Good Morning Britain host Adil Ray is in crisis talks with ITV bosses after appearing to back Sharia law in the wake of the election of the New York mayor this week.
He was called in by bosses yesterday to answer questions on his apparent backing of the controversial Islamic legal system on social media a day earlier.
On Thursday, Ray, 51, who has an OBE for services to broadcasting, had congratulated fellow Muslim Zohran Mamdani on his stateside victory by praising the values behind Sharia law in a social media post.
In the post in which he appeared to back the new mayor bringing in the religious code Sharia, which has been severely criticised by women’s rights groups for its pro-male stance, he wrote: ‘Some say Mamdani may implement Sharia Law.
‘He might. The heart of Sharia is social justice, welfare, fairness, charity and cohesion.
‘Most Muslim countries operate a hybrid of Sharia and civil law and are slowly reforming and abandoning unethical practices despite the West’s portrayal.’
A source told The Sun that Good Morning Britain (GMB) bosses were particularly furious as Ray’s comments clashed with ITV’s high profile talks with Sky.
They said: ‘GMB execs are pretty cross. His comments sent bosses into a tailspin and he was called in.
+2
View gallery
Good Morning Britain host Adil Ray is in crisis talks with ITV bosses after appearing to back Sharia law in the wake of the election of the New York mayor this week
+2
View gallery
Mr Ray, 51, created the BBC’s first Muslim sitcom Citizen Khan which ran for five primetime series on BBC1 until 2016
‘It was a nightmare as hours earlier ITV revealed it was in talks to sell its broadcasting arm to Sky in a £1.6billion deal. Obviously, they don’t want anything to derail that.’
Angry viewers made their disapproval known on social media.
One wrote ‘Take your Sharia law and f*** off’ while another warned ‘This will be your undoing’.
Mr Ray later backtracked on his comments, saying: ‘To clarify, I am not actually suggesting Mamdani would implement Sharia law but many issues he campaigned for are some of the positive values of Sharia that Muslims try to live by.
‘Something many of us would agree on.’
Mamdani, 34, defeated former New York governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa to become New York’s first Muslim mayor.
TV and radio presenter Ray began his career on the BBC’s Asian Network and has been a regular across the BBC, including on Radio 5 Live and Radio 4, as well as hosting shows on BBC TV.
Also known as a comedian and actor, he created the BBC’s first Muslim sitcom Citizen Khan which ran for five primetime series on BBC1 until 2016.
He joined ITV in 2018 as one of the temporary replacements for Piers Morgan on GMB and has become a regular fixture of the show.
News
“Apologize to my daughter—right now,” a furious father demanded after a teacher dismissed him as “just a Marine.” Moments later, he walked into the school with his loyal K9 partner — and what happened next left the entire classroom speechless.
“Apologize to my daughter—right now,” a furious father demanded after a teacher dismissed him as “just a Marine.” Moments later, he walked into the school with his loyal K9 partner — and what happened next left the entire classroom speechless….
A Husband Locked His Pregnant Wife in a Freezer — But What She Did to Save Her Twins Turned a Death Trap Into a Miracle No One Could Believe
A Husband Locked His Pregnant Wife in a Freezer — But What She Did to Save Her Twins Turned a Death Trap Into a Miracle No One Could Believe At 32 weeks pregnant, I was locked inside a freezer by…
I Gave My Mother $1.5 Million a Month to Care for My Wife After Childbirth — Then I Came Home Early and Found Her Eating Spoiled Rice in Silence.k
I Gave My Mother $1.5 Million a Month to Care for My Wife After Childbirth — Then I Came Home Early and Found Her Eating Spoiled Rice in Silence I thought I was giving my wife safety after childbirth. Instead,…
My Sister Said My Baby Boy Belonged to Her — What Happened Next Destroyed Our Family Forever.
My Sister Said My Baby Boy Belonged to Her — What Happened Next Destroyed Our Family Forever The night my family celebrated my unborn son, my sister pulled me into my parents’ kitchen, looked me dead in the eye, and…
Just as he prepared to transfer $980 million to his pregnant ex-wife, the courtroom doors burst open and a homeless girl rushed in with a worn envelope. Her shocking claim about the baby’s true father stunned everyone and halted everything instantly.
Just as he prepared to transfer $980 million to his pregnant ex-wife, the courtroom doors burst open and a homeless girl rushed in with a worn envelope. Her shocking claim about the baby’s true father stunned everyone and halted everything…
When HOA President Margaret slapped my disabled daughter and ripped away her oxygen tube, she thought she was humiliating a helpless family. She had no idea my mother had spent her life protecting innocent people from predators exactly like her — and this time, Margaret had chosen the wrong child to terrorize.
When HOA President Margaret slapped my disabled daughter and ripped away her oxygen tube, she thought she was humiliating a helpless family. She had no idea my mother had spent her life protecting innocent people from predators exactly like her…
End of content
No more pages to load
