Sadiq Khan wins London: A rebuke to extremists of all stripes

Early this month, Londoners have created history by electing Sadiq Khan, a fast-talking secular Muslim lawyer and son of a London bus-driver, against arch conservative rightwing millionaire Zac Goldsmith. Noted author and New York Times (NYT) columnist Roger Cohen said: "The world of the 21st century is going to be shaped by such elided, many-faceted identities and by the booming cities that celebrate diversity, not by bullying, brash, bigoted 'America first' white dude who wants to build wall."
Clearly, this was a manifestation of the writer's dislike for the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump who seemed to have upset even the most policymakers of the Republican Party by some of his outlandish remarks during the long campaign.
Cohen's remarks were based on a story ran by NYT correspondent Stephen Castle who quoted Khan as saying, "I'm a Londoner, I'm a European, I'm British, I'm English, I'm of Islamic faith, of Asian origin, of Pakistani heritage, a dad and a husband."
He was already known as a rising British Labour Party mid-level leader and an elected MP. For the first time in Britain's history, an immigrant Muslim has been chosen to be the Mayor of one of the world's great and vibrant metropolis "where every tongue is heard".  Unlike usual political campaign in Britain, Khan's rival Goldsmith and his rightwing conservative backers including Prime Minister David Cameron indulged in slurs tying him to IIS or Al-Qaeda or Taliban, etc., but Londoners reposed full faith in this Muslim immigrant. The poll campaign was not only unfair, it was unbecoming too.
Interestingly, there was criticism from across the political spectrum around the polling time at the tone of the Tory campaign, but Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, as reported in the media, insisted it was legitimate. He told BBC radio: "Both candidates were asked questions about their backgrounds, their personalities, their judgment, the people they associated with… That's the nature of our democracy, and rough-and-tumble of politics."   
Meanwhile, former Conservative government Muslim minister Sayeeda Warsi stated the similarities in their background and said, a congratulation "from this daughter of a Pakistani bus driver to the son of a Pakistani bus driver", and condemned her (own Tory) party's (nature of) campaign. "Our appalling dog-whistle campaign lost us the election, our reputation and credibility on issues of race and religion," she said.
Khan's defeated Tory rival Goldsmith`s sister Jemima, the ex-wife of Pakistani cricketer and politician Imran Khan, said the tone of her brother`s campaign "did not reflect who I know him to be". However, Jemima and her former husband cricketer Imran Khan did take part in the campaign in Goldsmith's favour. Cameron`s former adviser, Steve Hilton, said Goldsmith had brought back the "nasty party label".
However, Sadiq Khan's election is important because it proved a lie a growing campaign across Europe that it is being taken over by jihadi Islamists. Writing in London's famed The New Statesman, George Eaton observed, "Khan will be a figure of global significance. His election is a rebuke to extremists of all stripes, from Donald Trump to Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, who assert that religions cannot peacefully coexist."
Cohen suggested, "His (Khan's) victory is a rebuke to Osama bin Laden, the Islamic State, jihadi ideology of every stripe - and to the hate-mongering politicians like Trump who choose to play the Muslim-equals-danger game. He has argued that greater integration is essential and "too many British Muslims grow up without really knowing anyone from a different background."
It may also be pointed out that after the Paris attacks last year Khan (quoted by Cohen), in a speech said that Muslims had a "special role" to play in countering the terrorism "not because we are more responsible than others, as some have wrongly claimed, but because we can be more effective at tackling extremism than anyone else."
While historically Europeans were of the view that Muslims were incapable of integrating with the European society which gained momentum lately following jihadi aggression in Paris, Brussels and other places.
In fact, London-based The Independent reported after the London Mayoral election citing a survey on Germany's attitude towards Islam that Chancellor Angela Merkel's call for tolerance and inclusivity are increasingly falling on deaf ears. According to the latest opinion survey, almost two-thirds of Germans think Islam does not 'belong' in their community. The survey markedly increased 'hate the Muslim stance' from a similar survey conducted six years ago in which 47 per cent (of the Germans) thought Islam had no place in their nation. The latest survey, however, shows that the figure is now at 60 per cent. The situation in other European nations - especially in France - is not much difference.       
The opposition Labour lawmaker Sadiq Khan broke from convention by taking his oath of office in a multi-faith ceremony at Southwark Cathedral. "My name is Sadiq Khan and I`m the mayor of London," the 45-year-old said to cheers from supporters, who had earlier given him a standing ovation as he walked in. He added: "I`m determined to lead the most transparent, engaged and accessible administration London has ever seen, and to represent every single community, and every single part of our city, as mayor for all Londoners."
The London media also reported that in the audience at Southwark Cathedral was Doreen Lawrence, an anti-racism campaigner whose teenage son Stephen was killed by a gang of white youths. "I never imagined in my lifetime I could have a mayor of London from an ethnic minority," she said.
Khan has broken the eight-year hold of the Conservatives on City Hall, succeeding the charismatic Boris Johnson in a prestigious post that has responsibility for transport, housing, policing and promoting economic development.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said he was looking to working with his "fellow affordable-housing advocate" while Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo tweeted that Khan`s "humanity (and) progressivism will benefit Londoners".
Sadiq Khan's success was naturally a boost for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, a veteran socialist who has been battling a row over anti-Semitism and growing criticism from the moderate wing of his party since his election in September.
[email protected]