Campaigners want Islamic comic banned from show

A LONDON theatre has sparked outrage after it invited a leading member of an Islamic extremist group to perform in a stage comedy.

Anti-fascist campaigners want Leo Muhammad, formerly known as Leo Chester and Leo X, dropped from a sketch show at the Hackney Empire this weekend because of his close associations with militant black group the Nation of Islam.

Its American leader Louis Farrakhan is banned from Britain because of his extremist views.

As Leo Chester, the comedian was one of the original stars of the hit black TV comedy The Real McCoy and the theatre is hosting a two-day reunion for the cast.

But opponents complain Muhammad's views are offensive and racist and have written to the theatre's director Simon Thomsett as well as Hackney MP Diane Abbott and all Hackney councillors calling for him to be banned.

Campaigner Terry Fitzpatrick said: "I am concerned that [it] will be used by Muhammad for the kind of racial rhetoric that he has come out with in the past."

But a spokeswoman for the production said: "The show is not inflammatory or offensive in any way to any other group or race."