Category Archives: Anti-Muslim violence

Ohio: Muslim storeowner victim of hate crime

Posted on by Bob Pitt

9-11 graffitiCOLUMBUS, Ohio — Police were searching for the person or people who broke inside a north side market late Saturday night. Cash from the register and a laptop computer were stolen, and several display cases were vandalized, 10TV’s Glenn McEntyre reported.  Also, “9/11” was spray-painted on countertops and windows.

The owner of Jaffa Market, located in the 5200 block of Godown Road, said that he received a call from his alarm company on Saturday at about 11:15 p.m., notifying him of the break-in. “When I did come inside, I (saw) the glass everywhere,” said the storeowner, who requested anonymity.

The storeowner, who is Muslim, said it was clear he was targeted because of his religion.

A man who said he is a close family friend of the storeowner said that recent controversies about a mosque proposed near ground zero in New York and a Florida pastor who threatened to burn the Quran increased tensions.

WBNS-10TV, 13 September 2010

See also CAIR press release, 13 September 2010

Another EDL ‘flash mob’ – in Nuneaton

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Police officers swooped to quell a racist confrontation which flared up shortly after soldiers had paraded through Nuneaton yesterday afternoon.

Members of the English Defence League attended the ceremony, which granted the Borough Council’s Freedom of Entry to the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. As the march came to an end, the 60-strong EDL entourage headed towards the Edward Street area of the town, which is the heart of the local Muslim community.

“We were  expecting some people connected with the EDL to be at the parade and after it had finished they congregated at The Crew bar in Queen’s Road,” said Chief Inspector Chris Lewis. “They positioned themselves outside and raised tensions with the Muslim community, which caused a few minor skirmishes but nothing of any consequence. We moved in to keep people at a distance and to calm things down. The EDL members were then escorted away from the scene and back to Nuneaton train station.”

The Warwickshire force commander, who was in charge of policing the parade, added: “We are constantly scanning for intelligence and knew that the EDL were planning to be in attendance for this occasion. Many of them had travelled from other parts of the country but they also had some local supporters.”

Around 200 people gathered around the Edward Street-Queen’s Road junction during a four-hour stand-off, as police officers, including dog handlers, kept the situation under control. All roads leading to the area were blocked for traffic and police reinforcements were also called in from the West Midlands.

Yaseen Ahmedabadi, assistant secretary of the Nuneaton Muslim Society, said: “The local community staged a peaceful protest against the unexpected and unwarranted presence of visitors from the English Defence League, who have no place in our society. We are very pleased with the way the police handled the situation.”

Coventry Telegraph, 13 September 2010

Bradford: more charges against EDL thugs possible as police examine CCTV footage

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL rioters BradfordPolice have vowed to bring the full force of the law against anyone involved in violence during a far-right demonstration in Bradford last Saturday. West Yorkshire Police are to scrutinise CCTV footage of the English Defence League’s demonstration in the city centre following a string of arrests for disorder.

So far two men have been charged as police made a total of 14 arrests after outbreaks of violence at the static protest. A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police, said: “We will be reviewing the CCTV footage for the day and looking to bring justice to anyone who was causing trouble on the day.”

Trouble briefly flared during the protest in Bradford’s Urban Garden as police attempted to keep hundreds of EDL supporters in check. Smoke bombs, stones and bottles were thrown towards the group’s opponents, forcing mounted police and officers wearing riot gear to move in.

A group of the protesters managed to break free from the police cordon, clambered over hoardings at the Westfield site and ran towards Bolton Road. A police officer suffered minor injuries during the demonstration.

Arshad Ali, a spokesman for We Are Bradford, said those found guilty of taking part in the violence should receive “significant” sentences, in line with those handed out after the Bradford riots nine years ago. He said: “Asian youths involved in the 2001 disturbances were meted out heavy long-term sentences for similar offences. We hope there will be equality and parity in the way justice will be done.”

Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 3 September 2010

Youths charged after shotgun fired outside mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Carlton N.Y. — A Holley teen-ager was charged with a felony count of criminal possession of a weapon after allegedly firing a shotgun outside a mosque in Waterport on Monday night.

Mark Vendetti, 17, of Holley was incarcerated in lieu of $10,000 bail or $20,000 bond for the incident that frightened the Muslim congregation on Fuller Road. Vendetti and four other Holley teens – Tim Weader, 17; Dylan Phillips, 18; Jeff Donahue, 18; and Anthony Ogden, 18 – also were charged with disruption of a religious service. Two other teens, 16 or younger, also may face charges, Sheriff Scott Hess said.

The Holley youths allegedly drove two vehicles outside the mosque and were yelling obscenities and beeping a car alarm while members were inside the mosque praying. When the noise persisted, some members went outside. The two vehicles were driven next to each other, going north down the dirt road.

One church member David Bell, 29, was near the road and was struck by one of the vehicles. He had a gash in his tongue, a swollen bottom lip and sore hip on Tuesday morning. Hess said deputies are investigating the hit-and-run.

Daily News, 31 August 2010

Threats, intimidation part of investigation of arson at Murfreesboro Islamic Center site

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Not WelcomeThreats and intimidation are part of a widening investigation into the vandalism at the site of the planned new Islamic Center in Murfreesboro.

“We are not going to stand for these intimidation tactics in our community,” said Claire Rogers of Middle Tennesseans for Religious Freedom.

Sheriff’s deputies are now patrolling the mosque construction site every hour, 24 hours a day.

This increase in scrutiny came after a piece of heavy equipment owned by Ole South Excavating of Murfreesboro was set on fire Saturday. The company is clearing land for the new Islamic Center.

NewsChannel 5 has learned that the vandalism happened after the center received an ugly, threatening voicemail earlier in the week. The caller disparaged Islam and then said, “You need to get out of the country now.”

There’s also evidence outlined in a police report that someone vandalized two back loaders also owned by Ole South at an entirely different location. That incident also happened early Saturday morning. Some believe this is an effort to try to intimidate contractors into not working on the project. Ole South’s owner says he will continue to honor the contract.

News Channel 5, 30 August 2010

See also TPM, 31 August 2010

Via Michael Tomasky

Ahmed Sharif, stabbed cab driver, gets $30,000 in donations

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Ahmed Sharif hoped he could garner more than sympathy after he was stabbed by a passenger last week.

The long-time cabbie asked the New York Taxi Workers Alliance to collect donations that would help keep his family afloat while he recovers from the injuries he suffered in an alleged anti-Islam attack. Sharif will miss at least four months of work while his wounds heal.

Donations were slow to trickle in at first. Bhairavi Desai, executive director for the Alliance, said initial donations could “barely cover baby formula.” But CNN came to the rescue. Once the network picked up the story, more than $30,000 flooded in.

“This outpouring is the most joyous thing his family could ever hope for,” Desai said. “This will help them survive.”

To donate to Sharif, go here.

Huffington Post, 30 August 2010

Arson at Murfreesboro Islamic Center site

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Murfreesboro arsonOne piece of construction equipment at the future site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro was set afire in the overnight hours while others had gasoline poured on them, according to a spokesperson for the ICM.

Carmie Ayash, spokeswoman for the ICM, told The DNJ Islamic Center officials were contacted by the sheriff’s department around 1:30 a.m. Saturday in reference to the damaged equipment. It appeared gasoline had been poured on several pieces of equipment at the site and one was lit afire. Ayash said it appeared the responsible arsonist was spooked during the act and fled the scene before other equipment could be set on fire.

“We were contacted by police department around 1:30 a.m,” Ayash said Saturday afternoon. “They said someone had caught fire to some of the equipment. I think they lifted the hood and poured gas into the hood and set it on fire.”

Ayash said the most recent vandalism to the site “takes it to a whole new level.” The site has already been the target of two other vandalisms, both aimed at a sign marking the future site.

“Everyone in our community no longer feels safe,” she said. “To set a fire that could have blown up equipment and, God forbid, spread and caused damage to the neighbors there … we really feel like this is something that we and the neighbors don’t deserve. When they (ICM officials) called me this morning I started crying.”

DNJ, 28 August 2010

See also CBS News, 28 August 2010

And “CAIR seeks hate crime probe of arson at Tenn. mosque site”, CAIR press release, 28 August 2010

New York: Mayor Bloomberg welcomes Ahmed Sharif to City Hall

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Yesterday at City Hall, Mayor Bloomberg met with Ahmed Sharif, the cab driver who was stabbed by a drunken passenger because of his religion. Despite the harrowing experience, and the lingering trauma from the attack, Sharif affirmed his love for NYC: “I feel like I belong here. This is the city actually [for] all colors, races, religion, everyone. We live here side by side peacefully.”

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Racially motivated attack on Muslim man in Heckmondwike

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A Muslim man was attacked by a gang of white youths on his way to a Kirklees mosque. Now police are appealing for witnesses to the racially motivated attack on the 51-year old man.

It happened on Thursday, August 12, at around 6:45pm, as the man was walking down an alleyway on Goose Hill, in Heckmondwike. He was approached by a group of between six and ten young white men all in their mid to late teens, who shouted racial abuse at the man who was then punched in the face by one of the youths before they all ran away towards High Street.

Huddersfield Examiner, 18 August 2010