Category Archives: Far right racists

Norway: terror and Islamophobia in the mirror

Posted on by Bob Pitt

There’s an informative article at Open Democracy by Sindre Bangstad, who examines the atmosphere of Islamophobia in Norway that provided the context for Anders Breivik’s terrorist attacks. He concludes:

Anders Behring Breivik is trying to fight the course of history, but to no avail. Multicultural Norway is here to stay. Period. Several of the young people who survived the Utøya massacre have reported that they were saved by young party comrades with a Muslim minority background. Among the dead, Muslims and non-Muslims were united in their sacrifice. The testimonials of the survivors might very well contribute to the creation of a Norway in which the conspiratorial fantasies of Anders Behring Breivik and other Norwegian racists and Islamophobes will become marginalized in time. Anders Behring Breivik wanted to instigate war. His ideas will be crushed by our humanity and solidarity and our unflinching commitment not to forget the sacrifice of the many murdered in cold blood on a rainy day in Oslo and at Utøya on 22/7/2011

Catalan far-right anti-mosque protest banned

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Plataforma per CatalunyaThe Catalonia region of northeast Spain has banned a rally called to protest plans to build a mosque in a small town, fearing violence. The demonstration in Salt had been called for Saturday by an openly anti-immigrant party called Platform for Catalonia.

The regional government’s interior department said Tuesday it feared clashes between demonstrators and young Muslims. It said police have warned that young Muslims in Salt are reaching out to Muslims in nearby towns to convene a counter-rally for the same day in Salt.

The rally against the mosque was to be held at the spot where Muslim organizations have applied for a permit to build it.

AFP, 24 August 2011

See also Europa Press, 24 August 2011

EDL supporter denies threatening behaviour at Telford protest

Posted on by Bob Pitt

An 18-year-old who attended an English Defence League demonstration in Wellington has denied using threatening behaviour.

Myles Davies, of Melton Mews, Whitchurch, was at Telford Magistrates’ Court today where he pleaded not guilty to using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment or stress at Wellington Train Station on August 13. He is due in court again on August 30.

Shropshire Star, 23 August 2011

Rise in Islamophobia and antisemitism in Sweden, study finds

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Antisemitism och islamofobiThe number of xenophobic web sites have almost doubled since 2007 and Jews and Muslims wearing apparent religious symbols are subjected to significant discrimination in Sweden today, according to a new report from the Living History Forum (Forum för levande historia).

“Sweden as a whole is a tolerant country but this report shows that racism is growing and is being professionalized on the internet. There is today a small but growing minority that harbour hatred against Muslims and Jews,” minister for integration, Erik Ullenhag, wrote in a statement on Monday.

The report, which was requested by the government and carried out by the Forum, also shows that an increased number of racist web pages have been created in recent years and that prejudice is being spread through schoolbooks.

According to the report, the number of racist sites in Sweden has almost doubled in two years. In 2009 there were around 8,000 xenophobic Swedish sites whereas today the authors of the report estimate an increase to 15,000. This follows a EU-wide trend where right wing extremist groups are using the internet to spread hate-propaganda.

According to the report, these are characterized by anti-Semitic and Islamophobic views, where conspiracy theories are the most recurring elements. The Jewish group is often cast as world conspirators whereas the Muslim group is seen as physical occupiers, actively are on their way to taking over society through mass-immigration and rising nativity figures.

The Jewish community in Sweden consists of some 20,000 individuals and the Muslim community of 300,000. Fresh crime statistics show that there were 161 reports of crimes with anti-Semitic motives and 272 with Islamophobic motives last year. But according to the Forum it is difficult to get a fair idea of the situation from these statistics as they are based on police reports and the authors believe there may be many more unrecorded cases.

“Above all this study shows that research and follow-ups into preventative actions regarding intolerance against Jews and Muslims is sorely needed,” said head of Forum for Living History, Eskil Franck, in a statement.

The Local, 22 August 2011

Wilders’ PVV almost level with ruling VVD in latest opinion poll

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The latest opinion poll from Maurice de Hond puts the populist Freedom Party (PVV) almost on a par with the conservative VVD, the senior partner in the current Dutch coalition.

The poll indicates that, if an election were to be held now, the VVD would just remain the largest party with 30 MPs, down from its present 31. It also forecasts that the PVV would get 29 seats in parliament, up from its current 24. The Socialist Party would, according to Maurice de Hond, become the third largest group in the 150-strong parliament.

The present coalition is made up of the VVD and the Christian Democrats. This minority government relies on parliamentary support for most of its policies from the PVV.

RNW, 21 August 2011

Four found guilty of Redbridge mosque attack

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Four thugs who bombarded a mosque and an imam with bricks in a racist attack are facing jail.

The group of youths tried to storm Redbridge Islamic Centre, Eastern Avenue, Redbridge, after taunting worshippers arriving for evening prayers with racist chants. The front window was smashed and the imam Shafeel Begg was hit by a brick as he tried to pursue them on March 24.

Rocky Beale, 21, of Purleigh Avenue, Woodford Green, Eliot Jones, 19, of no fixed address, Matthew Stephenson, 18, of Burrow Road, Hainault and a 16-year-old who cannot be named because of his age, were convicted of violent disorder at Snaresbrook Crown Court after just 90 minutes deliberation by the jury on Wednesday. They will be sentenced on September 28.

Two others, Daniel Leal, 19, of Queenborough Gardens, Gants Hill and Ryan Jones, 23, of no fixed address were cleared of violent disorder after a two-week trial.

Pam Oon, prosecuting, said the 16-year-old “threw a brick, which smashed the front window of the mosque”. He and another of the attackers then ran inside, and Mr Begg and caretaker Mohammed Wahud gave chase.

“In the process the caretaker was injured by some broken glass,” said Ms Oon. “When the imam and the caretaker came out of the mosque, the youths were still throwing bricks and shouting abuse, before they ran down Eastern Avenue towards Redbridge Tube station.”

Ilford Recorder, 19 August 2011

Via ENGAGE

EDL Kingston demo cancelled due to rain

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL KingstonEfforts by the English Defence League to hold a “meet and greet” in Kingston fizzled out in heavy rain yesterday.

The far-right group had been due to start their first formal event in the borough at 1.30pm on Saturday. Police, who maintained a highly visible presence in town and outside Kingston Mosque, said they recognised a number of suspected EDL members around town. However, they did not deliver any leaflets after heavy rain hit the town in the early afternoon.

About 20 people from the GMB union, Kingston Green Party, Socialist Workers Party, Unite Against Fascism and the South London Anti-Fascist Alliance held their own counter demonstration.

Matthew Smith, of Kingston GMB, said: “Unlike eight EDL members stuck on a table in Wetherspoons, we were out in the rain distributing 500 leaflets. It was an effort to make sure anyone who could be suseptible to know why the EDL are wrong.”

David Gair, of Kingston police, said: “Whether their resolve was weakened by the weather I don’t know. We have seen a few suspected EDL members, but they did not come out in great numbers.”

Surrey Comet, 21 August 2011

“Fizzled out in heavy rain”? Whatever happened to “NSE”? How can the EDL hope to repel the Islamic hordes if its members bottle out as soon as they’re faced with the prospect of getting a bit wet?

EDL member admits to racist graffiti on mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Charlotte_DaviesA single mother said to be a member of the English Defence League (EDL) has admitted her part in an incident which saw racist remarks daubed on buildings including a mosque.

Charlotte Christina Davies, 19, intends to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit racially aggravated criminal damage, Durham Crown Court heard yesterday.

The teenager, from Aylesbury, in Buckinghamshire, was charged after slogans were spray-painted on the Nasir mosque, in Hartlepool, and the Albert Guest House and Milko store, in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, on November 16, last year.

Ms Davies sent text messages suggesting people throw pork scratchings, leave a pig’s head and daub Merry Christmas above a door the day before the beginning of the Muslim festival of Eid, David Crook, prosecuting, told the court.

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Tennessee: protestors oppose Wilders film

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Cookeville protestCOOKEVILLE — A crowd of more than 100 peaceful protestors gathered outside the courthouse last night with signs saying “We love Muslims” and “All religions believe in justice,” among many others, showing their opposition to the Tennessee Freedom Coalition’s showing of what they call a highly controversial film about the Islamic religion.

“A Warning to America,” by Geert Wilders, a Dutch politician who has spoken out against Islam, was shown in the county commission chambers last night. DVDs of the film were also available for purchase at the event.

“We’re here to voice another side,” Pat Handlson, minister of Cookeville First Presbyterian Church and event organizer said. “I think it’s sad there’s been such negativity surrounding the Murfreesboro mosque.”

Wilders, according to Rachel Welch, organizer of the film showing and vice-chair of the Putnam County Republican Party, has been under persecution in his country for hate speech and speaking out against Shariah law. “This is certainly not a hate film,” Welch said. “It’s about facts and Islam being a political ideology shrouded in a religion.”

Very few confrontations between the two sides were reported and both Welch and Handlson were pleased with how peaceful it was.

“I just wanted everyone here to be a witness to this event,” Handlson continued. “To be a witness to love your God and love your neighbor. We all can co-exist.” Handlson is concerned about this film being shown locally because Cookeville is home to a large group of Saudi Muslims.

Herald-Citizen, 20 August 2011

See also Cookeville Times, 20 August 2011

Police flood Kingston as EDL prepare to gather on streets

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Police are out in force after the English Defence League said it would hold a “meet and greet”. The event, which will also include leafleting, is due to start at 1.30pm in Kingston town centre.

A group of about 15 anti-fascist campaigners from Kingston and south-west London are handing out leaflets of their own.

Last November about 60 people marched from Hampton Wick to Kingston in a protest against poppy burning. A small group of men attacked Kingston mosque later the same day.

Surrey Comet, 20 August 2011