Category Archives: English Defence League

EDL not extreme rightwing group, claims Met commissioner

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The significance of the far right should not be “overplayed” after clashes between anti-Islamic groups and Asian youths, the head of Scotland Yard warned on Thursday.

Far-right protests in Birmingham, Luton and Harrow had caused distress to Muslim communities, said Sir Paul Stephenson, commissioner of the Metropolitan police, “and I anticipate further problems”.

But he said: “We’ve got to be very careful to keep the problem in context and not to overplay [the far right’s] significance and give them an oxygen that serves their purpose.”

Sir Paul told the Metropolitan Police Authority the EDL and Stop the Islamisation of Europe were not viewed as extreme rightwing groups and could not be barred from protesting under the law that bans incitement to racial hatred.

Financial Times, 25 September 2009

What Stephenson told the MPA, in response to a question about the SIOE/EDL demonstration against Harrow Central Mosque, was that the EDL “per se are not viewed as an extreme right wing group in the accepted sense and have the right to protest”.

EDL claims it has Muslims’ support (yes, really)

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL NoMoreMosquesThe English Defence League last night claimed it had been swamped with messages of support from all races. And the masked men also said followers of Islam had contacted the EDL after the group produced a video proclaiming it is “anti-fascist”.

Yesterday the Daily Star revealed exclusive photos of the group’s swastika-burning video, which was its response to critics who say the organisation’s true motives can be compared to the Nazis.

The EDL said its campaign is only against hate-preaching fanatics, terrorists and Sharia Law. It says it has wrongly been linked with the far-right and BNP and only calls for integration. It said moderate Muslims were welcome in the country.

Daily Star, 24 September 2009

Update:  See also “Richard Desmond and the far-right”, Tabloid Watch, 27 September 2009

EDL protest over new mosque plan in Newport

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Muslim groups have called on the police to act quickly to prevent violent clashes after the anti-Islam English Defence League announced plans to march on a Welsh city in protest at a new mosque. Members of the group are planning to protest against the conversion of a disused church building into the new mosque in Newport.

A spokesman for the English Defence League told Wales on Sunday: “We are disgusted that a holy building of Christian worship is being turned over to a minority religion, large numbers of whom are in agreement with, or actually support Jihad against the West and intend to take control of this country, impose medieval Sharia law and make Britain an Islamic state.”

South Wales Central AM Leanne Wood has written to the Chief Constable of Gwent Police to raise her concerns about the protest and another one being planned to take place in Swansea the week before.

Islamic Society of Gwent secretary Mubarak Ali said he was very concerned about the protest being arranged. He said:

“I’ve seen how these protests have ended in other cities and I do not want that sort of violence in Newport. People living in Newport have been very supportive of the new mosque and it is people from outside of Wales trying to stir up the trouble. Newport is a very multi-cultural place and has been for some years. These trouble-makers are not welcome here.”

A spokeswoman for Gwent Police said the relevant risk assessment would be carried out to make sure the right resources are put in place to facilitate a peaceful protest.

Wales Online, 20 September 2009

We won’t return to Birmingham – it’s too violent, says EDL

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL in BirminghamLeaders of a controversial group which led protests against Islamic extremism in Birmingham have vowed never to hold demonstrations in the city again, because it is too violent.

The EDL spoke out as police chiefs from across the UK met in Birmingham to discuss ways of preventing extremist protests from wreaking havoc across the country.

Ninety people were arrested in Birmingham following a march on September 5 when supporters of the EDL, claiming to be protesting against Islamic extremism, clashed with Muslim youths.

In an article in a national magazine, Birmingham councillor Salma Yaqoob has accused the EDL of being a racist organisation attempting to “demonise and terrorise” Muslims. Ms Yaqoob claimed it was “predictable” that the English Defence League and young Asians would be involved in violence in the city earlier this month.

In an article for the New Statesman, she said: “If the violence of the EDL was predictable, it was also predictable that some Asian youths would ignore calls for restraint from myself and others. Many young people are simply not prepared to turn the other cheek when faced with this brand of violent racism.”

Birmingham Post, 18 September 2009

Anti-Muslim extremists plan Scots protest

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL2Anti-Muslim extremists linked with serious unrest in England are planning a major demonstration in Glasgow, it has emerged. The English Defence League aims to take to the streets of Scotland’s biggest city on Saturday, 14 November, sparking major safety concerns among police and council insiders.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council yesterday said “any application would be considered”. However, senior officials at the authority, which has the power to ban marches on police safety advice, would be keen to block any demonstration that is deemed likely to lead to violence.

The Glasgow demonstration was announced on the Facebook website this week. Some 132 people have already said they will attend. The time and place of the rally have still to be settled. Any attempt to approach sensitive areas, such as Glasgow Central Mosque, would present serious public safety problems, city insiders confirmed to The Scotsman.

The Scottish Islamic Foundation yesterday said it would be organising a public meeting within the next seven days to work out how it should respond to extreme anti-Islamic groups crossing the border. The group’s chairman, Asif Ahmed, said:

“This is time for Scotland to once again show we will not be divided by extremists. We have faced worse and come through it. The last time Glasgow was tested was at the 2007 airport attack. What we saw then was all strands of society coming together for a remarkable show of solidarity in George Square. We’ll be working again to make sure that the numbers peacefully opposing extremism will far outstrip that of the haters.”

The Scotsman, 18 September 2009

See also SIF news report, 17 September 2009

Police discuss anti-Islam group

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL No More MosquesPolice forces have met in Birmingham to discuss how to handle protests by an anti-Islamic extremism group.

Ninety people were arrested at a demonstration in the city on 5 September when English Defence League (EDL) members clashed with Muslims. The group is planning a protest in Manchester on 10 October after the city council failed to have it banned.

The summit involved senior officers from West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Bedfordshire and Metropolitan forces.

West Midlands Police said the protest in Birmingham had been difficult to police because much of the planning was carried out over social networking internet sites. It said the meeting would address how to tackle this issue and discuss whether new laws would help. It said it was not able to ban the Birmingham protest because the EDL did not formally apply for permission and the law only allowed permission to be refused for marches.

BBC News, 17 September 2009