Islamic activist admits he donated cash to Irving

An interesting news item in The Observer:

Asghar Bukhari, a founder member of the Muslim Public Affairs Committee (MPAC), which describes itself as Britain's largest Muslim civil rights group, sent money to Irving and urged Islamic websites to ask visitors to make donations to his fighting fund.

[...]

Bukhari confirmed sending the letters in 2000. 'I had a lot of sympathy for anyone who opposed Israel,' Bukhari told The Observer said. 'I wrote letters to anyone who was tough against the Israelis - David Irving, Paul Findley, the PLO."I don't feel I have done anything wrong, to be honest. At the time I was of the belief he [Irving] was anti-Zionist, being smeared for nothing more then being anti-Zionist.

The explanation rings hollow, of course: 2000 was the year of Irving v. Lipstadt, so unless Bukhari was e-mailing Irving from under a rock, he knew perfectly what exactly he was doing and who was David Irving.