Category Archives: Anti-Muslim violence

Cartersville, Georgia: FBI investigating vandalism at mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Cartersville Islamic Center vandalisedMembers of the Muslim community are concerned that their place of worship has been the target of an apparent hate crime for the second time in less than a month.

The Islamic Center of Cartersville was vandalized earlier this week, according to a Bartow County Sheriff’s Department incident report. Deputies were dispatched to 71 Maple Ridge Drive Tuesday morning shortly after Bilal Mahmood reported the damages.

Mahmood told the deputy he was the last person at the center Monday night and everything was intact.
When he returned Tuesday at 6:30, he saw three front glass entrance doors with large holes in them. He also saw one window pane on the front of the building with a large hole. “Bilal allowed me to enter into the building where I retrieved four large rocks that were used to damage the window and doors,” the deputy wrote in the report.

Amjad Tausique worships at the mosque and helped start that location; he said he’s very concerned. “We’ve been working and reaching out in the community for a long time,” he said. Tausique said Muslims have been in the city for close to 40 years. “We are tax-paying, peaceful, law-abiding citizens,” he said. “It’s totally not right for someone to come and destroy the place of worship.”

The center was also vandalized in March, and BCSO investigator Jonathan Rogers said the Federal Bureau of Investigation is handling the case and have leads.

Besides the damages to the door and windows, Tausique said nothing was stolen. During the last vandalism, a stink bomb was thrown into the building, which Tausique said smelled for days. Meanwhile, security cameras were installed and an extra patrol in the area at nights was requested.

Tausique said they just want to be treated like everyone else in the community. “We have families like anyone else, kids in school, jobs and business,” he said. “Just because we are Muslim and we worship one God, doesn’t mean we’re not American.”

Daily Tribune News, 15 April 2011

Update:  See “Vandals target mosque with painted rocks”, WSBTV, 18 April 2011

Springfield Islamic Center receives threatening letter and finds burned Qur’ans

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Islamic Center of SpringfieldLeaders of the Islamic Center of Springfield say they received a threatening letter targeting Muslims on Sunday and earlier that day found charred remains of three Qurans.

The anonymous letter says that Muslims “stain the earth”, and the author vows “Islam will not survive”. A copy of the letter was provided by the Rev. Mark Struckhoff, executive director for the Council of Churches of the Ozarks. At the end of the five-line typed letter is a drawing of a ram’s head with the slogan “Death to Islam!” printed below it.

“I do not understand. What are they gaining from this?” asked Wafaa Kaf, coordinator of the women’s section at the Islamic Center and one of the center’s leaders who described the charred books. “Have they accomplished anything? Are they happy now?”

This isn’t the first reported crime against the Islamic Center, 2151 E. Division St. On Jan. 8, worshippers were confronted with hate-filled graffiti scrawled across the walls of the building.

“You bash us in Pakistan. We bash you here,” the red spray paint said. Other messages were sexual, including a drawing of a penis near the women’s entrance and a reference to Allah being gay. Two days later, another act of vandalism broke off an exterior water spigot. However, the FBI did not initiate a hate crimes investigation into those incidents.

News-Leader, 14 April 2011

See also CAIR press release, 14 April 2011

Update:  See “Bigotry at Islamic Center is an affront to all”, editorial in News-Leader, 15 April 2011

Bletchley: arson fears over pub mosque plan

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A resident living near a disused pub fears it will be burnt down if it is turned into a mosque.

Winifred Penner, who lives near The Plough Pub in Manor Road, Bletchley, is worried about a possible backlash if plans to transform it into a Muslim place of worship are approved by Milton Keynes Council tomorrow. The 83-year-old, who has lived in Manor Road for more than 60 years, said:

“I’m worried that if anyone’s against it they might do some damage – and we’re right by it. There’s good and bad in everyone, so I can’t say I don’t want the mosque there, but I’ve heard rumours that they’re going to burn it down if it gets given the go-ahead. Just a few weeks ago somebody threw a whole pig’s head on the roof.”

Following reports of repeated vandalism, the police and Milton Keynes Council have even been forced to install CCTV overlooking the former music venue.

Paul Saunders, 63, who also lives in Manor Road, added: “It’s a great concern, the BNP have been there already. Somebody has already got up onto the roof and painted ‘NO’ on it.”

MK News, 13 April 2011

Police probe racist bullying claim at Stockport school

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Police are investigating claims of racist bullying at a school.

Khadeja Fahat, 13, has now left Bramhall High in Stockport claiming she was targeted by bullies more than 30 times since September. The Year Eight pupil claims other children called her racist names, tipped out the contents of her bag, vandalised her school work and, on one occasion, punched her. Her mum, Saiqa Shabir, claims the school has refused to tackle the problem and has reported the alleged bullying to the police.

Greater Manchester Police confirm they have recorded Khadeja’s complaint as a hate crime and plan to visit the school, which insists it has fully investigated the claims and has done everything to support her.

Mrs Shabir, a Muslim of Pakistani origin, said: “I feel my daughter has been robbed of her education. We can’t believe that in the 21st century this has happened. The school has not done enough to stop it happening. The attitude is if those responsible apologise afterwards then it is all okay. The school is letting my daughter down. This whole thing has left her very insecure and withdrawn. She used to be a bright confident young girl.”

Manchester Evening News, 13 April 2011

Three in court over Kingston Mosque attack

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Three more men have appeared in court accused of being part of a gang which targeted Kingston Mosque in an Islamophobic attack.

Jordan Ellingham, 20, of Camden Avenue, Feltham, Martin Pottle, 22, of Hounslow Road, Hanworth, and James Stacey, 18, of Ashurst Drive, Shepperton, appeared in Kingston Magistrates’ Court on the morning of Tuesday, April 12.

They were jointly charged with being part of a mob which smashed a window at the East Road mosque, urinated in the foyer, threatened the congregation and laid bacon on windows and cars on November 21 last year.

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Dorval mosque vandalized yet again

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A Dorval mosque that has been plagued by vandalism in the past had two windows and several doors broken during an overnight break-in on Monday. “I’m not sure if it was thieves or vandals,” said Mehmet Deger, president of the Dorval Mosque. “But it’s very upsetting to our members when it happens.”

He said the culprits broke in through a fire exit door and stole a computer. But they also used some kind of slingshot to fire steel bolts through a couple of windows, including a large picture window. “This is very frustrating,” said Deger, who was collecting estimates on the cost of the repairs.

In 2009, the mosque was vandalized four times, usually with graffiti painted on walls. The last time it was vandalized was in September 2009. At the time, Deger invited the culprits to talk to leaders of the mosque rather than using a can of spray paint to communicate. And he said there have been no incidents since that time.

The mosque has about 2,000 members and has been operating since 1994. It is located at the corner of Neptune Blvd. and Nightingale Ave.

Deger said the mosque’s video surveillance showed two men had been responsible for the break-in this week. “These guys are a danger to the public,” he said.

Montreal Gazette, 12 April 2011

EDL thugs attack peaceful protest against French veil ban

Posted on by Bob Pitt

French embassy niqab protest

Around 40 members of the racist English Defence League tonight attacked a peaceful protest outside the French Embassy, opposing the introduction of a ban on the niqab or face veil in France.

Young Muslim women were joined by students and trade unionists on the protest called by UAF and One Society Many Cultures and supported by the British Muslim Initiative, Islamic Forum of Europe, Islam Expo and the Enough Coalition.

They carried placards reading: “Defend religious and cultural freedom” and “Face veil – a woman’s right to choose”.

EDL thugs launched a physical attack on the peaceful protest before being surrounded by police and led away.

UAF joint secretary Weyman Bennett said:

It is unacceptable that a group of racist thugs has attacked a demo calling for freedom of religious and cultural expression for Muslim women.

We believe that by targeting Muslims with measures like the niqab ban, French president Nicolas Sarkozy is opening the door and providing dangerous encouragement to racist and fascist groups. Today’s events bear that out.

It is clear the EDL is building a street thug movement that aims to smash anyone who stands up against racism, fascism and Islamophobia. We will continue our efforts to oppose them.

The protest outside the French embassy was called to mark the day that the niqab ban came into force in France.

The ban contravenes Muslim women’s freedom of religion. We believe free and democratic societies should allow people to express their faith and culture however they choose.

Although there are no proposals to introduce such legislation in Britain, the ban on the niqab in France has provoked Islamophobic discussions and campaigns here in Britain.

Unite Against Fascism, 11 April 2011

See also “Londoners condemn France burqa ban”, Press TV, 11 April 2011

Update:  Over at the Casuals United blog you can find the EDL boasting about their unprovoked attack on the peaceful protest outside the French embassy.

EDL attack French embassy protestors

Epsom man pleads not guilty to race attack at Kingston mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Kingston anti-Muslim protest 3A man accused of being part of a gang that allegedly threw beer at and urinated on a mosque after a march against Muslim extremism has pleaded not guilty to two charges.

David Morris, 20, of Elm Way, Epsom, pleaded not guilty to one count of affray and one count of religiously aggravated criminal damage at Kingston Magistrates Court today (April 7). Appearing in court with a shaved head and wearing a light blue polo shirt he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and enter a plea.

The attack is alleged to have happened following a march through Kingston town centre [pictured] against Muslim extremism in November last year. The march had been organised via facebook and during the incident outside the mosque the men are alleged to have also placed bacon on cars outside the building.

Terence Earl, 31, of Aspen Lane, Northolt also pleaded not guilty to the charges. Alfie Wallace, 18, of Hetherington Road, Shepperton; Paul Abley, 24, of Hounslow Road, Shepperton; Karl Matthews, 20, of Brentford High Street and Adam Khalfan, 18, of Feltham Road, Ashford, all declined to enter a plea to the same offences. They will all appear before Kingston Magistrates on May 23 for a committal hearing.

All were granted bail on condition that they do not enter the borough of Kingston.

Epsom Guardian, 7 April 2011

Former soldier who issued mosque bomb threat jailed

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Neil MacGregorA former soldier who threatened to bomb Glasgow Central Mosque has been jailed for 12 months. Neil MacGregor, 38, also said he would execute Muslims on a daily basis unless every mosque in Scotland was closed down. He was originally placed on probation for three years, but breached the order.

MacGregor, of Crieff, made the threats in an email and a series of telephone calls to Strathclyde Police in 2007. Fiscal depute John Malpass told Perth Sheriff Court: “Because of the nature of the threat, senior officers and anti-terrorist officers were notified. Enquiries were made in relation to the source of the emails. The IP address was identified and traced to the accused’s home address. Police attended the Central Mosque and carried out a search which proved negative.”

MacGregor admitted breaching the probation order by disappearing to London after completing only one third of it. Sheriff Foulis, revoking probation and jailing him for a year, said: “It was a matter which the authorities, not surprisingly, took very seriously and reacted to in the manner described.”

When he initially admitted the offence at Glasgow Sheriff Court in 2009, his email was read out which stated:

“I’m a proud racist and National Front member. We as an organisation have decided to deal with the current threat from Muslims in our own British way, like our proud ancestors. Our demands are very small. Close all mosques in Scotland. If our demands aren’t met by next Friday, we’ll kidnap one Muslim and execute him or her on the internet, just like they did to our Ken Bigley.”

BBC News, 6 April 2011