Category Archives: Far right racists

EDL to hold demonstration in Leicester

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL in Birmingham

Controversial group the English Defence League (EDL) has revealed it will hold a protest in Leicester next month. The EDL – whose stated aim is to oppose Islamic extremism – said about 3,000 members would be involved in the demonstration, on Saturday, October 9. Critics say EDL is a far-right group whose demonstrations have led to violence in other UK cities.

Anti-fascist movement Searchlight said the EDL was in Leicester for “one reason only”. Spokesman Simon Cressy said: “They’re a walking time bomb who bring disharmony and disruption wherever they go.”

Leicester Unite Against Fascism (UAF) is planning a counter-demonstration. A spokesman said: “Leicester UAF is building opposition to this proposed demonstration. Previous EDL marches have seen shops and houses vandalised, people attacked and racist chanting. They do not represent the majority of people in this country.”

Councillor Manjula Sood, leader of the Leicester Council of Faiths, said: “We saw what happened in Bradford and we don’t want the same thing here in Leicester. We have built a reputation of community cohesion. We are not perfect but other cities look to us as an example of cohesion and we don’t want to damage that.”

Leicester Mercury, 8 September 2010

Dudley Muslim Association to go ahead with Hall Street development after failing to find alternative site

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Muslim leaders are going ahead with a controversial multi-million pound mosque in Dudley town centre after abandoning hopes an alternative site will be found.

The Dudley Muslim Association says it has “no choice” but to prepare a full planning application for a mosque and community centre on land in Hall Street. Chairman Khurshid Ahmed said members could not wait any longer. They have decided to pursue the Hall Street proposal, which is expected to cost up to £1 2million and for which outline planning permission has already been secured. Detailed plans must be in by July next year.

The news is a hammer blow to Dudley Council. It has been involved in months of delicate negotiations with the DMA over Hall Street, which has attracted huge protests. The authority claimed in May the DMA had agreed to ditch the scheme in favour of a scaled down proposal in Castle Hill. The Castle Hill proposal was later ruled out sparking a fresh search for new sites.

Mr Ahmed said today: “We have no choice but to go ahead and make a full planning application for Hall Street. I’m very disappointed the council have not been able to come up with a viable alternative which would have resolved the issue.”

Express & Star, 7 September 2010

And note the comments that follow the report. There are a few individuals arguing in defence of the development, but they are outnumbered by the usual crowd of bigots:

“so the wishes of the Dudley majority christian population go ignored”

“problem is if you disagree with the muslim faith your a racist, just remember voters who to vote for next time eh”

“Got to think of the future majority population and their vote. IT WILL BE BUILT”

“no need for anymore mosques there are far too many in this country as it is”

“As their number increase,then so does the need to build more mosques”

“If this mosque is built it will be like the new mecca and thousands of muslims will move into Dudley and surrounding areas”

“If this goes ahead then it shows Councils and the Government are not for the indignous population. Why should one faith cause so much trouble for the majority? Why should their demands be continually met, yet those of others ignored. And why is one minority so demanding and intent in destroying their ‘host’ homeland?”

“NO MORE MOSQUES !!!!!”

“Im sorry but this is just wrong, what has a muslim mosque and community centre got to do with the black country roots……… Nothing!!!!”

“NO ! NO ! NO ! NO ! No more mosques – Full stop”

“The best site would be in Mecca!”

Netherlands: Wilders wants to restart coalition talks

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Anti-Islam party leader Geert Wilders wants to resume talks on forming a right-wing coalition with the VVD Liberals and Christian Democrats, Nos tv reports on Tuesday.

Wilders pulled out of the talks after four weeks on Friday, saying he no longer had confidence in the CDA. But now Ab Klink, the CDA’s biggest critic of the right-wing alliance, has stepped down as an MP, Wilders says he would like to start talking again.

In an initial reaction, VVD leader Mark Rutte said he would be pleased to resume talks on a right-wing government. And CDA leader Maxime Verhagen also wants to reopen the negotiations. My position is the same as it was on Friday, Verhagen said. ‘The CDA wants to continue.’

Dutch News, 7 September 2010

FPÖ leader backs Sarrazin, says he should be offered political asylum in Austria

Posted on by Bob Pitt

BELGIUM-CITIES AGAINST ISLAMISATIONFreedom Party (FPÖ) leader Heinz-Christian Strache has vehemently defended controversial Deutsche Bundesbank executive board member Thilo Sarrazin.

The German caused global outcry with various statements regarding immigration and the intelligence quotient of ethnic groups  made in his new book “Deutschland schafft sich ab” (Germany Abolishes Itself) which was published last week.

The German Social Democrats (SPD) are now thinking of expelling Sarrazin over his claims, while most political movements in his home country have already strongly disassociated themselves from his points of view.

Now Strache said Sarrazin would deserve asylum in Austria. The right-winger announced today (Tues): “In contrast to many others who apply for it, he would have deserved political asylum.”

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Dutch coalition talks collapse as Wilders walks out

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Negotiations to form a coalition in the Netherlands have collapsed after the leader of the far-right Freedom Party, Geert Wilders, walked out.

Mr Wilders said he did not trust some members of the Christian Democrats to adhere to any agreement reached.

Some Christian Democrats have expressed deep reservations about any deal with Mr Wilders because of his strong anti-Islamic and anti-immigration views.

“The negotiations did not succeed,” Mark Rutte, leader of the centre-right Liberal Party (VVD), told a news conference at the Hague.

BBC News, 4 September 2010

Update:  See also “‘Relief’ as Wilders-backed Dutch coalition fails”, AFP, 4 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

Model motion: November 6 demo against racism, fascism, Islamophobia

Posted on by Bob Pitt

UAF demo Nov 2010

Unite Against Fascism, Love Music Hate Racism and the Muslim Council of Britain have called a national march to end with a carnival on Saturday 6 November.

The demo is backed by the TUC and UAF wants to ensure as many local trade union branches and community organisations as possible give their backing.

Please pass this model motion to support the demo.

‘The colonisation of Wales continues’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Thus the headline to a piece on the BNP website responding to reports that a disused Miners Institute building in Wrexham is to be converted into a mosque and community centre.

The proposed conversion has already been the subject of an EDL protest and a racist Facebook page.

Those who wish to contribute to the Wrexham Mosque appeal fund can find the details here.

FPÖ faces police probe over anti-Muslim video game

Posted on by Bob Pitt

SCREENSHOT Moschee / FP… / Wahlwerbung

Members of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), once the political home of the late right-wing populist politician Jörg Haider, sparked outrage this week in the form of an anti-Muslim video game released as part of a political campaign in the state of Styria, where parliamentary elections will take place at the end of September.

In the game, players must try to halt the erection of minarets and mosques using a “stop” sign. If a player fails to stop the construction, then bearded muezzins issue calls to prayer against an Alpine backdrop.

At the end of the “Bye Bye Mosque” game, which has been online since Monday, players are told: “Styria is full of minarets and mosques. So vote for Dr. Gerhard Kurzmann and the Freedom Party on September 26 so that this doesn’t happen.”

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