Across Germany, right-wing organizations are using anti-Islam rhetoric to further their ideas – and finding a receptive audience. Now legal experts are debating whether it’s time for a new kind of hate-crime legislation.
Der Spiegel reports that the rise of right-wing Islamophobic organisations like Die Freiheit, Pro Deutschland, Pax Europa, Nürnberg 2.0 and Politically Incorrect has been accompanied by arson and other attacks on mosques.
Via Loonwatch
Reem Abu-Hayyeh, Graham Murray and Liz Fekete examine the role of the Swiss People’s Party in the recent referendum to “stop mass immigration” into Switzerland.
Legoland is to temporarily shut its hotel amid safety and security fears. It comes after a private fun day organised by an Islamic group, due to be held on Sunday, was cancelled due to threats from far-right groups. Legoland said it received further threats and decided to close its hotel this weekend, saying the safety of guests and staff was its priority.
The theme park in Windsor, Berkshire, was already closed for the season. It reopens on 14 March.
Thames Valley Police said it is investigating offensive messages sent in connection with the event organised by the Muslim Research and Development Foundation. Legoland was forced to shut down its Facebook page due to a number of abusive posts. It also received threats through phone calls and emails.
The trial of a Leicestershire teenager charged with terrorism offences has been halted due to problems with the jury.
Michael Piggin (18) of of Beaumont Road, Loughborough, went on trial at the Old Bailey earlier this week. He faces a number of terrorism charges and is accused of plotting a “new Columbine” at his former school in Loughborough.
But Recorder of London, Judge Brian Barker, discharged the jury trying the teenager today after two jurors were forced to drop out because of “personal problems”.
A teenager described as a “would-be terrorist” armed himself with guns and explosives to plan a repeat of the Columbine massacre on his former school, a court has heard.
Michael Piggin was found with petrol bombs, air rifles, pistols and armour at his home which he planned to use for a terror attack on staff and pupils at his former high school in Loughborough, Leicestershire, it is alleged.
The teenager, who was 17 when he was arrested but can now be named after turning 18, also identified his college, Loughborough Mosque, a local cinema, Loughborough University and the town’s council offices as potential targets, the Old Bailey heard.
A Che Guevara notebook emblazoned with Nazi swastikas and English Defence League (EDL) mottos was found when his home was searched by police in February last year, the jury was told. Opening the case, prosecutor Max Hill QC said the notebook included drawings showing how Piggin would arm himself and discussed tactics to carry out “The New Columbine”. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 12 students and one teacher at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999 before both committing suicide in one of America’s worst mass shootings.
An anti-Islam party based on the hardline views of Dutch politician Geert Wilders plans to field candidates at the next federal election, raising fears among moderate Muslims of a rise in extremism.
Mr Wilders, an influential far-right figure expected to shape the results of this year’s European elections, told followers in a video message that the Australian Liberty Alliance was being formed to “offer civil minded Australians fresh political vision and better policies”. Policies advocated by Wilders’ Party for Freedom include deporting immigrants convicted of a crime and stopping all immigration from Islamic countries.
“Many of you are disappointed by current political parties and have had enough of politicians who sell our Western civilisation,” Mr Wilders said in his video. “Like you, good people in Europe, America, Canada have had enough of politicians who don’t share our values and foolishly declare all cultures are equal, and who lack the courage to speak the truth and say that Islam is the biggest threat to freedom today.”
Marine Le Pen, whose party is riding a wave of anti-immigration and anti-Muslim voter sentiment around Europe, says it will cut public funds to religious groups in towns where it wins municipal elections this month.
Le Pen told The Associated Press in an interview Monday that secularism will be strictly applied in towns where her far-right National Front prevails on March 23 and 30, and that referendums will be held on major issues.
Le Pen, 45, praised the recent Swiss decision, in a referendum, to cap immigration, saying countries have an “inalienable right” to control their borders. Le Pen claimed the Swiss decision, passed by a razor-thin 50.3 percent “yes” vote, would have sailed through France with a 65 percent approval rating if such a referendum held here.
Le Pen – who took the helm from her father, party founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, in 2010 – has worked to remove the stigma that has kept the party out of mainstream politics by giving it a kinder, more politically correct face. But the National Front has forged ahead with its anti-immigrant stance, especially regarding Muslims.
A group seen abusing Muslims outside a London mosque have now launched an ‘anti-grooming campaign’ in a Lancashire Town.
In the video members of the Britain First group, can be seen driving through a predominantly Asian area of Blackburn in what it states is a “new direct action campaign against the scourge of Muslim paedophile grooming gangs”.
In London there was widespread condemnation of the actions of the group with members swigging beer and seen abusing Muslims as they left the East London mosque. In the film, one man says: “This is our country. You want to live here, you adhere by our laws.”
Last year members of the equally vile ‘Muslim patrols’ who threatened strangers for holding hands, drinking alcohol and other behaviour they deemed ‘un-Islamic’ were jailed.
In the new video, Britain First Group chairman Paul Golding is seen spouting, “We have gone through some areas which are exclusively Muslim. Everyone has been told that we are the minority in this town. These areas we are going through now are 100% colonised by Muslims. We have been visiting establishments, bed and breakfasts and takeaways. We hope it will put a dent in the Muslim grooming in this town.”
A judge has lifted an order banning the naming of an 18-year-old man charged with terror offences.
Michael Piggin, of Loughborough, is accused of possession of items for the purpose of terrorism, including partially-constructed pipe bombs. He is also charged with possessing a document containing information likely to be useful for a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.
Mr Piggin denies the two charges and his trial is due to begin on Tuesday.
Mr Piggin is alleged to have possessed nine partially-assembled petrol bombs, firework powder, partially-constructed improvised explosive devices, a crossbow, a variety of air rifles, a gas mask and stab proof vest. He is also charged with having a notebook containing information about the planning of attacks and the construction of explosive devices.
Mr Piggin, whose name could not previously be reported owing to his age, is due to stand trial at the Old Bailey in London.
In an earlier trial Piggin pleaded guilty to possessing explosives but the jury failed to reach a verdict on the terrorism charges, hence the retrial. For further details see here.
Update: See “Court hears teen ‘armed himself with guns, explosives’”, Islamophobia Watch, 4 March 2014
A man has been jailed for posting a Facebook comment about burning down a mosque in the wake of soldier Lee Rigby’s murder. Derek Phin, 46, posted the comment because he believed the soldier’s killers were being protected by the authorities following the attack.
Fusilier Lee Rigby was off duty in southeast London when he was attacked and killed on May 22 last year. Radical groups then tried to exploit the soldier’s murder, resulting in attacks and protests against the UK’s muslim community.
Phin, from Aberdeen, posted a comment on Facebook stating Edinburgh Central Mosque should be burnt down on July 2 during a counter demo. The post on a page belonging to the Scottish Defence League read: “Burn the mosque down when the meeting is ongoing.”
The mosque was due to be packed at the time for a meeting organised by pressure group Unite Against Fascism in response to extreme right wing protests.