Category Archives: English Defence League

Islamophobes’ legal bid to stop planned mosque in Cambridge because it could be ‘front for terrorism’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A protest group has been criticised for a legal application to stop a £17.5 million mosque being built in Cambridge, in which they claimed it could be “a front for terrorism”.

Stephen Gash, of Stop Islamisation Of Europe (SIOE), and Sareeta Webra, founder of Sikhs Against Sharia (SAS), made an application for a Cambridge County Court injunction to prevent the mosque in Mill Road being built. The application calls for a “court injunction to be served against the Muslim Academic Trust for construction of a mega-mosque”.

The campaigners claim the planning consultation was not conducted “lawfully”. And the application adds: “It is well documented that many so-called Muslim charities are fronts for Islamic terrorism and that several of those cited are based in the United Kingdom.”

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No show by EVF at Croydon Islamic centre

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EVF Croydon mosque harassmentSupporters of two right-wing groups did not follow through online threats made against an Islamic centre.

Last week the Advertiser reported that three men had appeared in a video recorded outside Anjuman-e-Zaini, in Brighton Road, South Croydon, late on the evening of January 19.

The men, believed to be connected to the English Defence League (EDL) and its splinter group the English Volunteer Force (EVF), can be seen ringing the doorbell and accusing the licensed place of worship of being an “illegal mosque”. One then threatened to return on Friday to “have the place over”. The video was posted online and the men also took to social media to invite others to join in.

Anjuman-e-Zaini, which has targeted by the groups in the past, contacted the police after being informed of the video by the Advertiser. Secretary Shaukat Dungarwalla said that Friday, and the weekend, had passed without incident. He added: “Fortunately nothing happened, but then police have been excellent. They put the lid on the issue.”

Croydon Advertiser, 27 January 2014

Police closing in on Birmingham EDL riot suspects

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Police hunting thugs who brought violence to Birmingham city centre during a bloody EDL rally have identified almost a third of the suspects they want to quiz – and will be knocking on their doors.

As the Sunday Mercury exclusively predicted last week, West Midlands Police went ahead with a special appeal on TV’s Crimewatch and broadcast 64 images culled from CCTV footage. Last night they revealed that 17 men had now been identified as a result, and that the search for all the others was continuing as officers followed up new leads supplied by members of the public.

Stills taken from security camera footage were shown in the nationwide appeal to trace those who took part in bloody clashes on July 20 last year. Smoke bombs, cobblestones, and bottles were hurled at police as the EDL and their opponents drew battle lines in the city centre, leading to injuries and damage.

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Kevin Carroll backs leader of violent racist campaign against Rohingya Muslims

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Hasan Lennon Nawaz and Carroll
October 2013: Quilliam announces Lennon and Carroll’s ‘break with extremism’

Since Stephen Lennon (“Tommy Robinson”) and his cousin Kevin Carroll appeared at a Quilliam press conference last year to announce their resignation from the leadership of the English Defence League, opponents of racism and fascism have concentrated on exposing the fraudulent character of Lennon’s supposed break with extremism.

With “Tommy” now safely locked up, beginning an 18-month prison sentence for his part in a £162,000 mortgage fraud, it is perhaps time to turn our attention to Carroll – who, just like Lennon, was presented by Quilliam as a man that had renounced his far-right, anti-Muslim past.

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MP says EDL not welcome in Slough

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A politician is calling on far-right group the English Defence League (EDL) to abandon its plans to march in Slough over fears of upsetting community cohesion. Slough MP Fiona Mactaggart has come out fighting after the EDL announced plans to host its first demonstration of the year in Slough on Saturday, February 1.

The group told The Observer it plans to march at 1pm down High Street, Slough, before speeches in the Town Square. An organiser said it will be a dry demonstration – meaning no alcohol – to “not offend other faiths and religions”.

Ms Mactaggart said: “The EDL is not welcome in Slough. We call on them to abandon their planned demonstration, which risks disrupting the good community relations which our town has enjoyed for many years and which our different communities and different faiths are determined should continue. Whether or not the EDL demonstration takes place, we pledge ourselves to work together to maintain and develop good community relations in our town.”

The EDL says the demonstration is a response to plans for a Muslim community centre in Langley and plans for an all-girls Muslim-faith based free school in Slough. An organiser said: “Because of Slough being such a diverse multi-cultural town I have made it a dry demo as to not offend other faiths and religions in the town with hordes of drunken fools.”

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EDL member nailed Qur’an to pub wall in protest against Islamic centre plan

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Graham FrenchA member of a far-right group nailed a copy of the Koran onto a pub which is due to be transformed into a Muslim education centre.

Graham French also wrote “EDL” on the wall of former Melrose Arms in Shotton Colliery – which has been the centre of demonstrations by the English Defence League in the village, after planning permission to change the use of the building was granted.

Since buying the property, local businessman Kaiser Javeed Choudry has been a repeat victim of crime, Peterlee Magistrates’ Court heard. Prosecutor Vicky Wilson said there had been great opposition to the plans and Mr Choudry’s property had been targeted with spray paint and windows had been smashed.

Ms Wilson said on December 14, EDL had been daubed twice in white paint on the building, causing £500 of damage, and an open Koran had been nailed onto a wooden board covering a window. She added: “Police took the Koran for forensic analysis and found several links to the defendant, including a palm print on the page.”

She told the court that information on Facebook showed French, of Dene Crescent, Shotton, is a member of a group called the Shotton Defence League. When French was arrested, he said it was a “revenge attack” after he was followed home from the pub one day by a female wearing a Burka.

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EDL Birmingham protest wanted pics released

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Birmingham EDL protest wanted pics

West Midlands Police have released photos of individuals wanted for questioning in connection with violent clashes at an English Defence League march in Birmingham last year.

Anyone who recognises anyone in the images is asked to contact officers from Operation Lynx in the incident room by calling 0121 626 4017 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Alternatively people can email tellus@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk

See also “Fresh images of EDL protest suspects released as part of Crimewatch appeal”, West Midlands Police news report, 22 January 2014

Update:  See “Birmingham riots: Dozens call police after TV appeal”, BBC News, 24 January 2014

Update 2:  See “Police closing in on Birmingham EDL riot suspects”, Islamophobia Watch, 26 January 2014

JIMAS to press ahead with HMD event featuring former EDL leader

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Organisers of an event on Holocaust Memorial Day in Ipswich have been criticised for inviting Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the English Defence League, as a guest speaker. The event on Monday, January 27, was originally planned to take place in conjunction with the Education Quarter Multi Faith Chaplaincy at Suffolk New College and University Campus Suffolk.

However the colleges have since disavowed themselves entirely from the talk and organiser JIMAS has decided to proceed independently. Muhammad Manwar Ali of JIMAS, who is also a fellow of Suffolk New College and a member of the chaplaincy for SNC and UCS, said it would be a “solemn occasion” to mark the Holocaust.

It is not yet known where the event will take place. Other speakers will include Holocaust survivor Frank Bright; Pat Magee, who was convicted of planting the IRA’s Brighton Bomb; and Umme Thara, a former member of Al-Muhajiroun. Mr Ali said the idea behind the talk was to get those involved to make a “clear cut commitment against anti-Semitism and any kind of hatred and genocide. We’ve all been on a journey and we want to give a powerful message from ex-radicals to say they’re rejecting it and say ‘never again’.”

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Police to screen EDL rally footage on Crimewatch in fresh appeal to trace 100 thugs

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL smokebomb Birmingham July 2013Police are to make a fresh appeal to identify up to 100 demonstrators involved in bloody clashes at an English Defence League march last year.

Smoke bombs, cobble stones, bottles and coins were hurled at police as the English Defence League and their opponents descended on Birmingham city centre for simultaneous demonstrations. One policeman suffered concussion during scuffles while other demonstrators were left bloodied by missiles and clashes with police in the shadow of the city’s new library.

An estimated 2,000 EDL supporters poured into Centenary Square last July, chanting hate-filled anti-Islam slogans. More than 1,300 officers from 12 forces were drafted in for a £1 million pound operation designed to guarantee public safety. It was West Midlands Police’s most expensive ever policing bill. Set against the backdrop of soldier Lee Rigby’s murder, and three bomb attacks on Midland mosques, the demos were held at a time of heightened tensions.

Around 20 arrests were made at the time with 16 further suspects from across the country being detained and bailed since the incident. But police have spent the last six months scouring CCTV footage of the rally and say it has given them access “to a wealth of exceptional quality footage” likely to provide “significant investigative opportunities to bring a large number of offenders to justice”.

It is understood that officers have managed to collate images of up to 100 suspects and an appeal will be made to identify them on BBC’s Crimewatch programme on Wednesday.

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EDL founder scraps school tour

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A schools tour by the founder of the English Defence League has been scrapped.

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon had hoped to reinvent himself by preaching tolerance after he quit the far-right group. He planned to launch his tour tomorrow but the head of the first school he was due to speak at has told the convicted fraudster not to turn up. Mums and dads at The Duchess’s Community High School in Alnwick, Northumberland went on social media to warn that Yaxley-Lennon is no role model.

He was once convicted of headbutting one of his own EDL supporters.

Now Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, has abandoned his tour. He says he will now post a video online daring any head teacher to allow him into their school. But the only confirmed date in his diary is on Thursday when he will attend court to be sentenced for a mortgage fraud he has already admitted.

Daily Star Sunday, 19 January 2014

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