Category Archives: Resisting Islamophobia
Walthamstow: Anti-EDL campaigners defy march ban
Campaigners against the far-right English Defence League (EDL) defied a protest ban by marching through Walthamstow after scuffles with police this afternoon.
Officers struggled to contain a crowd of several hundred who broke away from a legal static protest outside the former EMD cinema in Hoe Street at around 1.30pm. Protesters pushed through a cordon and marched several hundred metres down to the junction with Selborne Road, where police reinforcements eventually stopped them.
Protestors outnumber attendees at Wilders lecture in Malmö
Anti-racists demonstrate against Wilders in Malmö
While protesters outnumbered those attending a speech by controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders in Malmö in southern Sweden on Saturday, the event passed off without incident.
“Our intelligence told us that we should be prepared for trouble,” a Malmö police officer told The Local. But at the end of the event a colleague assured The Local that the day “had passed without incident with just minor disturbances”.
The frequent critic of Islam was a guest of the anti-Islam Swedish “Freedom of the Press Society” (Tryckfrihetssällskapet) and addressed an audience of approximately 100 people at a venue in Malmö’s western harbour. Outside a crowd of around 300 gathered to protest at the presence of the leader of the Dutch Party for Freedom.
Rotherham councillor urges Home Secretary to ban EDL
Rotherham’s councillor responsible for community cohesion has written to Home Secretary Theresa May describing the impact of the far right English Defence League’s march in the town – and calling for membership of the group to be banned.
Victory rally in Walthamstow Saturday 27 October
The people of Walthamstow take to streets to defy the EDL in September
The police restriction preventing the EDL from entering Walthamstow is a major victory for our movement. The massive demonstrations planned by UAF, We Are Waltham Forest and Muslim communities, and pressure of our grass roots campaigning, helped to achieve this victory.
This has been acknowledged by many including London Assembly Member Jennette Arnold. The EDL is weak and isolated, while our movement grows stronger. This victory must be celebrated!
Expert fights western prejudice against Muslims
The Chronicle, the independent student daily of Duke University in North Carolina, reports on a lecture by King’s College London law professor Maleiha Malik on the misperceptions and prejudices toward Muslims in the western world.
Islam gets a bad press, but there are many stories our media doesn’t tell
Lee Williams on media bias against Islam.
London EDL marches stopped by government ban
English Defence League thugs marching through Walthamstow on 1 September
A series of marches by the English Defence League has been banned amid fears of serious public disorder.
Policing minister Damian Green agreed to a police request for the ban ahead of marches on Saturday in Walthamstow and elsewhere in north-east London.
The ban prevents all marches in Waltham Forest and nearby boroughs Islington, Tower Hamlets and Newham for 30 days.
The Metropolitan Police wrote to Home Secretary Theresa May asking for the ban two days ago.
Row over proposed statue to ‘pro-war Islamophobe’
Labour councillors are blocking plans to honour campaigning journalist Christopher Hitchens with a statue, with one of them branding the late writer as a “pro-war Islamophobe”.
A trail of emails leaked to the New Journal show a sharp exchange between the British Humanist Association (BHA), which wants the statue to be erected in Red Lion Square, Holborn, and politicians representing the ward.
Plans for mosque in Lincoln win backing of residents’ association
A group which opposed the building of a £500,000 mosque in Lincoln has now promised to work alongside the Islamic association.
The proposed, two-storey place of worship at the Old Boultham Dairy, could win full planning permission on November 7. If approved, the mosque could be up and running in about two years.
Boultham Residents’ Association started a petition against the plans last year. Members were concerned about the level of traffic the building would bring to the area.
A joint statement has now been issued by Jean Flannery, chairman of the residents’ association and Dr Tanweer Ahmed, trustee of the Islamic association which says they are happy to work together.