction when she told him someone she knew also attended the "shahadah" conversion ceremony, claiming he did not respond, instead staring at her across the table and then getting up to leave the interview. » | Helen Pidd | Thursday, April 26, 2012
Related »
