Yearly Archives: 2012

Alliance with Wilders did hurt Netherlands’ reputation

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Wilders and Rutte2The previous coalition government, which involved Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam PVV in a supporting role, did have an image problem abroad, civil service documents supplied to website nu.nl show.

Ministers repeatedly said foreign governments understood the relationship between the minority coalition and Wilders and that he was not officially part of government.

However, official papers show “time after time” that diplomats wanted proper instructions on “how to avoid reputation damage as much as possible” – for example, when Wilders published a new book. This often did not work, the documents state.

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More right-wing press backing for Alan Craig’s campaign against ‘mega mosque’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Plans for a super mosque close to the Olympic stadium reveal that it could hold almost 10,000 people. Architects’ drawings show that the vast mosque will be about the same size as Battersea Power Station. By comparison, Britain’s largest cathedral, in Liverpool, can hold 3,000 worshippers.

Newham Council in east London is due to decide whether it will grant planning permission for the structure next month.

Former councillor Alan Craig has launched a campaign to stop the project. He has produced 100,000 leaflets, which were being distributed throughout the borough yesterday. Mr Craig said: “The mega-mosque is proposed and planned by a particularly disturbing Islamic sect called Tablighi Jamaat.”

He said that Tablighi Jamaat had been promoting itself as open and socially integrated. However, progressive Muslims who support the campaign against the mosque view its beliefs as “narrow and divisive”. He said: “In my view we would be mad, barking mad, if we let the project go ahead.”

Sunday Express, 4 November 2012

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University of Chicago: Panel debunks Shari’a myths

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Wajahat Ali at University of ChicagoHalloween night provided the backdrop for a panel at the Divinity School’s Swift Hall dismantling an alleged fear among Americans: the encroachment of Islamic Shari’a into American courts and public life.

Shari’a, an Arabic word for “the way,” is the general term for the efforts by Muslims to interpret sacred Islamic texts and beliefs into guidelines for living an Islamic life.

The first panelist, Wajahat Ali, called Halloween an “apt and appropriate day” to discuss anti-Shari’a sentiment since it is a day “when we Americans spend millions of dollars to be scared by boogeymen and manufactured threats.”

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EDL member claims he only attacked mosque because of news report from Libya

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A man launched a drunken attack on a mosque after watching a news report about the desecration of Commonwealth graves in Libya.

Barry Stanbury, 42, was caught on CCTV cameras at shortly before 2.30am on March 5, wandering around the Exeter Mosque before a window was smashed, Exeter magistrates heard.

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Black and Muslim members lose equalities commission roles

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EHRC logoMinisters are facing criticism after the removal of the only black and Muslim members of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission from their posts, heightening fears that the coalition will place less emphasis on fighting discrimination.

Leading commissioners Simon Woolley and Lady Meral Hussein-Ece have discovered that their contracts as commissioners will not be renewed when they expire in December. Though both were invited to reapply for further terms by Lynne Featherstone, the equalities minister, before the reshuffle, neither has been shortlisted or called for interview.

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Posted in UK

Families in West Ham speak out over so-called ‘mega-mosque’ plans

Posted on by Bob Pitt

'Mega mosque' opponentsNeighbours to the so-called ‘Mega mosque’ believe it would completely dwarf the surrounding conservation areas and fail to serve a mixed community if given the go-ahead.

Residents near the site in Canning Road, West Ham – owned by Islamic movement Tablighi Jamaat – have spoken about what they describe as real concerns about the project despite fears of being labelled Islamophobic. It comes after mosque backers put their case to the Recorder earlier this month.

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Posted in UK

Mahdi Hashi has British citizenship revoked for ‘extremism’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A man from north London accused of being an Islamic extremist has had his British citizenship revoked.

Family and friends of Mahdi Hashi, 23, from Camden, claim the government acted because he had refused to become an informant for the security services.

Mr Hashi, from Camden, is currently thought to be in a jail in East Africa.

Revoking his nationality in the summer, the Home Office said he was considered a threat to UK national security due to his “extremist” activities.

The government has since made no further comment.

BBC News, 1 November 2012

See also “UK ‘discards own citizen who refused to spy on Muslims'”,Russia Today, 31 October 2012