Berlin – Geert Wilders solidarity demo flops

Wilders Berlin demo

Over the weekend a “Solidarity with Geert Wilders” demonstration was held in Berlin. Organised by Pax Europa and Politically Incorrect, the demo was reportedly inspired by the London march in support of Wilders by the English Defence League, whose representatives attended the Berlin demo.

The event has received little coverage from its far-right supporters, no doubt because according to one report it attracted fewer than 80 people. However, photographs of the demo (carefully framed to disguise the fact that there was hardly anyone there) have now been posted, providing a helpful illustration of the sort of international links the EDL are building.

Postscript:  And while we’re on the subject of the EDL, we note that they now have a website, “English Defence League … Extra”, which claims to offer a more theoretical take on the organisation’s anti-Muslim bigotry. The latest post is a rant against the Aylesbury Carnival Against Racism that will be held in opposition to the EDL’s planned provocation in that town on May Day. The author is evidently incapable of distinguishing between Steve Bell, secretary of the Bucks health branch of UNISON who took the initiative in organising the alliance responsible for calling the anti-EDL carnival, and Steve Bell of the Communication Workers Union who is treasurer of the Stop the War Coalition. But then, UNISON or the CWU – what’s the difference? They’re all communist organisations after all.

Mosque plan back on agenda in Lincoln

Lincoln mosque siteA mosque proposal rejected over traffic concerns could still be built in Lincoln following the submission of an appeal.

The Islamic Association of Lincoln says it has spent the last six months searching for a new site after the City of Lincoln Council refused it permission to build a new mosque and community centre in Church Drive, off Boultham Park Road, following concerns about parking and traffic.

Dr Tanweer Ahmed said the group has decided to appeal the decision to the Planning Inspectorate after it could find no alternatives within the city.

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Support grows for Aylesbury May Day carnival against racism

Support grows for Aylesbury May Day carnival against racism

Aylesbury May Day Carnival Against Racism Organising Committee press release, 16 April 2010

Support for the Aylesbury Carnival Against Racism to be held on May 1st to challenge the ideas of the English Defence League received a boost in support this week when Cllr Ranjula Takodra, Aylesbury’s Town Mayor, Rt Revd Alan Wilson Bishop of Buckingham and Rabbi Rachel Benjamin joined the growing list of supporters.

The numbers involved in organising the carnival has also grown, with more individuals from Aylesbury’s Muslim and youth communities joining with delegates from the Aylesbury Interfaith Group, Justice4Paps and civil servant (PCS), shop workers (USDAW), teaching (NUT) and postal (CWU) unions who have also brought substantial financial support to the campaign launched by Bucks health branch of UNISON that represents healthworkers.

It was clear at last night’s organising committee that many people in Aylesbury oppose the English Defence League descending on the town to promote their racist views and want to take action against this. The carnival is aimed to focus this opposition in a peaceful celebration of international diversity with a clear message that racism in Aylesbury will not go unchallenged and that the EDL’s ideas are not representative of Bucks people.

Kate Douglas, branch secretary of Oxon and Bucks PCS (DWP) who chaired the meeting said: “We do not believe people should be intimidated off the streets of Aylesbury by the EDL on May Day. We want to see an outpouring of support from the local community with schools, youth groups, campaigns and trade unions making and bring their banners with their messages of solidarity and slogans against racism. Trade unions especially should come out as it is also International Workers Day when unions traditionally stand in solidarity with the oppressed.”

An indication of the growing support in the local community was also seen last Saturday when thousands of leaflets were handed out to a welcoming public with people taking bundles to hand out in their communities. Volunteers at last night’s meeting took on to approach local MPs and councillors and to leaflet youth groups, colleges, community centres and workplaces calling for them to speak out against racism.

Organisers plan the for day to be a colourful contrast to the EDL’s march. Julie Simmons from Love Music Hate Racism said: “We have rap artists, DJs, MCs, bands and solo artists performing for free because they believe passionately that racism must never go unchallenged. We are confident our event will be a vibrant celebration of our many cultures through the fusion of many types of music with speeches from community representatives.”

One area of contention is whether the EDL or the Carnival Against Racism will go ahead in market Square. Carnival organisers have rejected the police suggestion that both events be held in the same place for safety reasons. Yet the carnival organisers do not see why the unrepresentative EDL should be given the keys to the town while Aylesbury people opposed to racism are denied a licence.

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Three men cautioned over racist response to a proposed new mosque in Weston-super-Mare

Three men have been cautioned by police for their part in a mass bigoted response to a proposed new mosque in Weston.

The Weston men, aged 20, 22 and 23, received the punishment on March 31 after sending racist letters objecting to a Muslim Centre in Orchard Street. Authority planners had alerted police to more than 150 prejudiced letters received in opposition to applicant Weston Islamic Centre’s plan last October.

This week centre member Rafiq Islam welcomed the punishment, adding it sent out the “right message”.

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Far right candidate contests Austrian presidential election on anti-Islam platform

Barbara RosenkranzAustrians will go to the polls April 25 to vote for president after a volatile campaign that focused in part on right-wing extremism and raised the ghosts of Austria’s Nazi past.

Incumbent President Heinz Fischer, a Social Democrat, is expected to win a landslide victory over his main rival, Barbara Rosenkranz, a regional leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), which once was led by the late Jöerg Haider.

Rosenkranz, a 51-year-old mother of 10, entered the race in early March in a bid many experts saw as a test for the Freedom Party’s staunchly anti-immigrant, law-and-order, anti-European Union platform ahead of regional elections later this year. The wife of a key longtime member of a now banned neo-Nazi party, Rosenkranz quickly sparked an outcry over ambiguous statements about the Holocaust and criticism of Austria’s tough 1947 anti-Nazi law.

Immigrants and Muslims, rather than Jews, are the main target of the Freedom Party’s rhetoric. About 500,000 Muslims live in Austria, and the party campaigns under slogans such as “The West is for Christians” and “Homeland instead of Islam.” Still, Jews also feel targeted. In March, vandals defaced the Mauthausen concentration camp, where more than 100,000 people were killed, with staunch anti-Jewish and anti-Turkish graffiti.

The Freedom Party’s outspoken leader, Heinz-Christian Strache, said his party’s views were justified by a poll last week showing that 54 percent of Austrians believe that Islam poses “a threat for the West and our familiar lifestyle.”

JWeekly, 15 April 2010

Fascist reveals ‘sense of humour’

BNP Charlotte LewisThis is the true “face” of British National Party election candidate Charlotte Lewis she would rather you did not see.

As she swigs from a bottle of alcopops at a Halloween party, burqa clad BNP parliamentary hopeful Miss Lewis reveals her contempt for Muslims. The right wing activist is pictured smoking and drinking and revealing her underwear while on the night out dressed as a Muslim.

And these exclusive pictures of the woman standing as a candidate for Carshalton and Wallington, and a Croydon Council nominee, are just the start of her bigoted views. Miss Lewis, 37, has been using her Facebook page to openly call for violence and post hate-filled racist rants about “pakis”.

Miss Lewis said: “I think it’s completely acceptable to dress that way. I thought it was hilarious and so did everyone at the party. Anyone who does not find it funny needs to develop a sense of humour.”

Croydon Guardian, 15 April 2010

Right-wing press discovers more discrimination in favour of Muslims

“Muslim staff escape NHS hygiene rule” in the Sunday Telegraph.

“Met allows Islamic protesters to throw shoes” in the Sunday Times.

Update:  See also “Islamic colonisation of Britain continues: NHS relaxes hygiene measure to accommodate Muslim staff but bans crucifix”, BNP news article, 11 April 2010

Further update:  And Douglas Murray, “The police encourage Muslims to throw shoes at them? Just what community relations needed”, Telegraph blog, 12 April 2010

One more update:  See Ben White, “Did the Met really allow Muslims to throw shoes?”, Pickled Politics, 14 April 2010

Gothenburg – counter-protest against Nazi anti-mosque demonstration

Police in Gothenburg sought to ward off clashes on Sunday as neo-Nazi demonstrators opposed to the construction of a new mosque met with resistance from counter-demonstrators. Police formed a human barrier as the demonstrators shouted slogans at each other from a distance of 100 metres at lunchtime on Sunday. “Our aim is to keep the two groups apart,” police spokesman Niklas Erikssontold news agency TT.

A heavy police presence prevented attempts from both sides to cross the lines just days before construction is scheduled to start on a new mosque at Keillers Park on the island of Hisingen.

Police said the anti-mosque demonstration, headed by known local neo-Nazis affiliated with the Nordisk Ungdom (Nordic Youth) group, consisted of around 100 people. Some 300 people joined the counter-demonstration led by Nätverket Mot Rasism (NetworkAgainst Racism), an anti-fascist umbrella group that has come in for stiff criticism for its tolerance of extreme elements.

Police said anti-mosque demonstrators had secured a permit for their rally, which started at midday. Their intention was to march toLindholmen and the premises of a construction firm set to begin work on the new mosque this Tuesday.

The Local, 11 April 2010