Islamic extremist chosen to head police-Muslim forum

London, July 25 (ANI): An Islamic extremist, who has described al-Qaeda as a "myth" and justified the killing of British troops in Iraq, has been chosen to head the Muslim Safety Forum (MSF), which is recognised by London's Metropolitan Police as "the principal body in relation to Muslim community safety and security".

Azad Ali was the founding chair of the MSF in 2006, but left that job in 2008 and resigned entirely from the group last year after publicity over his extremist comments.

Last week, he was quietly reappointed as its chairman.

Mr Ali is a senior official of the fundamentalist Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE), which works, in its own words, to create an Islamic state under sharia law in Europe.

The IFE and the MSF share the same offices.He has previously praised a key mentor of Osama bin Laden.

Ali's comments about terrorism were made on his official blog on the IFE website.

Patrick Mercer, a Conservative MP and counter-terrorism expert, said: "It beats me why the police should want to take the advice of this man. They should have nothing to do with him. I know for a fact that there are just as knowledgeable members of the Muslim community who do not share his subversive views." (ANI)