Ryan Erfani-Ghettani exposes the double-talk of the English Defence League.
Category Archives: Resisting Islamophobia
CAIR welcomes bias charge for attack on Muslim teen
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) today welcomed the “ethnic intimidation” charge brought against the alleged assailant of a Muslim student in Saline, Mich., who was allegedly called a “terrorist” and punched in the face while walking near his high school.
Police learned of the attack after being alerted to a video of the incident posted on Facebook. The alleged assailant was arraigned on one count of ethnic intimidation. If convicted, he faces a maximum of two years in prison and a fine of $5,000.
Marc Lynch interviews Rached Ghannouchi
A leading western expert on Islamism interviews the head of Tunisia’s Ennahda Party.
Foreign Policy, 5 December 2011
See also “Tunisia Islamist leader stresses right to freedom of faith”, Al Arabiya, 7 December 2011
American football team owner’s faith stirs stupidity
Last week, it was announced that the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team had been sold to super-successful Illinois businessman Shahid Khan. The deal was reported to be worth $760 million and includes a somewhat controversial first for the league.
Khan is a Pakistani-born Muslim, and will be the first of his faith to own a National Football League team.
The Jacksonville Jaguars press release talking up the sale didn’t mention the fact that Khan was Muslim. That was probably a good thing – on the same day the sale was announced, it was also revealed that long-time head coach Jack Del Rio had been fired and assistant coach Mel Tucker – an African-American – would be taking over.
For redneck racist types – and in North Florida there are more than a few – the fact that the white owner and white coach of their hometown NFL franchise were replaced by a Pakistani-born Muslim and a black guy was just too much to take, especially in ONE DAY.
Almost on cue, conservative news sites were rife with ugly comments about Khan’s big play.
Another member of the ‘non-racist’ EDL exposed
Portsmouth Nazi Watch provided useful details of two English Defence League members who recently appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court (see here and here). It has now posted a revealing report on another local EDL member, a self-confessed petty crook named James Bateman, whose Facebook page lists his religious beliefs as “see a muslim kill a muslim”.
‘Tackling the Islamists’
This is the rather misleading title that the New Statesman gives to an exchange of views between Bob Lambert of the European Muslim Research Centre and Maajid Nawaz of the Quilliam Foundation on the question of whether the state should be willing to work with groups associated with the Muslim Brotherhood.
Study reveals the obvious: ‘Muslim homegrown terrorism not a serious threat’ in US
LoonWatch draws our attention to a study by Marquette University Assistant Professor Risa A. Brooks, “Muslim ‘homegrown’ terrorism in the United States: How serious is the threat?”, which appears in the current issue of the journal International Security.
‘They’re like cockroaches’ – how ACT! for America incites hatred against Muslims
Last week the St. Louis chapter of Brigitte Gabriel’s ACT! for America held a meeting at City Hall in Crestwood, Missouri, under the title “What America Must Learn from the Fort Hood Massacre”, which featured the screening of a DVD lecture by the executive director of ACT!, Guy Rodgers.
Only about a dozen people attended this particular event. However, a report by Tim Townsend at STLtoday provides a revealing account of the poisonous anti-Muslim propaganda ACT! puts out, and how it impacts on its audience:
University of California – Muslim and Jewish students turn out to oppose Terry Jones
A diverse array of UC Irvine students were prepared to protest against a controversial pastor after it was announced he might speak on campus.
Students gathered in front of Langson Library, some sitting on blankets, facing the area covered in caution tape where the Rev. Terry Jones intended to speak. However, Jones was told not to come on campus after UCI police received intelligence informing them of suspicious activity associated with the visit that aroused safety concerns.
Australia: new initiatives to combat anti-Muslim hatred
Muslims are being urged to report hate crimes under a special disaster plan to deal with the fallout from terrorist attacks. Under the Muslim Emergency Management Plan, backed by the state and federal governments, Victorians will be given advice on how to react to anti-Muslim incidents, even if they are considered minor.
Muslim victims of abuse are encouraged to save evidence, take photos and report any incident to police and their local mosque or Islamic organisation. And in another initiative, Victoria Police is introducing new strategy to deal with violence and threats motivated by prejudice.
It comes amid growing concern over inter-racial tensions in Melbourne’s suburbs and against the backdrop of fears of further terrorist attacks that could strain relations further.
Police are being asked to develop databases on crime motivated by race or religion, so that offenders can be prosecuted. The “prejudice-motivated crime strategy” focuses on crimes linked to race, religion, sex, age, disability or homelessness.
Muslims told the Herald Sun they faced increasing abuse on the streets because of their religion. “A lot of women get yelled at and told ‘Go home’, or ‘There’s no place for you here’, especially women wearing the burqa,” a Muslim source said. “It happens in shopping centres, at the park or just when you are walking along in the street.”