The co-founder of a Muslim interfaith group in Preston has invited the anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson to a “peaceful and respectful” meeting.

Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – is standing as an Independent MEP candidate in North West England constituency and is visiting Preston at the end of May.

According to the interfaith group, The Light Foundation, Robinson agreed to a meeting after he was approached by the group’s co-founder whilst campaigning in Blackpool on Monday 6 May. Nadeem Ashfaq, who is also an advocate of the UK government’s controversial Prevent strategy, invited Robinson to Preston for a “peaceful and respectful meeting” with representatives of the city’s Muslim community. The former leader of the far-right English Defense League (EDL) allegedly told Mr Ashfaq that he accepted the invitation to “sit down and talk” during his visit later this month. “I told him about the Prophet Muhammad who had a Jewish neighbor who allowed a delegation of Christians to stay in his mosque in Medina, where he allowed them to stay and pray according to their traditions.”

Robinson who has been banned on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram has a long history of stirring racial and religious hatred against Muslims.

Source: 5Pillars