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Rangers director Chris Graham resigns over Mohammed tweet | Rangers director Chris Graham resigns over Mohammed tweet |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A Rangers director has resigned amid controversy over a tweet which showed a sexually explicit cartoon of the prophet Mohammed. | A Rangers director has resigned amid controversy over a tweet which showed a sexually explicit cartoon of the prophet Mohammed. |
Chris Graham was appointed as a non-executive director at Ibrox on Tuesday. | Chris Graham was appointed as a non-executive director at Ibrox on Tuesday. |
It later emerged the image was sent from his Twitter account to radical Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary on the day of the Charlie Hebdo attack. | It later emerged the image was sent from his Twitter account to radical Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary on the day of the Charlie Hebdo attack. |
News that his resignation had been accepted by the board was announced at the Stock Exchange on Friday. | |
Shortly after two gunmen had shot dead 12 people at the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on 7 January, Mr Choudary had sent a message on Twitter which read "freedom of expression does not extend to insulting the prophets of Allah, whatever your views on the events in Paris today!" | |
Mr Graham replied by sending a cartoon depicting the prophet Mohammed engaged in an explicit sex act with the Star Wars character Jar Jar Binks. | |
'Freedom of speech' | |
In a statement released by Mr Graham following his resignation, he apologised unreservedly for tweeting the cartoon. | |
He said: "Freedom of speech is one of the foundations that our country is built upon. However, with that freedom comes a responsibility to be sensitive to the views of all our nation's communities. | |
"This tweet did not do that. For that I apologise unreservedly. | |
"I also tweeted my support for the Muslim community during exchanges that day but even so I accept that re-tweeting that cartoon was inappropriate. | |
"I am extremely proud to have played a part in helping Rangers to secure regime change but I have had to take this decision for my family and the club itself. I wish the current board the very best of luck going forward." | |
Vocal supporter | |
The 38-year-old is well known among football fans for representing the Rangers Supporters Trust and running the Rangers Standard website. | |
He was a vocal supporter of Dave King and Paul Murray during their successful efforts to gain control of the club at its EGM last week. | He was a vocal supporter of Dave King and Paul Murray during their successful efforts to gain control of the club at its EGM last week. |
Mr Graham's appointment was announced on Tuesday but within 24 hours he was engulfed in controversy after the Mohammed tweet was widely circulated on social media. | Mr Graham's appointment was announced on Tuesday but within 24 hours he was engulfed in controversy after the Mohammed tweet was widely circulated on social media. |
The Ibrox club initially said it would look into the matter. | The Ibrox club initially said it would look into the matter. |
On Thursday, police confirmed that they were aware of the tweet and were "carrying out inquiries". | On Thursday, police confirmed that they were aware of the tweet and were "carrying out inquiries". |
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