The Collectif contre l’Islamophobie en France reports that in addition to those at Ozoir-La-Ferrière and Besançon, a fourth mosque was the target of an Islamophobic act this weekend: at Meximieux in eastern France. On Saturday mosque officials found an envelope containing slices of ham in the mailbox. When they went to the police station to lodge a complaint, officers refused to register it on the grounds that the letter only contained pork and was not accompanied by a letter with insults or threats.
Category Archives: Resisting Islamophobia
Minnesota: police join Muslims in denouncing photo mocking hijab
An Internet-spread photo of a St. Paul Police officer wearing lipstick and a hijab, the traditional outfit for Muslim women, has angered community activists and spurred a department investigation.
“I was literally sick to my stomach,” said Ramla Bile of Minneapolis. “My identity is not a costume, and it’s not OK for cultures to be turned into caricatures.”
Police Chief Thomas Smith immediately opened an investigation. Police spokesman Howie Padilla confirmed that an officer is depicted in the picture, but could not release his identity Monday.
“The St. Paul Police Department has worked hard to establish a strong and respectful relationship with our Muslim communities, and I will not allow these types of images to erode that relationship,” Smith said in a written statement. “Diversity is one of the greatest strengths of the city of St. Paul, and we expect each one of our officers to respect and take pride in serving each of our diverse communities.”
Community groups unite in reaction to far-right plans for Berwick demo
Community groups from both sides of the border are preparing to unite in the face of provocation from a right-wing pressure group.
Bodies including the transport union RMT, the Berwick upon Tweed and District Trades Union Council and Unite Against Fascism have banded together to form the Berwick & Borders Anti Fascist Alliance.
The move comes ahead of a protest by the Scottish Defence League (Borders Division) scheduled to take place in Berwick on Saturday, February 16.
Gavin Boby addresses small meeting at Ottowa public library
A controversial British lawyer spoke in Ottawa despite protest from groups who oppose his opinion, which is that mosques should not be built in non-Muslim areas.
Gavin Boby spoke in front of 40 people at the main branch of the Ottawa Public Library Monday evening as protesters stood outside the branch at the corner of Metcalfe Street and Laurier Avenue West.
Boby, who is also an activist, is known for using zoning regulations to try to stop mosques from opening in areas he considers “non-Muslim.”
He told the CBC’s Simon Gardner before the speech he does not want views of Islam to dictate certain neighbourhoods. “Increasingly what we are seeing now is self-declared Muslim areas where you get Muslim patrols saying you can’t walk a dog, wear a skirt,” he said.
Launch of anti-racist group ‘Sunderland Together’
Fascists protesting in Millfield against plan for new mosque
A project that aims to unite communities across Sunderland has launched in the City.
‘Sunderland Together’ was formed as a response to a series of violent protests at the site of a new mosque on St Marks Road in Millfield, which saw far-right groups clash with anti-fascists and members of the Muslim community.
The newly established organisation hopes to provide an alternative to extremism with the aim of tackling discrimination and building understanding and tolerance.
The project launch, attended by members of the public, trade unions, politicians and representatives from faith communities, has received the backing of the public sector trade union UNISON.
Helen Coomer, Regional Organiser, UNISON, said: “Sunderland Together is about recognising the value of diversity and inclusivity and creating a city that is free from bigotry and prejudice.”
Sky Tyne and Wear, 3 February 2013
Via ENGAGE
NYPD surveillance of Muslims violates anti-spying rules, lawsuit claims
Lawyers have accused the New York police department of creating climate of fear and call for an independent monitor to oversee counter-terrorism efforts, the Guardian reports.
Times refuses to publish MCB’s criticism of Islamophobic reporting
Last week the Times published a report about a judge’s decision to allow a request from an Orthodox Jewish couple that a Beth Din court should be allowed to arbitrate in their divorce proceedings. Although the story concerned Jews rather than Muslims, the paper chose to run the report under the front-page headline “High Court opens way to Sharia divorces”.
The Muslim Council of Britain, who took the view that the coverage “was sensationalist and would help fuel Islamopobia”, wrote a letter to the Times complaining about the report, which was published in the paper today, albeit in an edited version.
The section of the letter that the Times decided to omit read: “Once again such reporting raises uninformed hackles against our faith, and what British Muslims really want. With a recent YouGov poll highlighting prevailing negative attitudes against British Muslims, there is a responsibility to report such matters fairly.”
So the MCB writes a letter to the Times complaining about Islamophobic bias, and the Times publishes it … minus the section that contains the actual complaint about Islamophobic bias!
Stateless in the age of Islamophobia
Charlotte Silver reports on the case of Tareq Abufayyad.
CAIR-Canada urges public library to cancel speech by Gavin Boby
OTTAWA — A Canadian Muslim organization wants the Ottawa Public Library to cancel a speech by a controversial British lawyer who advocates legal tactics to block the construction of new mosques in the U.K.
Self-proclaimed “mosquebuster” Gavin Boby is scheduled to speak at the library on Monday night, the first stop on a Canadian speaking tour that will also take him to Montreal and Toronto.
Boby is the founder of an organization called Law and Freedom Foundation, which he says is devoted to “resisting the tide of Islam” by using the municipal planning process to oppose the building of mosques.
Michigan Supreme Court rejects appeal by mosque opponents
WEST BLOOMFIELD — The Michigan Supreme Court won’t hear an appeal over the sale of a Detroit-area school for a mosque and Islamic community center.
In an order released Saturday, the court said a September decision by the appeals court in favor of the Farmington school district will stand.
The Islamic Cultural Association bought the vacant Eagle Elementary School in West Bloomfield Township in 2011. Some residents sued, claiming the deal was somehow corrupt and hidden from the public. An Oakland County judge and the appeals court have said critics have no standing to sue.
The Islamic association has said opponents are unfairly targeting people over their Muslim faith. The West Bloomfield Planning Commission has not taken action on the proposed mosque.
Associated Press, 2 February 2013
See also “State Supreme Court rejects appeal of West Bloomfield mosque opponents”, West Bloomfield Patch, 2 Febuary 2013