Ovation for Islamic speaker

A LEADING Islamic scholar received a standing ovation yesterday from thousands of UK Muslims as he denounced terrorism and called for peace.

Wembley Arena in north-west London was a sea of colourful robes as an estimated 12,000 Muslims gathered to give their backing to a global declaration of peace. Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, founder of the Minhaj-ul-Quran International (MQI) movement, was repeatedly applauded during a speech in which he said the “terrible” 9/11 attacks in the US had distorted perceptions of Islam over the past decade.

“In spite of condemnation of the terror, the voices of the 99 per cent true, peace-loving Muslims have not been heard, they have been drowned out by the clamour and the noise of extremists,” he said.