Yearly Archives: 2012

East End’s first Muslim mayor unfazed by racist press attacks

Posted on by Bob Pitt

When originally chosen as Labour’s mayoral candidate, he was the logical choice as a two-term leader of the Council. However, he was the subject of a “dog-whistle” campaign by opponents.

Just as conservatives in the U.S. use coded language to raise the hackles of racist voters against Barack Obama, similar language is used against Rahman, hinting at “links” to the Islamic Forum of Europe. That led to his decision to run, successfully, as an independent, and his victory has done little to increase the love.

Going to a mosque with “links” to other Muslim groups alleged to be “Islamist” provokes reflexes in a surprising range of people, from left-liberals alert to insinuations of anti-semitism to conservatives for whom it is a convenient cover for racism.

Anton Wahlberg profiles Lutfur Rahman, mayor of Tower Hamlets.

IPS, 7 August 2012

EDL Essex division promotes Chelmsford anti-mosque demo with neo-Nazi video

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Whitelaw Kick the Reds In YouTube

Not content with getting three of its members arrested during a recent demonstration in Chelmsford, the English Defence League is returning on 18 August to continue its protest against the plan to build a so-called “mega-mosque” in the Essex city.

The EDL Essex division are publicising the event on their Facebook page. As you can see, one EDL member has responded to leftist critics of the demonstration by posting a link to a YouTube video (see above) featuring a song by the neo-Nazi band Whitelaw entitled “Kick the Reds In” (this is what passes for a witty pun in Blood & Honour circles).

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Sacked! EDL’s link man removed from post

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Christopher Knowles, once linked to the EDL’s founding father Alan Ayling (aka Alan Lake) has been sacked from his post with Leeds city council’s children’s service department.

Knowles was one of the original rising stars in the British “anti-Jihadist” scene and travelled and spoke at a number of gatherings representing the British arm of the movement, including a rally in support of Dutch MP Geert Wilders in Berlin in 2010 before also appearing at the EDL’s disastrous rally in Amsterdam a few months later and in the company of future British Freedom Party chief Paul Weston.

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Publisher’s attack on Muslims provokes backlash from Australian Jewish community

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Robert MagidAn article on illegal boat people by the publisher of Australia’s main Jewish newspaper has ignited a storm of protest, with some critics savaging it for “vilifying Muslims” and promoting “xenophobic, Islamophobic and heartless sentiments.”

Titled “Curb your compassion,” Robert Magid’s article published in last Friday’s Sydney and Melbourne editions of the Australian Jewish News argued that illegal Muslim boat people are queue jumpers who deprive sanctuary to legitimate refugees.

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Vandals attack Islamic centre in Surrey

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Vandals have attacked an Islamic centre in Horley. The centre on the corner of High Street and Yattendon Road was vandalised in the early hours of Sunday. Alcohol and eggs were thrown at the building and graffiti was sprayed across its main door.

A police spokesman said the graffiti was later removed by people at the centre.

Specialist Neighbourhood Sergeant for Horley Simon Ward, said the attack had “deeply upset” the town’s Islamic community. He said:

“Specialist Neighbourhood Officers from the Reigate and Banstead Safer Neighbourhood Team are assisting detectives from CID with a thorough investigation into finding those responsible. This incident has deeply upset the Islamic community in Horley who have an excellent relationship with their neighbours and others in the town.”

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Posted in UK

‘Trendy’ Oxford Street and Piccadilly retailer forced Muslim employee to resign over headscarf

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Global Luggage Piccadilly branchA London-based retailer forced a Muslim employee to resign after she wore a headscarf to work, because it wanted to retain its “trendy” image, an employment tribunal has ruled.

Ms Farrah brought a claim for unfair dismissal and direct religious discrimination against her former employer, Global Luggage Co, after the company moved her to a different store to maintain its “trendy” image and later forced her to resign.

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Murfreesboro Islamic Center granted temporary occupancy permit

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Murfreesboro occupation certificate grantedThe Islamic Center of Murfreesboro was granted a temporary 30-day certificate of occupancy Tuesday morning by officials with the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Islamic Center leaders said they plan to apply for a local occupancy certificate Tuesday afternoon at the Rutherford County Building Codes Department. “We plan to submit the paperwork to (Rutherford) County this afternoon,” said Essam Fathy, chairman of the board for the Islamic Center.

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Honour-based violence in Swansea

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The parents of a 17-year-old girl, jailed for attacking her because she was going out with a black man, have been called “disgraceful” by a judge.

David Champion, 50, from Swansea, and his wife Frances, hit daughter Jane for “bringing shame” on the family. The father also abused her boyfriend Alfonce Ncube with racist language before grabbing and kicking him.

Champion was jailed for 12 months at Swansea Crown Court, and his wife to nine months. Both admitted assault.

The father also admitted a charge of racially aggravated assault against Mr Ncube. Frances Champion admitted using threatening, abusive or offensive words or behaviour to cause racially aggravated fear or provocation of violence towards Mr Ncube.

BBC News, 6 August 2012

A reminder that “honour-based violence” is not a phenomenon restricted to communities of recent migrant origin. The Daily Mail has covered this story – but, oddly enough, doesn’t regard the religious beliefs of the convicted parents as at all relevant to the case. Another of those “what if they were Muslim?” moments.

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Wisconsin: gunman made mistake of targeting ‘peaceful religion’, according to Mail

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Daily Mail Sikh temple shooting

Initial reactions to the appalling violence at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin prominently featured the suggestion that Sikhs had been confused with Muslims by the killer and had suffered “collateral damage” from 9/11. On the face of it, that appeared to be a plausible explanation, as Sikhs in the United States have certainly been attacked by ignorant racists who can’t tell one predominantly non-white faith community from another.

The obvious conclusion is that Sikhs and Muslims should join together to oppose Islamophobia. The right-wing response, however, is to try and set the two communities against each other by suggesting that whereas hostility towards Islam is legitimate and a significant number of Muslims are indeed violent extremists, Sikhs are unfairly tarred with the same brush.

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Fire destroys Missouri mosque in second blaze at the Islamic center in 5 weeks

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Joplin mosque blaze

A mosque in southwest Missouri burned to the ground early Monday in the second fire to hit the Islamic center in little more than a month, officials said.

The fire at the Islamic Society of Joplin was reported about 3:30 a.m. Monday, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office said. The sheriff’s department said the building was a total loss. No injuries were reported and no charges have been filed.

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