Category Archives: Resisting Islamophobia

Gothenburg – counter-protest against Nazi anti-mosque demonstration

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Police in Gothenburg sought to ward off clashes on Sunday as neo-Nazi demonstrators opposed to the construction of a new mosque met with resistance from counter-demonstrators. Police formed a human barrier as the demonstrators shouted slogans at each other from a distance of 100 metres at lunchtime on Sunday. “Our aim is to keep the two groups apart,” police spokesman Niklas Erikssontold news agency TT.

A heavy police presence prevented attempts from both sides to cross the lines just days before construction is scheduled to start on a new mosque at Keillers Park on the island of Hisingen.

Police said the anti-mosque demonstration, headed by known local neo-Nazis affiliated with the Nordisk Ungdom (Nordic Youth) group, consisted of around 100 people. Some 300 people joined the counter-demonstration led by Nätverket Mot Rasism (NetworkAgainst Racism), an anti-fascist umbrella group that has come in for stiff criticism for its tolerance of extreme elements.

Police said anti-mosque demonstrators had secured a permit for their rally, which started at midday. Their intention was to march toLindholmen and the premises of a construction firm set to begin work on the new mosque this Tuesday.

The Local, 11 April 2010

Army removes mosques from Catterick firing range

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Firing range mosqueThe Ministry of Defence has taken down structures resembling mosques that were used on its training grounds.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said the mosque-like structures, which were put up at a firing range at Catterick to replicate the environment troops would be patrolling, were taken down prior to a meeting between a member of the military and the Muslim community.

He said: “A member of the military met the Council for Mosques in Bradford and had a discussion with them about it. What they claimed were the offending mosque structures were removed before that meeting.”

Prof Mohamed El-Gomati, of the University of York, who advises UK universities and charities on religious matters, complained toThe Press about the structures last week. He described them as insulting and said they were evidence of the army’s lack of consideration.

York Press, 12 April 2010

Stand by for right-wing denunciations of the “dhimmi” MOD.

American Family Association: deport all Muslims

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association has a solution to the “Muslim problem” in the US:

“First, the most compassionate thing we can do for Americans is to bring a halt to the immigration of Muslims into the U.S. This will protect our national security and preserve our national identity, culture, ideals and values. Muslims, by custom and religion, are simply unwilling to integrate into cultures with Western values and it is folly to pretend otherwise. In fact, they remain dedicated to subjecting all of America to sharia law and are working ceaselessly until that day of Islamic imposition comes.

“The most compassionate thing we can do for Muslims who have already immigrated here is to help repatriate them back to Muslim countries, where they can live in a culture which shares their values, a place where they can once again be at home, surrounded by people who cherish their deeply held ideals. Why force them to chafe against the freedom, liberty and civil rights we cherish in the West?

“In other words, simple Judeo-Christian compassion dictates a restriction and repatriation policy with regard to Muslim immigration into the U.S.”

AFA blog, 8 April 2010

Via Media Matters.

Army builds ‘mosques’ on North Yorkshire firing range

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Firing range mosquesA Muslim group has demanded an apology from the British Army after it emerged that replica mosques were being used on a North Yorkshire firing range.

The chairman of the Bradford Council for Mosques (BCM) said the structures at Catterick should be taken down immediately. The Ministry of Defence said it had “no intention” of causing offence.

The BMC said it was particularly angry as it had been assisting the army in its efforts to recruit more Muslims.

Saleem Khan, the chief executive of the BCM, called for the Army to apologise. “The first thing they need to do is remove this straight away,” he said. “They do owe apologies to the Muslim community and it is the mind set which needs changing.”

There are seven of the structures on the range at Bellerby, which have green domed roofs. Ishtiaq Ahmed of the BCM said that they were undoubtedly meant to resemble mosques.

“The shape of the structures, the colour of the dome – the green dome – symbolises an Islamic place of worship,” he said. “Anyone looking at it will think about mosques and Muslims and think about them negatively.”

He accused the Army of reinforcing negative perceptions of Muslims. “What angers me very much is that we are conditioning the young British to say that mosques are a place where you are going to find danger and a place to target,” Mr Ahmed said. “That is really disturbing.”

BBC News, 8 April 2010

See also MCB press release, 8 April 2010

FIFA ban on hijab rejected by Australian clubs

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Iranian girls footballFootball clubs fear that a decision by the sport’s world governing body to ban Islamic head scarves will trickle down to the local level. The Iran girls’ football team has been kicked out of the Youth Olympic Games because FIFA ruled that wearing a hijab was not in accordance with laws of the game relating to on-field equipment.

The president of Lakemba Sport and Recreation Club, Jamal Rifi, said:

“It’s extremely disappointing, especially because we’re trying to encourage local females to play sport, head scarf or no head scarf. It’s a smack in the face for all the hard work we have been doing. It’s not an occupational hazard and it’s definitely not a sporting hazard. The number of Muslim girls playing soccer at an elite level is already very few. To restrict these few females achieving at a high level, it’s very demoralising.”

The number of girls’ football teams in the club has risen from one to five in the past four years, which Dr Rifi said was a direct result of opening the sport up to players “from all religions, races and cultures”. Two girls playing at state level had the potential to represent Australia, he said.

“It is going to trickle down and will give justification to local associations to use that excuse at the grassroots level.”

FIFA’s rules state players may not wear jewellery or dangerous headgear such as hair clips, and that “basic compulsory equipment must not have any political, religious or personal statements”. Football Federation Australia’s and Football NSW’s interpretation of the rules allow hijabs to be worn if they are made from a special elastic material.

The chief executive of Blacktown and District Soccer Football Association, Jack Taylor, said the ruling was ”bullshit”. He hoped Football NSW and the FFA would take little notice of it. “Our numbers are growing because of the way we’ve made all women welcome. To say, ‘Sorry, you can’t play football because you’re wearing a hijab,’ is really discriminatory.”

Sydney Morning Herald, 7 April 2010

Let’s have no double standards over EDL, says Salma Yaqoob

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Salma Yaqoob on the English Defence League:

“Yesterday’s EDL protest in Dudley exposed their true face. Tired of political speeches, many of the racists turned to fighting each other, then the police, before breaking through police lines and heading towards the Unite Against Fascism event. Fortunately the police were able to contain the rampaging thugs before they were able to cause serious damage or injury.

“The EDL mobilised at least 1,000 people in support of a hate-filled agenda of attacks on Islam and Muslims. They carried Islamaphobic placards and chanted ‘If they build a f**g mosque, burn it down’. This is a direct call for racist violence.

“I am quite sure that if gangs of Muslims were maurading through our town centres threatening to burn down churches that special laws would be passed, task forces established, and people prosecuted.

“Let us not have double standards. The EDL are seeking to incite violence against the Muslim community and undermine community relations. They should feel the full force of the law for so doing.”

FIFA bans Iranian women footballers from wearing hijab

Posted on by Bob Pitt

FIFA banned the Iranian women’s football team wearing hijab from participating in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) which will be held from August 14 to 26 in Singapore. FIFA at first invited the Iranian team to take part in the games but unexpectedly decided to forbid wearing hijab in the games.

Mehr News, 3 April 2010

See also “Iran Calls for Muslim protest against FIFA ban on Islamic code of dressing”, FARS, 3 April 2010