Yearly Archives: 2012

Moscow protest leads to cancellation of new Islamic centre

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Moscow anti-mosque protest

Up to 2,000 people rallied in a Moscow neighborhood after local authorities announced the building of a Muslim cultural center and mosque in the area. The protest ended with officials being forced to cancel the planned construction.

The impromptu demonstration on Wednesday evening was gathered through social networks. Residents of the Mitino district came to voice their fears over the plans to build a Muslim cultural center and mosque in the neighborhood, which would be able to accommodate up to 60,000 believers during a service.

The would-be Muslim prayer house is subject to much speculation, even though construction project is far from being finalized. The rumor mill describes it as “a 13-story mega mosque,” which would broadcast calls to a morning prayer all over the neighborhood.

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Sam Harris defends ‘the freedom to offend an imaginary God’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Sam_HarrisSam Harris presents his characteristically nuanced thoughts on The Innocence of Muslims and what he terms “the latest wave of Muslim hysteria and violence”. He writes:

“Consider what is actually happening: Some percentage of the world’s Muslims – Five percent? Fifteen? Fifty? It’s not yet clear – is demanding that all non-Muslims conform to the strictures of Islamic law.”

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Hereford: police investigate racist comments about Muslim community centre

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Police are investigating racist comments made over the internet in response to plans for a Muslim place of worship in Hereford. Comments were made via social networking sites after plans for a community centre for Muslims were revealed.

One comment posted on the Hereford Masjid Fundraising Campaign’s Facebook page, which has since shut down, threatened to contaminate any land identified as a potential site and referred to the group as vermin.

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Posted in UK

Australia: Senate rejects Greens motion condemning Wilders’ ‘hateful anti-Muslim views’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Richard Di NataleThe Senate has rejected a Greens motion calling on parliament to condemn the “hateful anti-Muslim views” of controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who is seeking an Australian visa for a speaking tour.

Greens senator Richard Di Natale [pictured] said on Thursday it was “critically important” his motion be supported, particularly after last week’s protests in Sydney by members of the Muslim community angry about a US film on Islam.

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Police fail to bring charges against far-right activists

Posted on by Bob Pitt

NWI banner

Five men arrested in dawn raids by counter-terrorism officers on suspicion of posting race hate material will not face any charges, The Northern Echo can reveal.

The suspects – including two men from the North-East – were detained in April when dozens of plain-clothed and uniformed officers swooped on several addresses across the UK. Computers, laptops and mobile phones were seized during the operation.

But last night, the North-East Counter Terrorism Unit revealed that, following discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), it had been decided no charges would be brought.

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British Social Attitudes Survey reveals negative views of Muslim migrants

Posted on by Bob Pitt

BSA Survey 2012ENGAGE has a useful summary of the latest British Social Attitudes Survey and what it reveals about popular views on migration in general and Muslim migrants in particular.

Overall opinion of the settlement of migrants is negative, with only 24% of respondents holding a positive view and 60% rating the impact negatively. 75% of respondents advocated a reduction in immigration and 51% a large reduction.

The public are significantly more concerned now than they were a decade ago about the economic impact of migration, but there has been an even bigger growth in opposition to the cultural impact. Those who view the cultural impact of immigration as “very bad” have increased from 9% in 2002 to 21% in 2011.

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Muslim woman claims she was discriminated against at court house due to head scarf

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Lenora GordonATLANTIC CITY — 29 year old Lenora Gordon says she was discriminated against while trying to enter the Atlantic County Civil Court Wednesday morning.

When she tried to enter the courtroom, she claims she wasn’t allowed in because of the head scarf she was wearing. “I came back out to meet my cousin, then all of a sudden I tried to enter the courtroom again and they said ‘oh well she can’t come in here with the scarf on’,” said Gordon.

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EDL supporter in court over vile racist tweets

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A man accused of using Twitter to send racially and religiously offensive messages will appear at crown court on October 29.

Ricky Davies, 20, of St Leger Crescent, Swansea, faces two charges of causing religiously aggravated harassment, another two of racially aggravated harassment and a charge of sending an indecent message.

South Wales Evening Post, 14 September 2012

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Skegness Halal abattoir firm in jobs pledge despite protest

Posted on by Bob Pitt
Richard Edmonds in Skegness

Veteran neo-Nazi Richard Edmonds at the NF rally

The company behind a controversial Halal abattoir say they want to be a large employer for the coast.

Premier Halal Meats, who are behind an application to open up a Halal abattoir on Heath Road industrial estate in Skegness, hope to create between 40 and 70 jobs for the town.

A spokesman from the company, who would not give his name, said: “About 50 people have applied for a job with us and we expect more applications to come in. We will be employing a lot of people and hope to be one of the biggest employers in Skegness.”

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Australian Senator moves motion condemning Green Left Weekly

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Green Left statement: Senator’s bid to intimidate media & Muslim community is outrageous

Independent newspaper Green Left Weekly today slammed attempts by Liberal Senator Brett Mason in the Senate to inflame anti-Islam sentiment and intimidate a media outlet that opposes this.

Liberal Senator Brett Mason moved a motion in the Australian Senate on September 18 to condemn Green Left Weekly for publishing articles that criticised the NSW police in the September 15 protest by Muslims in Sydney. Justifying the motion, he said: “Is there anything more toxic in the politics of this country than the self-loathing of the Green Left Weekly and the moral vanity of the Australian Left, both beholden as they are, as they always have been, to outmoded notions of political correctness?”

Mason’s motion also sought to place the entire blame for the clashes on “the violence perpetrated by Islamic extremists” – helping fuel an already hysterical campaign against Muslims in the media.

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