Monthly Archives: May 2012

Redditch unites against EDL

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Redditch demonstration against EDLRedditch residents put on a show of unity and defiance as a march through the town from the EDL passed off peacefully.

More than 100 officers were drafted in from across the West Mercia force area as well as Warwickshire, West Midlands and British Transport Police to help control the event and tensions were high throughout the day as a large counter demonstration, made up of residents from all sections of Redditch’s community and members of United Against Facism, attempted to get near to the main EDL rally.

Between 100 and 150 members of the EDL from across the region turned out for Saturday’s rally which saw speeches made from the bandstand although police officially estimate the figure at about 40. The event lasted for about half an hour during which members of the group urged people to “wake up to the facts” about Islam and made a number of anti-islamic statements and chants.

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SDL outnumbered by counter-protest in Edinburgh

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Rival marches by a far-right group and anti-fascists have passed off without major incident. The Scottish Defence League (SDL) and Unite Against Fascism held separate marches towards St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh where they also held their own rallies.

Lothian and Borders Police said around 80 people were at the SDL event while around 300 attended the counter-protest. The force said it organised an extensive police operation for the events and that no one was arrested.

Luke Henderson, of Unite Against Fascism, said: “It was fantastic: the streets of Edinburgh belonged to the anti-racists today. We really represented the diversity that makes Edinburgh the multicultural and vibrant city that it is today.”

Press Association, 26 May 2012

See also BBC News, 26 May 2012

Swiss pastor who runs racist website faces probe

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Christine Dietrich Politically IncorrectA Reformist priest from a tiny Bernese village is under investigation by church leaders after it emerged that she helped run a fanatical anti-Islamic website.

The Council of Reformist Churches for Bern, Solothurn and Jura has criticised the priest, and declared her activities on website ‘Politically Incorrect’ to be “incompatible” with her position as a priest due to the “Islam-baiting” that takes place on it, newspaper Tages Anzeiger reported.

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Court date set for Stoke BNP leader

Posted on by Bob Pitt

BNP leader Michael Coleman has been sent to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court charged with racially aggravated harassment.

The former councillor, aged 45, of Caverswall Road, Weston Coyney, elected crown court trial at an earlier hearing at North Staffordshire Magistrates’ Court.

He is charged that between August 8, 2011 and March 8, 2012, he intended to cause racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress by displaying writing, a sign or other visible representation which was threatening, abusive or insulting.

The defendant will appear at the crown court on June 15 for a plea and case management hearing and was granted unconditional bail.

The Sentinel, 25 May 2012

Muslim affair story was tabloid ‘smear’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Tom Watson at Leveson InquiryNews of the World tried to smear Tom Watson with an untrue story that he was having an affair with a devout Muslim woman, the campaigning MP has claimed.

Journalist Mazher Mahmood, the so-called “fake sheikh” who dressed up as an Arab prince to pursue stories, had Mr Watson placed under surveillance by a private detective for a week. Mr Mahmood was the News of the World‘s star reporter, although far from royalty, he was actually the son of an ordinary couple from Small Heath, Birmingham.

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FIFA medical committee says headscarf designs are health hazard

Posted on by Bob Pitt

FIFA’s medical advisers say new designs are needed because headscarves worn by Muslim women players could lead to head and neck injuries. Michel D’Hooghe, chairman of FIFA’s medical committee, says samples received from two designers “represented a danger” to players’ health.

Soccer’s rules-making panel has said it intends to approve headscarves following a campaign by FIFA executive committee member Prince Ali of Jordan. However, the panel asked for more medical advice before it meets on July 2.

D’Hooghe says his group of doctors tested the scarves and believed they could lead to head and neck injuries, plus overheating. Modified designs are expected to arrive at FIFA “in the coming days,” the Belgian doctor said.

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NYPD did no wrong in secretly surveilling N.J. Muslims, Attorney General report says

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A review by the state Attorney General into the New York Police Department’s secret surveillance operation targeting Muslim businesses and mosques in New Jersey found the NYPD did nothing wrong.

The three-month probe, ordered by Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa, concluded there was no evidence to show the NYPD’s activities in the state violated New Jersey’s civil or criminal laws.

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