UK: ANTI MUSLIM MEMBER VISITS MOSQUE TO APOLOGIZE

Matthew Lester (left) with a Muslim he met in the mosque. Photo: Matthew's Twitter — Matthew Lester (left) with a Muslim he met in the mosque. Photo: Matthew’s Twitter

London, 20 Muharam 1436/14 November 2014 (MINA) – A former member of Britain First has denounced the organisation and visited a mosque to apologise to the Muslim community he says they demonise.

Matthew Lester, 25, joined the group six months ago to protest radical preachers such as Anjem Choudry but soon became disillusioned with the group.

“They’re not just going after extremists, they’re going after Muslims,” he told the Huffington Post as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

That’s why Lester visited Crayford Mosque to apologise.

Spent 2 hours in the mosque with some very nice people & my apology was accepted we got on very well.

He expressed his disappointment over his group as saying, “I thought it was for the people but found out it was more about publicity. Basically it was publicity stunts more than getting anything done and tackling issues.

“I went in there and took my shoes and hat off and they said Allah knows what’s in your heart and we can tell by the way you came down here and apologized,” he added.

The experience has spurred him to further action and he has plans about to how to make an even bigger difference.

He said, “I want to speak to Sikhs, Hindus and Jews now to show that we’re all united together.

“We’re all human and we all have separate beliefs and that’s fine.” (T/R04/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)