Chessington World of Adventures Muslim fun day sparks complaints from far-right groups

Eid Fun Day

Chessington World of Adventures was the target of complaints from far-right groups angry about a fun day booked for the Muslim Eid festival.

A far-right blog, which claims to be engaged in “expossing [sic] the evil of Islam”, urged readers to complain to the park. A link to the website was shared on Twitter by an account claiming to represent the Nottingham branch of the British National Party.

A park spokeswoman said the park is closed from November 4 until December 7. She said: “This is one of many private hire events held in our ‘close season’ at the park and we do not discriminate against any religions or faiths. The event is open to all faiths.”

Kingston Guardian, 24 July 2013

Kafir Crusaders

EDL not welcome in Tower Hamlets

Anti-EDL march Tower Hamlets 2010
The people of Tower Hamlets demonstrating against the EDL in 2010

The fascist English Defence League (EDL) has announced plans to demonstrate in East London on Saturday 7 September.

They have attempted to march in Tower Hamlets three times before. On each occasion trade unions, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, other faith, LGBT communities, local elected politicians and many more stood together and prevented them from entering the borough. Now more than ever it is crucial we stand together again. The EDL is trying to stir up racial hatred following the murder of soldier Lee Rigby in May, we must not let them.

Wherever the EDL go attacks on Muslims and other communities occur. In June, a Muswell Hill mosque and community centre was burnt to the ground and ‘EDL’ was found painted on the walls.

In July, three mosques in the West Midlands were subjected to bomb attacks shortly before the fascists mobilised several hundred in Birmingham. We want to show that the EDL and their fascist ideas are not welcome in Tower Hamlets or any other part of London. We need a vibrant demonstration of multi-cultural East London.

Unite Against Fascism is urging all antiracists and antifascists to join a demonstration opposing the EDL on Saturday 7 September 2013. We must stop these racist street thugs from dividing our communities.

EDL not welcome in Tower Hamlets – Don’t let the racists divide us
Saturday 7 September
Assemble 11am
Altab Ali Park, Whitechapel Road, London E1
Called by Unite Against Fascism

Download the leaflet here

UAF News report, 24 July 2013

One Nation candidate ‘behind anti-Muslim campaign’

Restore Australia halal stickerAn alleged food contamination scare involving one of Australia’s favourite foods has exposed a One Nation candidate’s anti-Muslim campaign.

A jar of Nestle coffee was found with its seal broken and a sticker saying “Beware! Halal food funds terrorists” in aisle four of Woolworths supermarket at Underwood, south of Brisbane, earlier this month. Two tins of Milo, also produced by Nestle, were found with the same stickers but the seals were not broken.

The supermarket immediately alerted Queensland Health and police which launched a joint investigation. Scientific tests by Queensland Health found that while the seal was broken there was nothing to indicate it had been deliberately damaged. The tests also found the coffee had not been contaminated. The police investigation culminated in the arrest of a 27-year-old Kingston woman who will front the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Friday charged with one count of product contamination.

A basic internet search of the stickers found on the Nestle products shows it can be purchased from Restore Australia whose CEO is Mike Holt, the One Nation Party’s candidate for the federal seat of Fairfax. Mr Holt, who co-founded the organisation and is based on the Sunshine Coast, said the website Restore Australia was a non-political organisation wanting to restore power to the people.

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‘Tighten up laws on far-right groups’, activists urge

EDL Birmingham 2013Community leaders in Birmingham are urging the city’s ten MPs to put pressure on Government to tighten up the laws on static protests following an English Defence League (EDL) rally in the heart of the city.

The protest was held last Saturday in Centenary Square, while a counter demonstration from the United Against Fascism (UAF) group took place a few hundred yards away in Chamberlain Square. To further complicate matters, more than 2,000 young Christians, including many African Caribbeans, were taking part in a three-day international convention at nearby Symphony Hall.

The day passed with no serious injuries, although one police officer was treated in hospital after being hit by a brick. Around 20 arrests were made and officers from West Midlands Police are still scouring “exceptional quality” CCTV footage with the aim of bringing more offenders to justice for public order offences.

Community leaders had met with police before the event urging them to postpone the rally, fearing that young people attending the Christian conference would be physically or verbally abused. But they were told neither police of Birmingham City Council had the power to stop what is known as a “static protest” from going ahead.

Desmond Jaddoo, of Birmingham Empowerment Forum has now written to all ten MPs calling for a tightening up of the law. Those he has written to include Khalid Mahmood, Gisela Stuart, John Hemming, Jack Dromey, Richard Burden and Steve McCabe. Councillor Bob Jones, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner has also written to Home Secretary Theresa May.

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Police and council block SDL’s Pollokshields protest

SDL Glasgow February 2012(2)Authorities are to move against a planned weekend march by the far-right Scottish Defence League amid police concerns of serious public disorder and the impact on community relations.

The group, a fringe organisation that opposes what it considers to be a spread of Islam, has applied to parade through one of Scotland’s most multicultural areas to commemorate the birthday of Kriss Donald, the teenager who was murdered by an Asian gang almost a decade ago.

But Police Scotland said the planned march through Glasgow’s Pollokshields area “might reasonably be believed to be intended to be provocative to the Muslim community”, falling as it does in Ramadan.

At meetings with the police and Glasgow City Council it has also emerged that rather than discussing the parade as a “memorial event” the SDL said they “would go to where there was a problem and mentioned Asian gangs and the raping of young girls”.

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Does anyone know who this man is?

EDL mosque tattooThis photo has been widely circulated over the past few days. It was taken at the English Defence League’s demonstration in Birmingham last Saturday.

I have to admit I was initially a bit dubious about whether the photo was genuine. However, there is another picture of the same EDL member, which would suggest that it is.

The photo appears in today’s issue of the Sun, who are asking anyone who recognises this individual to contact them.

Once in a while, even the right-wing tabloid press can play a positive role.

Pavlo Lapshyn in court on terror and murder charges

A 25-year-old Ukrainian man has appeared in court charged with the “terrorist-related” murder of 82-year-old Mohammed Saleem in Birmingham. West Midlands Police said that Pavlo Lapshyn has also been charged in relation to explosions at three mosques. Mohammed Saleem was stabbed as he walked home after prayers from a mosque in Small Heath on 29 April.

Mr Lapshyn was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Thursday.

Mr Lapshyn, who comes from the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipropetrovsk, appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court flanked by three police officers. He was dressed in black and only spoke to confirm his name and date of birth as 12 March 1988.

West Midlands Police charged the postgraduate student with murder on Monday evening. Mr Saleem was stabbed a matter of days after Mr Lapshyn began a work placement in the UK. In a statement on Monday morning, police confirmed Mr Lapshyn had also been charged in relation to incidents at mosques in Walsall, Tipton and Wolverhampton.

The court heard that Mr Lapshyn was accused of causing explosions on 21 June and 12 July, contrary to Section 2 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883. Mr Lapshyn is further charged under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 with intending to commit acts of terrorism between 24 April and 18 July.

It is alleged that he bought batteries, a lunch bag, clock and green container as part of the construction an explosive device. It is further alleged that he carried out internet research to identify locations to plant explosive devices and that he visited at least one area in the West Midlands as part of that planning. He is further accused of buying chemicals online to make an explosive device and of modifying mobile phones to be used as detonators.

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Member of ‘non-racist’ EDL fined for racist outburst

Lianne TylerA woman has been fined £100 after she drunkenly told police she was going “P*** bashing with the EDL”.

Lianne Tyler made the racist remark to a custody sergeant after being arrested on her way to Saturday’s English Defence League demo in Birmingham city centre. The 20-year-old, of Brailes Grove, Bordesley Green, also twice referred to a police officer as a “black c***”, the court heard.

City magistrates were told officers had found Tyler drunk and carrying alcohol in New Street. She refused to be moved on and told police: “I’m not f****** leaving town, I’m going to EDL.”

Tyler, wearing a T-shirt and combat shorts in court, pleaded guilty to offences of failing to disperse and racially aggravated public order. She was fined £50 on each charge, but the fine was deemed served by her time spent in custody since Saturday afternoon.

Birmingham Mail, 22 July 2013

Gloucester: Protests at court as men charged with setting fire to mosque appear

Gloucester mosque arson protestProtesters campaigning against racism waved placards outside court as two men faced charges of setting a mosque ablaze.

Clive Michael Ceronne, 37, and Ashley Henry Juggins, 20, are charged with conspiracy to commit arson on the Masjid-E-Noor mosque. Ceronne, a former security guard of Redwood Close, in Gloucester, entered no plea to the charges. Juggins, of Brooklyn Road in Cheltenham, was due to appear via videolink. But he was being transferred between prisons and his appearance was adjourned.

The pair are accused of buying lager, vodka and a petrol can of fuel from a London Road garage and using the fuel to set fire to the Muslim place of worship in Ryecroft Street. A passer-by saw the fire last month and helped put it out before severe damage was caused.

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