CAIR calls for assault on Muslim cabbie to be investigated as hate crime

The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today called on the Department of Justice to investigate as a hate crime an incident in which a Southern California Muslim taxi driver was assaulted after being asked about his religion.

CAIR-LA said the Muslim driver was allegedly assaulted when he arrived at a Newport Beach, Calif., cigar lounge on March 19in response to a call for a taxi. The alleged victim reports that he was confronted by the owner of the facility when he inquired if anyone had requested a taxi. The man who identified himself as the owner allegedly told the victim, “I am a Marine officer, f**k you.”

Shortly after the verbal confrontation, a woman came out of the cigar lounge and confirmed that she had requested the cab. The victim stepped out of the cab to talk to the woman. According to the victim, three men then came out of the facility and confronted him, pushing him repeatedly and asked questions such as “What’s your religion?” “Where are you from?” and said “We’re going to f**k you up like we f**ked up your country.”

The alleged assailants reportedly followed the victim to his taxi when he returned to push the vehicle’s emergency response button, which failed. Once inside his taxi, the victim had begun to call 911 when one the attackers allegedly sat in the seat behind him, placed him in a headlock and proceeded to punch him. The other two men and the owner also allegedly began punching the victim. After a few minutes, the lounge owner reportedly said, “Stop, we’ve f**ked him enough.”

The victim sought medical treatment for facial and head injuries. Since the incident, he has missed work and reports that he is afraid to go to work.

CAIR press release, 28 March 2011

Muslim leader says Flintshire mosque still a priority

The man behind proposals for an Islamic Cultural Centre at a disused social club destroyed by fire says he is uncertain what the site’s future holds.

Mohammed Munchab Ali, chairman of the Flintshire Muslim Cultural Society, told the Leader that plans to establish a centre with a mosque in Flintshire remain in place despite Shotton Lane Social Club being burned to the ground early on February 4.

But he said any possibility of developing on the former social club land is out of the group’s hands and they remain in the dark over what the likely future of the site is.

Police yesterday confirmed they are continuing to investigate the cause of the blaze, although they have said they are treating it as suspicious.

Mr Ali, who reached an agreement for the society to move into the social club shortly before the fire, said: “What happens with the site in Shotton is beyond our control. We are still waiting to hear from the police about the fire. The situation has not really changed since the fire but we still want to create an Islamic Cultural Centre in Flintshire.”

The group is continuing to use Queensferry Community Centre but retain hopes they can expand by moving into a larger facility despite the fire and protests against the proposed development. Their hopes for a new centre include inviting all members of the Flintshire community to come and learn more about Islamic culture and to provide more facilities for women and children.

“Although we are still able to use the community centre, it is a limited facility,” added Mr Ali, owner of the Bengal Dynasty chain of restaurants.  “We are finding difficulties because of the small space available and we wanted to expand our activities. “The reasons why we wanted to move are still in place.”

The site is now in the hands of receivers, with the remains of the building having been demolished. Community leaders earlier this week called for action to be taken quickly over the future of the land and clear up the “eyesore” of rubble that remains.

Mr Ali said he felt people had stopped talking about the fire during the past seven weeks but added there has been plenty of support for his organisation’s aims. He said: “A lot of people have written to us since the fire.  We have had people wiring and saying they were very sorry about what had happened. If there is a positive over what happened, it has been the support we have received from people.”

The Leader, 25 March 2011

Stoke-on-Trent mosque fire suspects charged with arson

Stoke mosque arsonTwo men have been charged in connection with a fire at a mosque in Stoke-on-Trent.

Emergency crews were called when live CCTV footage showed smoke coming from the mosque in Regent Road, Hanley, at about 0630 GMT on 3 December, 2010.

Two men from the city, aged 23, and 28, have been charged with arson with intent to endanger life. Staffordshire Police said the men were due to appear before North Staffordshire magistrates on Friday.

BBC News, 24 March 2011

See also The Sentinel, 25 March 2011

Update:  See “Hanley mosque arson attack suspects bailed for crown court”, The Sentinel, 26 March 2011

Further update:  See also “English Defence League activist charged with arson & intent to endanger life”, Exposing the English Defence League, 28 March 2011

Redbridge mosque attacked by racist thugs

Redbridge mosque attacked by racist thugs

Redbridge Islamic Centre press release, 25 March 2011

Worshippers were terrified when a group of six to seven young men tried to smash their way through the front door, breaking windows causing criminal damage to the building. The attack on the Eastern Avenue mosque took place at approximately 7.45pm, just before the final evening prayer.

The thugs shouted racist and islamophobic abuse as they tried to smash their way through to the main prayer hall of the mosque throwing bricks at worshippers and staff. The imam of the mosque sustained some injuries as a result of the attack, but thankfully is not serious. Neighbouring residential properties and cars were also damaged during the ensuing carnage.

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EDL thug admits to stupidity

A man who smashed a window during the English Defence League protest in Leicester has admitted causing criminal damage worth £1,500. Gareth Mooney (29) of Sandown Court, Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, broke the shop window of Big John’s Takeaway, in Humberstone Road on October 9 last year.

Liz Dodds, prosecuting, told Leicester magistrates that Mooney was one of about 200 protesters who broke through a police cordon in Queens Street at about 4pm to challenge a group of Asian youths. The trouble then spilled into Humberstone Road, where up to 20 members of the public had sought refuge in the takeaway.

She said: “Mr Mooney was caught on CCTV giving a forceful kick to the window, causing it to shatter in a spider effect. His behaviour instigated the subsequent attack on the building which caused a total of £5,000 damage.”

Mooney said: “I’m very sorry for the trouble I’ve caused. It was down to stupidity.” He was bailed to appear at North Tyneside Magistrates Court on April 12.

Leicester Mercury, 23 March 2011

Second fire in two days at Houston mosque

Clear Lake mosque fireNobody has been hurt in the second suspicious fire in as many days at a mosque in suburban Houston.

Arson investigators on Thursday night were called to the Clear Lake Education Center when some worshippers saw flames and smoke in the rear of the building.

Member Syed Mohiuddin told KTRK-TV that the structure serves as a prayer hall and mosque. Much of the damage was to the back of the complex. Nobody was injured.

Another fire was reported at the mosque on Wednesday. Mohiuddin says it’s “not an accident because somebody is doing it.” Investigators declined to say whether they believe the mosque has been targeted.

Associated Press, 18 March 2011

See also abc13.com, 18 March 2011

See “CAIR asks FBI to probe bias motive for Texas mosque fires”, CAIR press release, 18 March 2011

EDL demonstrator launched ‘flying kick’ at Muslim

EDL Leicester October 2010
EDL protestors in Leicester, October 2010

Three men were sentenced yesterday for their part in the public disorder which accompanied the English Defence League protest in Leicester.

Two of the men, who denied having any official political affiliation with the EDL, were among a group hurling missiles at the international arts centre Fabrika, in Humberstone Gate.

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Stephen Lennon whips up EDL thugs by publicising baseless rumour of Muslim attack on priest

Stephen Lennon arrestedExposing the English Defence League reports on EDL leader Stephen Lennon’s latest attempt to damage community relations in Luton. He posted the following report on the EDL’s Facebook page yesterday:

“Last night in Luton a priest was battered coming out of Saturday mass, the word is it was Muslim youth! We are still waiting for this to be confirmed but EDL will be on standby for this sat as if it’s true thousands of Luton lads will be on the streets! THIS WILL BE THE FINAL STRAW!”

EDL supporters reacted as Lennon must have known they would. Some sample comments:

“fooking wankers. Lets batter then fucking scum. EDL till I die !!”

“If this is true the correct response should be violent retaliation….all this peaceful, non aggressive approach needs to go out the window..these bastards need a good hiding”

“Dirty bastards should be shot”

“These people need to be put down like the dogs they are ns”

“May God forgive them cos we fucking wont. Hang em ns.”

“time for action….. they must pay the price and I want to lick their blood off my face”

“TIME TO START WIPING OUT THIS PLAUGE BEFORE OUR COUNTRY IS OVER RUN BY DIRTY DRESS WEARING SCUM FUCKS. OUR WOMEN KIDS AND NOW OUR FAITH WILL NOT BE SAFE TILL ALL OF THESE FUCKERS ARE ALL WIPED OUT NS”

Observing “I’m prepared to bet my house to this story being completely untrue”, Darcy Jones of Exposing the EDL adds: “An identical post was made on Stephen’s personal FACEBOOK profile last night evoking similar reactions. Some deeply offensive racism and threats of arson were thrown in for good measure…. Both these posts have been forwarded to Bedfordshire police as we fear this fabricated incitement is genuinely dangerous to Stephen’s community.”

And this afternoon we find the following message from Lennon posted on the EDL’s Facebook page:

EDL rumour retracted

Germany’s main Muslim organisation urges government to tackle Islamophobia

Germany’s main Muslim organization announced Saturday it is to boycott planned talks with the government over its refusal to address the key concerns of Muslims, including the problem of Islamophobia, the daily Neuen Osnabruecker Zeitung reported.

The Chairman of the Central Council of Muslims Aiman Mazyek said the government-sponsored Islam Conference, scheduled to be held in Berlin on March 29, had to encompass a greater part of Germany’s Muslim civic society. He also urged the conference to press ahead with the formation of two working groups which would dwell on aspects like granting official recognition to Islam as a religious community in Germany and serious tackling Islamophobia.

German Muslim leaders have repeatedly voiced deep concern over mounting Islamophobia in their country. Although the German government has acknowledged Islamophobia has become a serious problem, it has yet to really address the issue.

Mosques in Germany have been the target of firebombings in recent months amid growing Islamophobia in the country. Berlin mosques have been the scene of at least seven arson attacks since June 2010, among them Iranian Islamic Culture Center. The Sehitlik Mosque, Berlin’s biggest mosque, has been firebombed four times over the past months.

There are around 4.3 million Muslims in Germany of which 2.5 million are Turks.

IRNA, 12 March 2011