Category Archives: Anti-Muslim violence

Vandals strike at Queensland mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A mosque being built in Cairns has been vandalised just months after local Islamic leaders received hate mail depicting Muslims as terrorists.

The symbol of Islam, the crescent moon, was ripped from the roof of the Dunn St mosque about 2am on Monday. The symbol, which Muslims describe as important as the cross is to Christians, has yet to be found.

In the early stages of its construction, the mosque’s walls were smashed with sledgehammers and the centre’s mailbox was stuffed with drawings of Muslims dressed as terrorists. The letters were signed off from the Atheist Society of Cairns – believed to be a fake organisation.

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West Midlands mosque burnt to the ground by arsonists

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Cradley Heath MosqueCradley Heath’s Muslim community is appealing for help after its mosque was burnt to the ground by arsonists. A fire engulfed the Cradley Heath Mosque and Islamic Centre on Boxing Day destroying the building and the religious countless books inside. It is the second time in five years that the building has been targeted by arsonists and police are hunting the culprits.

The mosque was a thriving part of the community with 400 worshippers using it and classes of children being taught there. The worshippers are now trying to find a new place to worship as the new Mosque they have being building alongside the old one will not be ready for use for several years.

Halesowen News, 29 December 2009

Southern California mosque vandalised

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Rahmat P. Phyakul, board chairman and one of the founders of Al-Fatiha Masjid, reported to CAIR-LA that vandals shattered windows and glass doors of the mosque’s office and prayer hall on Monday, December 7. A plaque with Quranic verses was tossed on the floor, the sound system was destroyed and donation boxes were broken into.

The mosque has suffered prior incidents of vandalism. In the past, a passerby shouted anti-Muslim slurs at worshipers. The slurs reportedly included: “You, terrorist, Osama Bin Laden, F… your God, F…. you Allah.” Prayer rugs in the mosque were also covered with urine.

“We urge law enforcement authorities to utilize all their resources to immediately and fully investigate the vandalism at Masjid Al-Fatiha as a possible hate crime, especially because of the nature of the vandalism,” said Affad Shaikh, civil rights manager for CAIR-LA.

Phyakul added: “For those who have committed hate crimes against people of any faith, especially Muslims, they should know that they cannot silence us, shut us down or cause us to go away. This is our country, and we are here to stay and we are willing to stand for the truth and peace under any circumstances.”

CAIR press release, 13 December 2009

Man who tore off Muslim woman’s veil convicted of assault

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A man who tore a Muslim woman’s veil from her face as he passed her in the street has been ordered by a court to pay her £1,000 in compensation. Stephen Ard, 29, of Gypsy Lane, Leicester, also received a jail term of 16 weeks, suspended for a year, and 150 hours of community service.

Leicester Magistrates’ Court heard victim Rehana Sidat felt “invaded and scared to walk down the street alone”. Ard pleaded guilty to religiously aggravated assault. Ms Sidat, who runs a drop-in centre for people with learning difficulties in Leicester, said: “He pulled my veil off and said ‘get that off’, he was really quite angry, it was shocking. I felt frightened.”

BBC News, 14 December 2009

Update:  See also the Leicester Mercury, 16 December 2009

Racists are a minority in Manchester, vigil told

Posted on by Bob Pitt

UAF vigil ManchesterMore than 100 people joined a vigil outside Southern Cemetery in south Manchester following the desecration of Muslim graves.

The group – which crossed religious, social and political divides – met to show a united front against the action after more than 20 graves were vandalised.

It is the third time in three months that vandals have targeted Muslim headstones at the cemetery on Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, and police are treating the attacks as a racist hate crime.

The 45-minute vigil was organised by Unite Against Fascism, and protesters waved placards as speeches were made by representatives of different uniting groups. Those taking part included leaders of the Muslim, Christian and Jewish faiths, along with members of white and non-white communities, and political representatives from different parties.

Speaking at the rally, Chorlton councillor and deputy leader of the council, Val Stevens said: “This attack is not an act of mindless violence. Those who did it knew exactly what they were doing. And we all know that they are a tiny, tiny minority in this city.”

Manchester Evening News, 4 December 2009

Vigil at Manchester cemetery after Muslim graves damaged

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A vigil is to be held at Manchester’s Southern Cemetery after Muslim graves were desecrated for the third time in two months. The Unite Against Fascism peace vigil is due to take place at the cemetery on Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton at 1400 GMT.

Police are treating the latest attack, which happened between 20 and 23 November and left about 20 graves damaged, as racially-motivated. Headstones were also damaged on 29 September and again three days later.

Mark Krantz, from the Chorlton Unite Against Fascism group, said: “This attack is designed to hurt the living. It is meant to bring hurt, hatred, and division. Our response will be to build unity and solidarity.”

Rev Sarah Brewerton, from Chorlton Central Church, added that she hoped the vigil would show a united front against racism. “When you go to visit loved ones at a grave you are already in a distressed state. Even worse to then find the desecration,” she said. “We’re hoping to gain some act of solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters in the community here in Manchester, but also as a statement that this is totally unacceptable behaviour.”

BBC News, 29 November 2009

Muslim students beaten for defending woman wearing hijab

Posted on by Bob Pitt

An 18-year-old Muslim student was attacked and beaten even after he lost consciousness by a gang of white youths on November 6. As they attacked him, they shouted “Where is your Allah now” and “Where is He to help you now.”

The first year business and computer undergraduate student had just left De Montfort University, Leicester, library with his friend at around 8.30 pm when they were attacked by around 10 white youths in Great Central Way, near the junction with Briton Street, Bede Island. The two students, Ahmed and Umar, (not their real name as they wish to remain anonymous) saw the gang taunting and abusing a Muslim woman wearing the hijab. She was with two other women who had gone ahead of her.

Ahmed told The Muslim News that he and Umar heard the gang tell the middle aged woman, “How do you like it if I walked in a balaclava. This is England. You should not be wearing a scarf.” They were concerned about what would happen to the Muslim woman and so they waited. One of the white youths turned towards them and asked them why were they were watching them. “I told them, ‘Leave her alone’.”

The woman tried to tell the white youths not to attack the students but they didn’t listen. The white youths assaulted Ahmed and Umar, and began beating them. Ahmed fell down and the gang continued to punch and kick him even after he was unconscious. They “jumped” on his head and kicked his body. He was picked up and thrown on to the ground.

Ahmed said the attack was “Islamophobic as they were talking about her scarf and also when they told me ‘Where is your Allah’ is to do with religion. How did they know we were Muslims? We could have been Sikhs for all they know.” Umar said the attack was both Islamophobic and racist as they had also shouted “Pakis”. He was “very angry” and said he never experienced racism in East London where he was from.

Muslim News, 27 November 2009

See also the comment piece by Kawsar Zaman, vice-chair of the MCB’s Youth Committee, “Can the BBC shirk its responsibility if anti-Muslim attacks increase?”

Racist yobs vandalise Muslim graves

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Chadderton Cemetery vandalism

Racist vandals have targeted Muslim graves at a south Manchester cemetery for a third time. Sometime between 4pm on Friday 20 November and 9am on Monday 23 November unknown offenders pushed over 20 headstones at the Southern Cemetery on Barlow Moor Road. The vandalism is being treated as racially motivated as only a Muslim section of graves were targeted.

On 29 September 2009, 26 Muslim headstones were vandalised and on 2 November 2009, 27 were similarly targeted. Police are now appealing to anyone who has information to come forward. Detective Chief Inspector Steve Eckersley said:

“It is an absolute disgrace that whoever is responsible thinks it acceptable to repeatedly target the graves of loved ones. The repeated nature of these attacks and the fact the offenders are only targeting Muslim graves means we are treating this as a hate crime. This sort of mindless, racist behaviour must be utterly condemned and I’m sure the whole community will be outraged, that is why I want to reassure them, and in particular the families affected that we are doing all we can to catch the culprits.”

Manchester Evening News, 25 November 2009

Family’s anger as attackers go free

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Muslim student's injuriesThe family of a student left with a pendant embedded in her face after a sickening racist assault have expressed their anger after her attackers escaped jail.

The two girls and one boy, all aged 16, were given referral orders or community sentences at Rochdale Magistrates Court on Monday morning, following the incident, which took place in June in the children’s playground in Springfield Park.

The uncle of the victim, who has asked not to be named, said his family would be disappointed with the sentences. He added: “This was an horrific attack so it is disappointing that the perpetrators have escaped custodial sentences. It sends the wrong message that if you launch a racist attack, you won’t be jailed.”

The victim had gone to the park with her three young sisters, aged between five and 11 and her sister in law, who was with her 18 month old baby. The pair took the younger children to play on the baby swings, but they were confronted by one of the 16 year old girls and Kirsty Leigh Hood, 19, who began verbally abusing them, including a chant of “BNP”.

The 16-year-old boy and the other girl later approached the victim and her sister in law and also became confrontational. When the boy mumbled something at the victim, she told him to speak English, to which he responded “I’m more British than you”. The boy then suggested to one of the girls that she should pull the victim’s headscarf off, and it was at this point that the girl punched the victim in the face, which such force that the pendant from her bracelet became embedded in her eye.

Manchester Evening News, 18 November 2009

Pensioner attacked on way home from mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

An Asian man in his 70s suffered a fractured eye socket in what police have called a “cowardly” racially motivated attack. The victim was struck in the face by one of two men who approached him near the traffic island in Coventry Street, Kidderminster, when he was returning from a prayer meeting.

After the assault, which happened at 7.45pm on Friday, October 30, the men walked off into Radford Avenue and were seen turning right into Gilbert Scott Way.

The victim was taken to Kidderminster Hospital and, though he was not detained, is now receiving ongoing treatment for the eye injury.

One of the two men sought by police, who were both white and described as in their early 20s, was about 6ft tall with dark hair and wearing a blue and red top with white sleeves. The other was shorter, had lighter hair and wore a pale blue T-shirt under a darker blue, hooded top which had white numbering on the front.

PC Saqib Mahmood said: “This was a cowardly, unprovoked attack on a frail pensioner who was in no position to defend himself.

“He was on his way back from prayers at a mosque and dressed in traditional white robes. We believe he was singled out for no other reason than his appearance and as such it was a racially motivated assault. Nothing was said beforehand and there was no attempt to rob him.

“Fortunately incidents of this nature are rare here but having said that even one is still too many and I would urge anyone who saw what happened or has any idea who might be responsible to get in touch with us.”

Witnesses or anyone with information should call PC Mahmood on 0300 333 3000, quoting incident reference 658-S-301009, or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Asian Image, 10 November 2009