LABOUR were today blasted for inviting an extremist Muslim preacher to an anti-racism event.

Imam Shakeel Begg is due to appear at the Lewisham Labour Against Racism public meeting tonight alongside Labour MPs Janet Daby and Vicky Foxcroft.

3 Shakeel Begg is due to speak at an event organised by Labour tonight

Begg, who is head of the Lewisham Islamic Centre attended by Lee Rigby's killers, lost a libel action in 2016 against the BBC after it called him an "extremist".

He has previously called for Muslims to wage "jihad against the Jews".

Anti-extremism experts said there was "no excuse" for Labour to give a platform to Begg given his history of extreme views.

The Lewisham Labour Against Racism event in South East London was organised by the local party with the help of trade union activists.

3 Two Labour MPs are also set to appear at the anti-racism evening

David Toube from the think-tank Quilliam told The Sun: "The presence of a Labour MP on a platform which includes a cleric who has been found by a British court to be an extremist plays into the hands of anti-Muslim bigots.

"It is essential that we all oppose extremism of all types, wherever it may come from."

Tom Wilson of the Henry Jackson Society added: "“There is no debate to be had - Shakeel Begg was found in the High Court to be an Islamic extremist.

"There can be no excuse for any political party working with Begg.

"It is not only unacceptable to give him a public platform, but it is also dangerous for extremists to be legitimised in this way."

3 Lee Rigby's killers Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale attended Begg's mosque Credit: PA:Press Association

Begg sued the BBC after Sunday Politics presenter Andrew Neil referred to him as "extreme and intolerant".

But Mr Justice Haddon-Cave ruled against him, describing Begg as “an extremist Islamic speaker who espouses extremist Islamic positions”.

The preacher had told followers that “solidarity amongst Muslims means making jihad against the Jews and fighting the Jews in an Islamic Jihad until the Territory [Palestine] goes back to its proper people”.

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The judge said those comments were “encouraging offensive jihad against Jews to recover Palestine and return it to the Muslims”.

Begg spoke on a platform alongside Jeremy Corbyn in the wake of Lee Rigby's murder.

A Labour spokesman said: "Communities and faith groups coming together is an essential part of the fight against the scourge of racism."

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