Imam Suliman Gani has now got the BBC to apologise to him for calling him an ISIS supporter, following similar apologies from Prime Minister David Cameron and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon.
The BBC published an apology on its website last night and broadcast it on BBC1 at 10.30pm.
The statement said: “During the BBC programme London’s Mayor: the Big Debate on 18 April 2016, presenter Andrew Neil said that Imam Suliman Gani was ‘a supporter of Islamic State’ also known as Daesh.
“The BBC wishes to make clear that this statement was not true and that he is not a supporter of IS. Imam Gani opposes Islamic State and its activities which he has in the past condemned and campaigned against.
“The BBC apologises to Imam Gani for the distress and damage this statement caused him.”
On May 11 David Cameron was forced to apologise to Gani who he accused of supporting ISIS.
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The Prime Minister, speaking in the House of Commons under Parliamentary privilege, had said Suliman Gani “supports ISIS”.
A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Cameron had been referring to reports that Mr Gani supports “an Islamic state” rather than Isis specifically.
He said: “In reference to the Prime Minister’s comments on Sulaiman Gani, the Prime Minister was referring to reports that he supports an Islamic state. The Prime Minister is clear this does not mean Mr Gani supports the organisation Daesh and he apologises to him for any misunderstanding.
Also on May 11 Defence Secretary Michal Fallon, who called Shaykh Suliman Gani an ISIS supporter during a radio interview, said sorry for the “inadvertent error” after the imam launched legal action against him.
Fallon said he had been repeating comments made by Andrew Neil during a TV debate.
The spokesman told the Mirror: “Michael made clear he was quoting a claim by Andrew Neil on a BBC Mayoral debate programme. He was unaware of the clarification and apology that the BBC had issued on Neil’s claim.
“Had he been aware, he would not of course have quoted him and as soon he became aware he put the record straight. He naturally apologises for this inadvertent error.”
Mr Gani, a father of six, said he feared for his family’s safety after the accusations made by the Prime Minister and the Defence Secretary.
He said he had been subjected to verbal abuse by strangers in the street, who called him a “terrorist supporter.”
