London Underground advert with cleric 'who called gay people worse than animals' compliant, TfL says

Ismail ibn Musa Menk speaks at The annual Islamic Convention In Hong Kong at the Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College
-Credit: (Image: Jonathan Wong/South China Morning Post via Getty Images)


Transport for London (TfL) has sparked a backlash after approving an advert on the Underground featuring a Muslim cleric who allegedly referred to gay people as 'worse than animals'. The poster advertising the finance firm Wahed was raised with Sadiq Khan during Mayor's Question Time this morning (Thursday, October 10).

Conservative London Assembly Member Susan Hall said: "Featuring on those adverts is a chap called Mufti Menk, who actually is known to have denounced homosexuality as 'filthy', and said that gays were worse than animals."

Referring to an advert for a show by comedian Ed Gamble, on which a hot dog had to be changed to a cucumber, Ms Hall added: "So, you'll stop a hot dog being put on there [but] you're quite happy to have people like that featuring in those adverts."

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Mr Khan said: "Chair, I'm not aware of that advert. I've have a look at it as soon as Mayor's Question Time is finished to see what's gone on there."

Mayor 'has no involvement in approving or deciding which ads run on the TfL network'

A spokesperson for the Mayor told MyLondon: "The Mayor is clear that there is no place for hate in London and he strongly condemns any language which divides London’s amazing diverse communities. The Mayor has no involvement in approving or deciding which ads run on the TfL network, and TfL’s policy reflects legal requirements.”

A TfL spokesperson said: “This advert was reviewed and found to comply with our advertising policy, which reflects legal requirements. The Mayor has no involvement in approving or deciding which ads run on the TfL network."

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on a new Piccadilly line train
Sadiq Khan's team says he 'strongly condemns any language which divides London’s amazing diverse communities' -Credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire

TfL says that it works closely with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and now only runs campaigns from cryptocurrency and financial investment companies that are registered with the FCA and that comply with the Money Laundering, Terrorist Finance and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017. All advertising that runs on TfL's estate, officials say, must follow the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) code and the TfL Policy.

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